Drugmakers curb Swiss reimbursement applications over US pricing concerns

• Only 15 of 22 new innovative drugs were submitted for Swiss reimbursement during the 18-month period, compared to an average of 24 submissions in similar periods between 2019-2025
• Switzerland is used as a benchmark country under the U.S. 'most-favoured-nation' drug-pricing policy, which compares U.S. prices with other markets to lower domestic medicine costs
• Seven drugs were not submitted for reimbursement and three were not submitted for Swiss market approval at all, with drugmakers avoiding timely Swiss launches to protect higher U.S. pricing

Summary: Drugmakers Limit Swiss Reimbursement Applications Due to US Pricing Policy

Pharmaceutical companies are withholding applications for health insurance coverage in Switzerland due to concerns about US drug pricing policies, according to an Interpharma study released Thursday.

Key Findings:

Impact on Drug Applications:

• Approximately one-third of new innovative medicines were not submitted for Swiss mandatory health insurance coverage between January 2025 and June 2026
• Only 15 medicines were submitted for reimbursement during this 18-month period, compared to an average of 24 submissions during comparable periods from 2019-2025
• Seven of 22 new innovative drugs were not submitted for Switzerland's reimbursement list
• Three drugs were not submitted for Swiss market approval at all

Root Cause:

The issue stems from the Trump administration's "most-favored-nation" drug pricing policy, which uses Switzerland as a benchmark country to lower US medicine costs by comparing international prices. Drugmakers fear that lower Swiss prices could negatively impact their more lucrative US pricing.

Market Implications:

• Swiss patients now lack access to roughly one-third of newly developed innovative medicines through mandatory health insurance
• Major pharmaceutical companies like Roche and Novartis may continue launching medicines in Switzerland, but reimbursement list inclusion is crucial for broad patient access and price establishment
• The policy is causing drugmakers to become more cautious about European pricing strategies to protect US revenue

Broader Impact:

Interpharma indicates this trend represents an exacerbation of existing access issues, with the US pricing policy creating unintended consequences for Swiss patient care and pharmaceutical market dynamics across both continents.