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MSD invests CHF 60 million in new headquarters in Lucerne – Opening by Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider

From left to right: dancer – Louise Houson (President EUCAN, MSD) – Reto Wyss (Member of the Cantonal Government, Department of Finance of the Canton of Lucerne) – Marc Gailhardou (President Region Intercontinental, MSD) – Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (Federal Councilor) – Jasper Kunow (Managing Director a.i. MSD Switzerland) – Beat Züsli (Mayor of Lucerne) – dancer, © Anna Wiman

Lucerne – May 22, 2026 – MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, today officially inaugurated its new Swiss headquarters, “One Roof,” in the Rösslimatt district of Lucerne. The official ceremony was attended by Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Cantonal Councilor Reto Wyss, and Mayor Beat Züsli.

With an investment of approximately CHF 60 million, MSD underlines its long-term commitment to Lucerne and Switzerland. The new headquarters brings together activities previously spread across three locations in Lucerne and Kriens, creating a modern workplace for around 750 employees, designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and exchange. In addition, MSD has invested a further CHF 20 million over the past 18 months in its manufacturing site in Schachen (LU) and its Zurich location.

In her address, Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider emphasized the strong ties between the pharmaceutical industry and Switzerland: “The country is among the most innovative locations globally, not least due to its strong pharmaceutical industry. At the same time, the industry benefits from the advantages of our country. Excellence, reliability, and determination – these are Swiss values, and they are values that also shape MSD.”

Cantonal Councilor Reto Wyss highlighted the importance for the region: “For the Canton of Lucerne, MSD is an important partner. MSD creates high-quality jobs, brings international connectivity to our region, and makes a significant contribution to the economic strength of our canton.”

Mayor Beat Züsli underlined the importance for the city of Lucerne: “With the consolidation of its activities at a single site, MSD becomes one of the largest employers in the city of Lucerne and helps shape the dynamic Rösslimatt district. MSD thereby makes a major economic and societal contribution to life in Lucerne.”

On behalf of MSD, Marc Gailhardou, President Intercontinental Region, highlighted the strategic importance of the new site: “With our new headquarters, we are strengthening Switzerland as an important hub within MSD’s international network. Bringing our activities together under one roof enables us to further drive innovation, collaboration, and efficiency globally, and to bring scientific advances to patients more quickly.”

Franz Escherich, Chairman of the Board of the MSD Group in Switzerland, added: “This new site is a reflection of our long-term commitment to Switzerland. By bringing our teams together under one roof, we are creating an environment that fosters collaboration and sharpens our shared focus on our responsibility toward patients.”

The new headquarters brings together employees from different functions under one roof, thereby strengthening cross-functional collaboration and enabling the development of innovative solutions for patients. The building has been designed according to modern, sustainable standards and supports flexible ways of working.

With “One Roof”, MSD further strengthens its role as an employer and partner within the Swiss healthcare system, as well as a key player in the international research and innovation landscape. The goal remains clear: to consistently put scientific excellence and innovation at the service of patients.

MSD in Switzerland

MSD, a leading biopharmaceutical company, employs over 1,000 people in Switzerland at three sites. The company’s headquarters are in Lucerne. At the site in Zurich, in “The Circle”, MSD operates a global innovation and development hub. In addition, we manufacture medicines for global clinical trials and operate a forensic laboratory in Schachen (Canton Lucerne). MSD conducts around 40 clinical trials annually in Switzerland alone. The main therapeutic areas of MSD are oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. We also have a broad portfolio of vaccines for the prevention of diseases in children, adolescents, and adults and we are one of the leading companies in veterinary medicine in Switzerland. Furthermore, we take our responsibility to the local community seriously and have been involved for many years in initiatives such as the «Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern» and the «Alliance Health Competence».

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MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, Bürgenstrasse 8, 6005 Lucerne. Switzerland.

Copyright © 2026 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved..

CH-NON-03389, 05/2026

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