“Switzerland is a globally recognized hotspot for biopharma companies. As such, it naturally attracts investments. Our role is to approach the companies that we actually want: innovative, profitable, operating in high-margin areas,” said Thomas Bohn, the Executive Director of the investment promotion agency, Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa) in a 2020 PharmaBoardroom interview.

Takeda is the most recent big investor in western Switzerland, announcing its plans to increase production at its Pierre-à-Bot (canton of Neuchâtel) site with an injection of more than CHF 200 million. The investment will be focused on two projects: a new building with a new aseptic filling line and the extension of an existing building for new bioreactors to increase production capacity. To man these facilities, 40 new jobs will be created.

“Our Neuchâtel site is a key component of our global production network,” said Thomas Wozniewski, global head of production and supply at Takeda. “Our largest investment to date for this infrastructure is a testament to the importance of Switzerland as a long-term production site for the company.”

Established in 2019 as the result of an of the acquisition of the UK company Shire, the Takeda site in Neuchâtel already employs some 700 people and supplies over 70 markets.

Takeda originally entered the Swiss market in 1986 and in 2019 joined forces with Shire to operate as Takeda Pharma AG in Switzerland. Since January 2020, the Swiss affiliate has been located together with the headquarters for Europe and Canada in Zurich. PharmaBoardroom interview with Pierre Morneau, General Manager, Takeda Switzerland.

The Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa) is the investment promotion agency for Western Switzerland that includes the cantons of Bern, Fribourg, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Geneva and Valais.  Its provides support to foreign companies to help them establish and develop their activities in the region.