| Success story

Moderna chooses Europe’s #1 life sciences hub for EU headquarters.

Location

Basel-Stadt

Industry

Pharmaceuticals

Employees

100+ in Basel

Country of origin

USA

Moderna develops mRNA medicines for various diseases and conditions to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients.

Pioneering in mRNA medicine.

Our cells use mRNA to deliver instructions for our bodies to make proteins. Moderna uses this messenger molecule to deliver the blueprint for specific proteins, like a virus protein. When the body uses this blueprint to produce the virus protein, our immune system recognizes it as an antigen and produces antibodies to help the body prepare to fight the virus.

With this mRNA technology, Moderna spearheads a new category of medicines with significant potential to improve patients’ lives.

We looked a little bit around Switzerland. As you know we partnered very early in our manufacturing with Lonza and for us, Basel made sense because you have a nice hub here of biotech and pharmaceutical companies. It was easier for us to open up in this environment, to recruit in a pool of highly specialized labour. Also the multicultural aspect of Basel I think was very interesting for us too.

Nicolas Chornet Senior Vice President International Manufacturing at Moderna

The future of Moderna in the Basel Area.

Moderna’s mission is to deliver on the promise of mRNA science to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients.

To advance its production of the coronavirus vaccine, Moderna opened its EU headquarters in Basel and signed a supply contract with the Swiss government for 4.5 million doses of the vaccine.

The Basel Area is the perfect location because it offers access to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and special ingredients markets. On top, attracting the most talented and experienced professionals in biotech was critical for Moderna.

To make the move, Moderna has teamed up with us.

We helped Moderna find the ideal office space and answer questions regarding setting up a company in Switzerland and work permits amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The employees here take care of production processes, quality control, supply chains, finances, medical affairs, and so on. It will be a true headquarters for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Stéphane BancelCEO of Moderna