Swiss pharma industry behind in technology and clinical trials, index shows

Novartis AG

Wed 11:16

ZURICH, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Switzerland's pharmaceutical and chemicals industries are slipping behind when it comes to technology and clinical trials, a yearly Global Industry Competitiveness Index showed on Wednesday. 
While the country continued to rank third overall in the index of most competitive locations, behind the US and Ireland, industry lobby scienceindustries, which funded the study conducted by BAK Economics, said there was still cause for concern.
In innovation and technology leadership, Switzerland fell to spot 7 from 5 a year before
Within that category, Switzerland ranked 24th globally in early-phase trial density, a new indicator, behind China and the US
"The world will not wait for Switzerland", said Annette Luther, scienceindustries president and Roche's head of external affairs for Switzerland
Luther said Switzerland needs to digitalise its healthcare system in order not to fall further behind in clinical trials

 (Reporting by Marleen Kaesebier in Zurich; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
 ((marleen.kaesebier@thomsonreuters.com;))