Media Release: Daiichi Sankyo joins Interpharma

Interpharma, the association of Switzerland’s research-based pharmaceutical companies, has today gained another strong research member in the form of Daiichi Sankyo. On the occasion of the Annual General Meeting, it has added members with Swiss and European responsibilities to the Board. The 2024 annual report was also presented; it highlights the pharmaceutical industry’s major contribution to patients, research and development, and welfare in Switzerland.

With its new member Daiichi Sankyo, the industry association Interpharma gains another internationally renowned research-based pharmaceutical company with effect from today, April 1, 2025. Daiichi Sankyo develops innovative medicines to improve health and quality of life. European research activities are part of the company’s global R&D strategy, which focuses on closing therapeutic gaps in cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases and cancer. Daiichi Sankyo (Schweiz) AG focuses on the distribution of cardiovascular and oncology drugs.

Giuseppe Grossi, General Manager of Daiichi Sankyo Schweiz, says: “We are delighted to join Interpharma, a platform that strengthens our commitment to innovative healthcare solutions. As we continue to expand our activities in Switzerland, particularly in cardiovascular and oncology treatments, we look forward to working with other leading companies to improve treatment outcomes for patients, advance research, and contribute to the country’s thriving health ecosystem.”

“With new member company Daiichi Sankyo, we are delighted to welcome another leading research-based pharmaceutical company,” says René Buholzer, CEO of Interpharma. “Daiichi Sankyo further strengthens Interpharma’s position as the leading association of research-based pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland. This brings the market share of Interpharma’s member companies for patent-protected reimbursable drugs to well over 90%.”

Newly elected Board members

The General Meeting elected the following new members to the Board:

• Dr. Iris Zemzoum, President Region Europe, Novartis
• Dr. David Traub, President Innovative Medicines Switzerland, Novartis
• Florian Saur, Country President, AstraZeneca Switzerland
• Linn Mandahl, Vice President Europe South, AbbVie
• Dr. Annette Luther, Head of External Affairs Switzerland, Roche

Interpharma is delighted with the commitment and expertise of its new members, whose work will benefit Switzerland as a pharmaceutical hub and its patients.

Switzerland must keep improving

Switzerland and its pharmaceutical industry are a success story. Thanks to attractive framework conditions for research and development, pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily, enabling innovations that benefit both the population and the business location. The pharmaceutical sector contributes around 6% of Switzerland’s gross value added, rising to almost 10% when indirect effects are taken into account. This puts Switzerland in a leading position in international comparison. Swiss companies have developed groundbreaking medicines and vaccines that improve healthcare worldwide. Since 1995, cancer mortality has been reduced by 24%. The sector employs around 282,000 people and accounts for almost 50% of Switzerland’s exports. In the last ten years, the real economic output of the pharmaceutical industry has tripled, accounting for more than 40% of Swiss economic growth. But this favorable environment cannot be taken for granted. A look at planned investments shows that many companies will no longer be investing in Switzerland in the coming years. What we need is planning and legal certainty for long-term investments, rapid access to new, innovative medicines for patients, and stable, regulated relationships with the most important sales markets.

Find the Interpharma 2024 Annual Report at: www.interpharma.ch