Discover how the interplay between the biotech powerhouses of the Basel Area in Switzerland and Boston-Cambridge in the United States has fostered a corridor of innovation and investment. Not surprisingly, Basel plays a pivotal role in this framework, nurturing strategic biotech expansions across continents, both now and in the future.

Author: Kirsten Detrick

Switzerland proves the ideal European base for Moderna

Similarly, US companies that expand to Europe frequently choose Switzerland as their headquarters. For example, Moderna Therapeutics – known for its revolutionary mRNA technology – expanded its operations into Europe at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging the strategic advantages of Basel for its business. One critical determinant in this decision was Basel’s proximity to the Novartis CDMO partner, Lonza. Another decision driver was Moderna’s accelerating growth and talent requirements. Basel was perfectly suited to address this critical need. Moderna tapped into the region’s robust biopharma ecosystem and benefited from the ample availability of highly skilled, deeply experienced biotech talent. Basel-based experts in commercial functions and supply chain management answered Moderna’s (and the world’s) call to immediately ramp up activities in Basel, enabling the organization to satisfy exploding demand for COVID-19 vaccines in real time. Moderna hired nearly 100 employees in less than a year. Today, Moderna’s 200-person EMEA headquarters are firmly established in Basel-Stadt (read more about Moderna in Basel here).

The Basel Area – home of multiple biotechs

Moderna is not alone in selecting Basel, Switzerland for European commercial headquarters. BeiGene has a considerable presence in the Basel Area. This global company with roots in Beijing and Cambridge expanded to Europe with a Basel-based headquarters in 2018. Today, Beigene has approximately 300 people in Basel, who run commercialization strategy, as well as clinical trials and supply chain management.

Read more about BeiGene in the Basel Area Here

Perfect location for big players and startups working on innovative therapeutics

Twenty years ago, the major source of innovative therapeutics developed in Basel stemmed from Roche and Novartisresearch labs. However, as we enter the mid-2020s, Basel is nurturing a thriving startup ecosystem distinguished by commercial- and clinical-stage life sciences entities that consistently attract interest from larger biopharma players and top-tier investors. For example:

• Boehringer Ingelheimacquired Basel-located NBE Therapeutics for €1.18 billion in 2020
• Boston-based Ironwood Pharmaceuticalsacquired Basel company VectivBio for $1 billion in 2023.
• Alentis Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech engaged in tumor and fibrosis research, raised $181.4 million in Series D financing in 2024, supported by a syndicate of globally respected biotech investors. The company expanded from the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, building clinical operations in the US.

Preclinical-stage US companies are also taking advantage of first-class lab infrastructure and highly skilled talent that is available in the Basel Area. For example:

• Boston-headquartered biotech Monte Rosa Therapeutics and Cambridge-based LifeMine Therapeuticswanted to leverage the scientific talent and maintain additional lab facilities in Basel.
• Basel Area and San Diego-based Bright Peak Therapeutics closed a Series C financing round in 2024, securing a $90 million investment. Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC led the financing . Other investors included founding investor Versant Ventures.