This initiative is one of a series of similar announcements by players in the pharmaceutical sector, as the Trump administration tightens its trade policy in favor of "Made in the USA." Last month, Novartis unveiled a $23bn investment plan in the US, followed by major announcements from Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson, which are playing on home turf.

Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker emphasized that this commitment illustrates the group's desire to strengthen its presence in the United States, where it already employs 25,000 people at 24 sites. With this expansion, Roche plans to export more drugs from the United States than it imports, according to a statement from the Basel-based group.

Expansions and dedicated weight loss site

Plans include expanding manufacturing and distribution centers in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey, and California. Roche will also build a gene therapy facility in Pennsylvania and another for the manufacture of continuous glucose monitoring devices in Indiana.

A new plant dedicated to weight loss drugs will also be built, although its location has not yet been specified. A research center specializing in cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases will be established in Massachusetts.

A key sector for Switzerland

The CEO did not directly mention customs tariffs, although Switzerland is facing a 31% levy on its exports to the US. Last week, the Trump administration launched an investigation into pharmaceutical imports with a view to imposing tariffs on the sector. The timing and scope of the measures remain uncertain, but the stakes are high: the US imported nearly $213bn worth of pharmaceutical products last year, up from $73bn in 2014, according to United Nations international trade data.

Pharmaceutical exports accounted for CHF100.33bn of Switzerland's CHF282.9bn in exports in 2024, according to figures from the Federal Customs and Border Security Office (OFDF), representing 35.5% of the total. This is by far the largest export sector in Switzerland.