3 questions to Daniel Weber: Member of the Interpharma Board and Country Head Switzerland Boehringer Ingelheim

May we ask you to briefly introduce yourself and tell us a little about your current position in your company?

Good day, everyone. I’m the Country Head for Boehringer Ingelheim Switzerland, a role I’ve been privileged to hold since August 2021. But my journey didn’t start here. It began over two decades ago at the University of St. Gallen, where I received an education that set the foundation for a fulfilling career in commercial and general management roles. My work in the pharmaceutical industry has been a journey of discovery, innovation, and impact. It has taken my family and me across six countries, including a few transformative years in the United States as a Business Unit Leader.

In July 2022, I took on the mantle of Chairmen of the Board at NBE Therapeutics and AMAL Therapeutics, and since the acquisition in 2023, at T3 Pharma. These roles have been more than just positions to me. They’ve been opportunities to make a difference, to improve lives, and to work on innovative therapeutic options for patients who need them the most.

As a General Manager, I believe in the power of diversity and teamwork and the potential of every individual in my team. I’m not just here to lead; I’m here to support, to inspire, and to help each one around me to reach their highest potential. Because together, we can do more than just change the industry – we can change the world. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Let’s continue to innovate, to push boundaries, and to make a difference. Because at the end of the day, that’s what we’re here for.

What do you want to focus on in your role as a board member of Interpharma?

In my role as a board member of Interpharma, I envision a future where innovation is not hindered by time. A future where regulatory and reimbursement timelines for innovative therapies are expedited, allowing us to bring life-changing treatments to patients faster. I see a world where the prices of medicines truly reflect their value, their potential to change lives, and the effort and resources that go into creating them.

I will be an advocate for the rapid digitalization of the Swiss Healthcare System, because I believe in the power of technology to revolutionize healthcare, to make it more efficient, more accessible, and more patient-centric.

And finally, I am committed to maintaining Switzerland’s status as a competitive hub for R&D in Pharma. This is where innovation happens, where boundaries are pushed, and where the future of healthcare is being shaped. Together, we can make this vision a reality. Let’s push the boundaries of what’s possible and create a future that we can all be proud of.

How important is Switzerland as a pharmaceutical hub for your company? Where and how can Switzerland as a pharmaceutical country continue to improve and how should the framework conditions be adapted?

Switzerland is crucial for Boehringer. It’s where we connect our innovative therapies to the patients who need them. It’s a hub of international talent driving our innovation. And it’s an R&D hotspot, teeming with start-ups that are shaping the future of healthcare. In essence, Switzerland is where we turn our vision into reality.

Switzerland’s pharmaceutical future hinges on four key areas: Embracing digitalization for efficiency and accessibility; ensuring faster, predictable access to fairly priced medicines; securing a bilateral framework with the EU to secure talent and R&D collaboration also in the future; and fostering an entrepreneurial, innovation-driven mindset. In essence, it’s about transforming challenges into opportunities, and dreams into reality.