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Struggling farmers face more competition

This content was published on Feb 2, 2005 Farmers say they will fight the plans, which they deem unacceptable. On Wednesday, the government announced a SFr13.54 billion ($11.35 billion) package for farmers. The figure, earmarked for 2008-2011, is SFr634 million less than the existing four-year agriculture budget. The central aim of the four-year programme is to reduce subsidies, such as those used to…

Apoxis finds funding for cancer cure research

This content was published on Feb 2, 2005 In its second round of financing – worth SFr23.3 million ($19.6 million) – Apoxis attracted a new investor: Novo Nordisk Biotech Fund of Copenhagen, a Danish biotechnology fund that belongs to Novo Nordisk A/S. The fund joins existing investors Banexi Ventures Partners of Paris and Sweden’s HealthCap, based in Stockholm. Apoxis raised a first round…

Servette’s demise is “tip of iceberg”

This content was published on Feb 2, 2005 In an interview with swissinfo, leading European football researcher Rogan Taylor says Switzerland is probably too small to sustain more than a handful of top-flight teams. Friday’s decision by justice authorities in Geneva to declare Servette bankrupt came after the club failed to fill a SFr10 million ($8.32 million) hole in their finances. Servette had…

Government and cantons strike gold

This content was published on Feb 2, 2005 The cabinet announced the decision on Wednesday, ending an eight-year debate over what to do with the Swiss National Bank’s excess. According to the finance ministry, the cantons will receive SFr14 billion ($12 billion), while the federal government will get SFr7 billion. This decision comes after the Senate rejected for the second time a proposal…

Doubts remain as Serono reports record profits

This content was published on Feb 2, 2005 Full-year net profit rose 27 per cent to $494.2 million (SFr588 million), on revenue of $2.46 billion (up 22 per cent). The results, which were driven largely by the Geneva-based company’s flagship multiple sclerosis drug, Rebif, were roughly in line with analysts’ expectations. Sales of Rebif were slightly higher than average forecasts, climbing 33 per…

Swiss-based start-ups join European elite

This content was published on Feb 2, 2005 The annual selection of the 100 best performing and innovative high-tech private companies is compiled from mainly venture-backed European and Israel-based start-ups. Three of the technology ventures in the rankings are in the life-science sector. Basel-based 4-Antibody – set up one year ago – is clearly the youngest company to be selected. Founded as a…

Roche profit doubles on cancer drug sales

This content was published on Feb 2, 2005 Drug sales were up nine per cent – 12 per cent in local currencies – to SFr29.52 billion ($24.86 billion). Roche’s bottom line was boosted to SFr6.6 billion by some exceptional items, such as the sale of over-the-counter brands. But the world’s leading maker of cancer drugs still saw core net profit rise 41 per…

Union demands action over wage dumping

This content was published on Feb 1, 2005 The Swiss labour market is set to open to all 25 members of the European Union – a move which Unia fears will put even more pressure on pay. Unia, which held a national day of action on Tuesday, says it is not opposed to plans to extend an agreement on the free movement of…

Another dark cloud hangs over Unaxis

This content was published on Feb 1, 2005 In a statement on Tuesday, the company also reported a sharp decline in fourth-quarter orders, as well as a fall in sales for that period. Unaxis, which manufactures machines used to assemble semiconductors, flat-screen displays and DVD coating equipment, has been hit by increased competition, high production costs and unfavourable exchange rates. This has led…

Swiss Life scraps La Suisse brand

This content was published on Feb 1, 2005 The decision marks the end of a household name in Switzerland and a change of strategy for the group. Swiss Life had stated previously that it wanted to sell the business to slash operating costs. The insurer’s plans to absorb La Suisse’s life-insurance portfolios, which account for around 70 per cent of the unit’s revenues,…

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Struggling farmers face more competition

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Apoxis finds funding for cancer cure research

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Servette’s demise is “tip of iceberg”

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Government and cantons strike gold

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Doubts remain as Serono reports record profits

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Swiss-based start-ups join European elite

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Roche profit doubles on cancer drug sales

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Union demands action over wage dumping

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Another dark cloud hangs over Unaxis

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Swiss Life scraps La Suisse brand

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