As part of its extensive investment plans, Roche would put in 430 million Swiss francs for its Penzberg, Mannheim and Kaiseraugst sites. This decision will ensure that the company's own value added chain is exploited to its full potential in the development and production of biopharmaceuticals mainly for oncology applications, Roche said.

Around 280 million Swiss francs will be invested in expanding biotech drug research and development activities at Penzberg. In expanding modern syringe filling capacities for drugs such as Mircera, Pegasys or Actemra, a total of some 150 million francs will be invested at Mannheim and Kaiseraugst sites.

The decision means that Roche's investment in pharma production equipment in the last five years has totalled around 1 billion Swiss francs (about 600 million euros) each in Germany and in Switzerland, resulting in the creation of several hundred new jobs.

Commenting on the decision, Franz B. Humer, CEO and chairman of the board of directors, Roche, said, "After conducting a thorough evaluation of our production sites in many regions of the world and taking on board local business conditions at each, we have decided to make investments at these three sites in Germany and Switzerland. With our biopharmaceuticals heavily in demand, this step will both safeguard and expand production. Investments like this are very much long term in nature and they create hundreds of jobs in and around the company. It is therefore essential that a stable, industry-friendly environment be maintained in the long term".