Roche halts all new German investments, blames upcoming health-policy changes

Roche has decided to stop all future investments in Germany, attributing the move to the federal government's upcoming GKV contribution stabilization legislation that will increase the mandatory rebate on patented medicines. Daniel Steiners, head of Roche Germany, argued that the measure contradicts Berlin's stated goal of strengthening the nation as a pharmaceutical and biotech hub, prompting the firm to reevaluate the stability of the investment climate.

Existing German projects will continue and the company has not indicated any job reductions. While pausing new German spending, Roche is simultaneously scaling up its presence in the United States, planning a substantial investment over the next five years. Steiners praised the American industrial policy as a contrast to the German approach. The decision highlights growing tension between multinational pharma firms and national health-policy reforms.