{"id":165,"date":"2026-01-13T15:01:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T14:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iph-multisite.berta-bewegt.ch\/startseite\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:15:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:15:40","slug":"startseite","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.interpharma.ch\/en\/","title":{"rendered":"For your health. For your life."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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25.05.2026<\/p>\n

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The new campaign \u00abMedicine moves our lives\u00bb<\/h2>\n\n \n
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28.08.2026<\/p>\n\n

Public Comment Periods<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

Stellungnahme zur Vernehmlassung zur \u00c4nderung der Verordnung \u00fcber die Integrit\u00e4t und Transparenz im Heilmittelbereich (VITH) (Erweiterung der Integrit\u00e4t auf Medizinprodukte)<\/h3>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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13.08.2026<\/p>\n\n

Press releases<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

Press release: One in three new innovative medicines not submitted for reim-bursement by health insurance companies<\/h3>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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07.07.2026<\/p>\n\n

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Stellungnahme zur Vernehmlassung zum indirekten Gegenvorschlag (Bundesgesetz \u00fcber die nachhaltige Unternehmensf\u00fchrung) zur Volksinitiative \u00abF\u00fcr verantwortungsvolle Grossunternehmen \u2013 zum Schutz von Mensch und Umwelt\u00bb<\/h3>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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23.07.2026<\/p>\n\n

Blog<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

3 Questions to Adrian Cuadra Leon, General Manager of UCB ALPS (Austria & Switzerland)<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n\n
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25.06.2026<\/p>\n\n

Blog<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

3 Questions to our New Board Member: Michele Ravara, General Manager of AbbVie Switzerland<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Our members \u2013 <\/span>\n \n
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\n 40,000 jobs\n <\/h3>\n \n

\n Interpharma member companies offer highly skilled jobs in research, development and production in Switzerland. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n CHF 9.2 billion for research and development\n <\/h3>\n \n

\n Pharmaceutical companies invest more in research and development in Switzerland each year than they generate in revenue there. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n 40% of all Swiss exports of goods\n <\/h3>\n \n

\n Around two in five Swiss francs earned from exports come from the pharmaceutical industry. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n \n\n\n\n

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Key topics<\/h2>\n \n

Interpharma is committed to strong pharmaceutical research, Switzerland as a hub for innovation, and an efficient healthcare system \u2013 with the aim of ensuring that patients have access to effective treatments.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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Patient Value<\/h2>\n\n
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We are committed to ensuring that everyone in Switzerland has access as quickly as possible to safe, effective therapies<\/strong> of the highest possible quality.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Research and Development<\/h2>\n\n
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We strengthen Switzerland as a hub for innovation:<\/strong> from the idea in the lab to therapy for patients, for medical progress and patient benefit.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Pharma Location Switzerland<\/h2>\n\n
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Political stability, legal certainty, open export markets and a skilled workforce are key to the success of Switzerland as a pharmaceutical hub.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Dossiers & Positions<\/h2>\n \n

From pricing and market authorisation to security of supply: Interpharma examines key issues relating to medicines, innovation and the healthcare system in Switzerland.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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Pricing<\/h3>\n\n
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Marketing authorisation<\/h3>\n\n
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Supply reliability<\/h3>\n\n
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Clinical research in Switzerland<\/h3>\n\n
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Safeguarding access to export markets<\/h3>\n\n
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Sustainable funding<\/h3>\n\n
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About us<\/h2>\n \n

Interpharma is the association of research-based pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland and was founded in 1933 as an association based in Basel. The sector represented by Interpharma is the country\u2019s largest export sector: pharmaceutical products worth around 115 billion Swiss francs are sold abroad every year.<\/p>\n \n

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Interpharma informs the public about the interests of the research-based pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland, as well as about the Swiss pharmaceutical market, the healthcare sector and biomedical research. Member companies invest around 9.2 billion Swiss francs annually in research and development in this country.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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Executive Board<\/h3>\n \n
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The Interpharma Board brings together leading figures from research-based pharmaceutical companies and sets the association\u2019s strategic direction.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Publications<\/h3>\n \n
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Studies, reports and analyses on the pharmaceutical industry, the healthcare system and Switzerland as a pharmaceutical hub \u2013 to read, order or download.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Annual report<\/h3>\n \n
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Insights into the key figures, topics, and activities of Interpharma in the 2025 financial year.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n\n
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Are medicines more expensive in Switzerland than in other countries?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/polygon>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n

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The prices of patent-protected medicines are in line with European countries. When adjusted for purchasing power, they are even considerably cheaper on average \u2013 around 20% less than in comparable countries. Generic drugs, on the other hand, are around twice as expensive in Switzerland as abroad.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Do I have access to all new medicines in Switzerland?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/polygon>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Access to new, innovative medicines has been declining in Switzerland for years. It takes an average of 219 days from market approval to admission to the SL, which is more than three times longer than the statutory deadline of 60 days. Compared to Germany, patients in Switzerland only have access to around half of all new, innovative medicines through basic insurance.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Are health insurance premiums going up because of expensive medicines?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/polygon>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Since 2010, the percentage of healthcare costs spent on medicines has remained stable. In compulsory health insurance, they account for just 21.8% of costs \u2013 patent-protected medicines are even lower at 8.3%. Although the demand for medicines is increasing due to the aging population, annual price reviews dampen rising medicine costs with recurring annual savings of over CHF 1 billion.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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What role does Swissmedic play in the Swiss healthcare system?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/polygon>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Swissmedic is responsible for the authorization and supervision of medicinal products in Switzerland and assesses applications for approval of new medicines with regard to safety, efficacy and quality. It also grants licenses for clinical trials, as well as for production and distribution in Switzerland, and is responsible for monitoring the market. It therefore plays a major role in ensuring patient safety in Switzerland. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Why are certain experiments carried out on animals and not directly on humans?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/polygon>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Low-risk, non-invasive tests are conducted on humans. One example of this is clinical trials in which new medicines are gradually tested for safety and efficacy in accordance with strict ethical requirements. However, before such studies can begin, potential effects and risks must be investigated in preclinical research, as completely untested substances would pose significant risks in humans. Historical cases of involuntary human testing and serious incidents have led to the development of mandatory safeguards. Where alternative methods (e.g. cell cultures, organoids or artificial intelligence) cannot adequately depict complex processes in the entire organism, animal testing is still necessary.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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What is required to obtain authorization for animal testing?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/polygon>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n

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In Switzerland, animal testing is only permitted if a detailed application has been submitted and approved by the cantonal authority. The specific research project as well as the persons involved, the conditions in which the animals are kept and the way the experiments are conducted must all meet the legal requirements. Authorization may only be granted if there is no scientifically recognized alternative, the research offers significant scientific value or benefit and if the harm to the animals is reduced to the absolute minimum. In the case of harmful animal experiments, an animal testing committee carries out a \u201cbalancing of interests\u201d as part of the cantonal approval process and assesses whether the expected gain in knowledge justifies the harm to the animals (such as pain, anxiety, violation of dignity). Switzerland has one of the strictest animal welfare laws in the world.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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How important is the pharmaceutical industry for Switzerland?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/polygon>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n

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The pharmaceutical industry is Switzerland\u2019s most important export sector and a key pillar of Switzerland\u2019s position as a research and business hub. It secures around 300,000 jobs, contributes almost 10% of GDP and makes a significant contribution to innovation and prosperity. Interpharma\u2019s member companies also invest around 9 billion Swiss francs annually in research and development in Switzerland, pay 10 billion Swiss francs in taxes and contribute significantly to the development of new medicines and therapies.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Why is patent protection important for medicines?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/polygon>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n

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The development of new medicines takes an average of 12 years, costs billions and carries significant risks. The protection of intellectual property creates the necessary planning security and provides incentives for companies to invest in research and development on a long-term basis. Patent protection is therefore a key prerequisite for researching and developing new therapies and making them accessible to patients.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n