The Basel pharmaceutical company Roche has concluded a deal with Donald Trump’s government.Image: keystone
Roche and Novartis have reached a deal with the US government. According to the pharmaceutical companies, this must lead to significantly higher drug prices in Switzerland.
December 21, 2025, 05:07December 21, 2025, 05:07
In an interview, the head of the pharmaceutical company Roche boss Thomas Schinecker put pressure on the price increase for new drugs in Switzerland. The head of the pharmaceutical company spoke about the impending consequences if Switzerland did not increase these prices.
“Unfortunately there will then be further delays in the introduction of new medications,” said Schinecker in an interview with the “SonntagsZeitung” published on Sunday. Switzerland has the most to gain and the most to lose, said the CEO. The pharmaceutical industry’s tax revenue alone is higher than what is spent on innovative medicines in Switzerland.
Roche boss Thomas Schiecker is demanding that the Swiss population pay higher drug prices.Image: keystone
If Switzerland does not follow the US reference system and does not increase the prices for new drugs, Roche will be able to invest less in cutting-edge research, according to Schinecker. Because the group would generate less sales. As a result, Roche would pay “less taxes and create fewer jobs”.
Switzerland is a reference country for US drug prices. The US administration expects countries like Switzerland to contribute more evenly to financing the innovation of new drugs, said Schinecker. The contribution is linked to economic strength. The CEO stated:
“If a country has a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) that is 50 percent lower than that of the USA, then the US government will recognize half the price in that country as comparable.”
If the GDP is higher than that of the USA, a corresponding price increase is expected.
Gradual price increase
Therapies that are already on the market would not become more expensive, said the Roche boss. The reference countries “would make a relatively comparable contribution to the investments in order to develop a new therapy”. Schinecker expects the prices for such new therapies to change gradually over the next few years.
He also assumes that drug prices will be part of Switzerland’s customs negotiations with the USA. The United States therefore wants Switzerland to contribute its share. “The USA, for example, sees compulsory discounts in Switzerland for US drugs as a trade barrier to innovations that come from the USA and is considering starting an investigation against such countries,” added the Roche boss.
No higher premiums
Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider appeared open to discussions about a new pricing model on Swiss radio and television’s “Satstagsrundschau”. “A new pricing model does not mean that all prices will rise,” said the head of the Federal Department of the Interior in the program broadcast in mid-November. In it she also said that the Swiss do not have to pay for a reduction in drug prices in the USA with higher health insurance premiums.
A few days ago, nine pharmaceutical companies, including the Roche subsidiary Genentech and Novartis, agreed with the US government to reduce drug prices in the USA. In return for lower drug prices and investment in the United States, they will be exempt from tariffs for three years.
In the current interview, Schinecker did not want to accept that the prices for new medications are to blame for the increased health insurance premiums. “The Swiss population spends an average of 37 francs per capita per month on innovative medicines,” he said. He was convinced that Switzerland would not solve the problems of health care costs even if it no longer paid for such medicines. (sda/con)