The purpose of the company is to research, develop, exploit and market pharmaceutical and similar products and technologies, as well as to trade in (including purchasing, ordering, selling and distributing) such products and technologies. The company may participate in other companies, acquire, exploit, manage and sell real estate and intellectual property rights, establish subsidiaries and branches in Switzerland and abroad, and perform all legal acts that may be necessary or suitable to promote the development of the company or that of group companies. Furthermore, the company may participate directly or indirectly in group financing, in particular by granting loans to its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies, or by providing guarantees, sureties or other securities of any kind for their liabilities to third parties, even if such loans or securities are granted in the exclusive interest of its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies and are provided free of charge.