Tokyo (SCCIJ) – Takeda, Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company by sales and assets, has begun operating a biotechnology facility in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. With an investment of 200 million francs, the facility expands aseptic filling capacity for rare disease therapies.
Production base
Located in the Pierre-à-Bot industrial area above the city, Takeda’s Neuchâtel site is already one of the canton’s largest employers, with more than 650 employees of over 20 nationalities. The Japanese pharmaceutical company runs its Swiss headquarters in Opfikon in the canton of Zurich.
The facility in Neuchâtel plays a central role in the group’s global manufacturing network, producing recombinant therapies supplied to more than 70 markets. This latest investment expands the facility and underscores Neuchâtel’s strategic importance as a long-term production base.
Large regional employer
The inauguration ceremony brought together representatives from Switzerland and Japan, including Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, Toshiro Iijima, Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Switzerland, and Florence Nater, Neuchâtel State Councillor. Senior Takeda leadership, including Global Manufacturing & Supply Officer Thomas Wozniewski and Neuchâtel Site Head Sébastien Bourgeois, also attended the event.
The politicians and managers emphasized Takeda’s importance at the cantonal, federal, and international levels. With more than 650 employees, Takeda is one of the 10 largest employers in the canton of Neuchâtel. The Japanese pharmaceutical company collaborates closely with cantonal authorities, academic partners, and vocational training initiatives to integrate the facility into the local innovation ecosystem.
A state-of-the-art plant
This highly digitalized “factory of the future” integrates multiple processes for sterile biologics production, including formulation, aseptic filling, freeze-drying, sealing, and automated quality control. Its automated systems increase reliability, throughput, and traceability and reduce manual handling.
According to Takeda, the infrastructure will support the company’s objective of improving access to life-changing treatments for patients with rare diseases all over the world. “Thanks to this new infrastructure, we can treat more patients while contributing to the economic and industrial development of the region,” Wozniewski said.
Neuchâtel is a leading hub for advanced biomanufacturing in Western Switzerland. The region is known for its concentration of precision industries, medtech expertise, and research institutions, including the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), Microcity, and the University of Neuchâtel.
Text: GGBA (Editing by SCCIJ)
