Sustainability and innovation at the heart of development

Biasca, Switzerland, Novembre 22, 2019 – Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on the development, production and commercialization of quality cancer care products, and committed to improving the quality of life of cancer patients, today announced important investments in innovative technology at its manufacturing plant in Biasca, Helsinn Advanced Synthesis. In addition, the third Helsinn Group Sustainability Report was presented. Honorable Christian Vitta, Councillor of State and Director of the Department of finance and economy, and Omar Terraneo, City Councilor of Biasca, attended the event.

Helsinn Advanced Synthesis competes worldwide at the highest level in the production technology of high activity pharmaceutical active ingredients. The new facility dedicated to the production of anticancer products aims to increase the production capacity and technological level of the plants.

Helsinn Group wants to play an active and central role in promoting a social transformation in favor of people and the environment. The challenge started in 2015 and allowed us to define six areas of work to achieve our sustainable growth objectives (our Products, our People, our Communities, our Environment, Acting Responsibly, Economic Value Creation). This challenge has today led to the publication of Helsinn’s Third Group Sustainability Report, “Quality of Life”, according to the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative, confirming that both the Group and Helsinn Advanced Synthesis represent an excellent example of corporate social responsibility.

The report is available at the following link: https://www.helsinn.com/assets/Uploads/Helsinn-Group-Sustainability-Report-Quality-of-Life2019.pdf

In this framework, thanks to the implementation of a district heating plant system by the Nuova Energia Ticino (NET) consortium of Biasca, Helsinn Advanced Synthesis was able to achieve the objective of shifting the energy carrier from diesel to steam. The production takes place starting from wood chips from the 3 Valli (3 Valleys) in Ticino and allows to significantly improve the environmental impact of the industrial area of Biasca, thus combining innovation and sustainability. This is an important investment in the territory, and for the territory.

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, commented: “I am very proud to present the new Helsinn Advanced Synthesis anticancer dedicated facility which completes an investment of over 35 million Swiss francs, and our collaboration with NET for district heating system project. These investments demonstrate how innovation and sustainability, cutting-edge technology and corporate social responsibility can be combined. I am convinced that in order to be a successful company, as well as having an innovative vision aimed at constant development, it must increasingly reassess its role within society. Aspects such as economic growth are no longer objectives alone but are concepts which need to be integrated in a vision of sustainability considering the important social and environmental challenges that our world is facing.”

Giorgio Calderari, Helsinn Group Director General, explained, “I believe that the recent publication of the Group Sustainability Report, “Quality of Life 3”, confirms our goal of including sustainable growth in the company’s strategic plan. Corporate social responsibility is at the heart of our daily activities. We have improved the impact of CO2 emissions, reduced energy and water consumption, established mobility plans and smart working, and have programs to minimize the use of plastic and paper in all of Helsinn’s locations.”

Waldo Mossi, Helsinn Advanced Synthesis Director General, commented: “The modern management and the development of a chemical production site in Switzerland must take into account both economic and environmental aspects. For years Helsinn Advanced Synthesis has been investing both in innovative technologies (with the construction of a modern facility dedicated to the production of anticancer products) and in plants that reduce the impact of our activities on the environment (reduction of emissions). With the completion of the connection to the pipeline thanks to the close collaboration with a local company (NET) we have reached another important goal that will allow us to reduce CO2 emissions by about 80% from 2019.”