Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced on Monday that it plans to invest $50 billion in the United States over the next five years, a move that is expected to create 12,000 new jobs. The investment will focus on expanding high-tech research and development, along with building new manufacturing facilities in several U.S. states, including California, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
The Basel-based company, known for its cancer drugs and multiple sclerosis treatment Ocrevus, said the initiative reflects its long-standing commitment to innovation and production in the U.S. Once the expansion is complete, Roche expects to export more medicines from the U.S. than it imports, although the company did not directly address recent U.S. tariff policies in its announcement.
This move comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s push to encourage foreign investment in the U.S. and his administration’s introduction of broad tariffs on imported goods. Initially, Swiss products were slated to face tariffs of 31%—higher than those imposed on goods from the European Union, despite Switzerland not being an EU member.
The aggressive tariff plan, dubbed “Liberation Day” tariffs and announced on April 2, sent shockwaves through global financial markets. Just a week later, Trump held a phone call with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, who reportedly highlighted the significant role Swiss companies play in the American economy. That conversation was soon followed by the U.S. administration’s decision to pause the most severe tariffs for 90 days, sparking speculation in Swiss media that the diplomatic exchange may have influenced the policy shift, though no confirmation has been provided.
In a statement, Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker emphasized the strategic nature of the investment, saying, “Today’s announced investments underscore our longstanding commitment to research, development, and manufacturing in the U.S.”
Roche currently employs around 25,000 people in the United States and operates 15 research and development centers along with 13 manufacturing sites. With the new investment, the company plans to add 1,000 jobs directly and another 11,000 in roles supporting its expanded manufacturing capabilities, bringing its U.S. operations to 24 sites across eight states.
The company, which competes globally with fellow Swiss pharma firm Novartis, reported over 60 billion Swiss francs (approximately $74 billion) in global sales last year. Of that, nearly 25 billion francs came from its U.S. pharmaceutical division alone. Roche’s stock has dropped about 18% in the past month, largely in response to the April 2 tariff announcement.
