Switzerland is famous for watches, banks, chocolate and mountains. But one of the most important things it sells to the world comes in much smaller packages. Pills. Vials. Injections. Vaccines. Biological medicines. And increasingly, highly sophisticated therapies developed from biotechnology. The pharmaceutical industry has become one of the central pillars of the Swiss economy. In 2025, Swiss exports reached a record CHF 287 billion, with chemicals and pharmaceuticals accounting for CHF 152 billion — approximately 53% of all Swiss merchandise exports. The increase was particularly driven by serums and vaccines. But those numbers conceal a much more interesting story. - How did a small, landlocked country become a pharmaceutical superpower? - How are medicines actually tested there? - Who decides whether they can be sold? - How are they promoted? - Who pays for them? And perhaps most importantly: Where does all the money go? The Swiss pharmaceutical machine Switzerland's pharmaceu...
Follow the Clues. Challenge the Narrative.