Roche lays foundation stone for Swiss research building

Roche has announced the foundation stone has been laid for its research and development building in Basel, Switzerland.

Set to cost the company 250 million Swiss francs (157.66 million pounds), the centre’s construction began in August last year and is planned to be completed in 2010, with opening scheduled for 2011.

Known as Building 97, the centre will see 100 staff carrying out work on solid and liquid dosage forms of new substances.

Site head at Roche Basel Matthias Baltisberger said: “The location for an investment is not chosen for sentimental reasons.

“So an important criterion in selecting the site for this new building has been the constructive cooperation with the local authorities.”

Last year, the company said it was not going to continue with plans for a high-rise building in Basel.

Roche added its objective remained to consolidate its off-site workplaces, working to the existing schedule set out.