Wedoany.com Report-Dec.22, Agreements between pharmaceutical companies and the United States to lower medicine prices are expected to lead to higher costs for new drugs in Switzerland, according to Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker in comments reported on December 20, 2025.

The arrangements, disclosed earlier that week, involve drug manufacturers, including Roche's U.S. subsidiary Genentech, reducing prices for medications provided through the U.S. Medicaid program, which serves low-income individuals.

In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, Schinecker explained that the U.S. approach seeks to have other prosperous countries share more in supporting pharmaceutical innovation. He noted that the United States would consider the economic capacity of nations when setting price expectations.

Schinecker indicated that if a nation's per capita gross domestic product exceeds that of the United States, higher medicine prices could be anticipated to reflect that level of economic strength.

For Switzerland, this framework would not affect existing drugs immediately, as their prices would remain unchanged. However, new medications introduced in the future would align with this approach, he stated.

"For Switzerland, this would mean more; for Italy, less than in the U.S. All economies would make a relatively comparable contribution to investments needed for developing new therapies. Prices won't change overnight, but I'd expect it to happen gradually with each new launch over the coming years," he said.

The pharmaceutical sector plays a significant role in Switzerland's economy, contributing substantially to exports, jobs, and government revenues. Some Swiss officials have expressed concerns regarding potential increases in medicine costs.

Schinecker pointed out that if Switzerland chose not to adjust prices upward for new drugs, consequences might follow.

"Unfortunately, this would likely lead to further delays in introducing new medicines," he said.

Countries such as Denmark, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland serve as benchmarks for U.S. drug pricing comparisons. Schinecker mentioned that Roche is engaged in discussions with these nations.

He also anticipated that drug pricing topics would arise in negotiations between Swiss authorities in Bern and U.S. officials to finalize a November agreement aimed at reducing U.S. tariffs on Swiss goods.

Data from the World Bank shows that Switzerland's per capita GDP surpasses that of the United States, whether calculated in current dollar terms or using purchasing power parity.