Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Roche puts future investment decisions in Germany on hold
Swiss drugmaker Roche has put future investment decisions in Germany on hold, its Germany chief Daniel Steiners said.
He said recent government policy had weakened the company’s confidence in the country as a place to invest.
Roche objects to a planned law to stabilise public health insurance contributions, saying it could add costs for drug companies without fixing deeper problems in the system.
The pause applies to future decisions, not projects already approved; a planned expansion at Roche’s Penzberg site in Bavaria will go ahead.
Roche employs about 18,000 people in Germany and says it has invested nearly 3.8 billion euros there since 2020.
Other drugmakers have also cut or reduced planned German investments amid concern about the government’s savings plans.
Roche says it needs more reliable conditions before deciding what to invest next.
Roche has put all new investment decisions in Germany on hold for now.
Germany chief Daniel Steiners said recent government policy had destroyed a great deal of trust in the pharmaceutical sector.
Roche said previously approved projects, including a more than €600 million expansion at Penzberg in Bavaria, are not affected.
Steiners criticised a proposed law to stabilise statutory health insurance contributions, saying it adds burdens for industry without addressing structural problems.
Roche employs about 18,000 people in Germany and said it has invested nearly €3.8 billion there since 2020.
- Who
- Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical company; its Germany chief is Daniel Steiners.
- What
- Roche has put all new investment decisions in Germany on hold for now. Previously approved projects are not affected.
- When
- The decision was reported on 19 October 2026.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Steiners said recent government policy had damaged trust and criticised planned cost-saving measures that burden pharmaceutical companies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Roche said it began investing nearly €3.8 billion in Germany from this year onward.
Reports said Roche had put all new investment decisions in Germany on hold.
Roche said the previously approved expansion at Penzberg, costing more than €600 million, was not affected.
- New investment decisions
- All put on hold for now
- Penzberg expansion
- More than €600 million; not affected
- German workforce
- About 18,000 employees
- Investment since 2020
- Nearly €3.8 billion in Germany
- Germany chief
- Daniel Steiners
3 sources
What people are saying
We have put all future investment decisions in Germany on hold for now.
For the pharmaceutical sector, I can say that policy has destroyed a great deal of trust recently.
Instead of addressing the structural problems, policymakers are relying on short-term savings and additional burdens for industry.
This means you lose twice.