The company's purpose is to research, develop, manufacture, market, acquire and distribute pharmaceutical and diagnostic products and technologies. The company may establish subsidiaries and branches in Switzerland and abroad and participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad. The company may acquire, hold and sell real estate and intellectual property rights. The company may also carry out all commercial, financial and other activities that are directly or indirectly related to the company's purpose. The company may provide direct or indirect financing to third parties or companies in which it is directly or indirectly involved, as well as to direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such parties are directly or indirectly involved, by means of loans and/or other financing, including within the framework of cash pooling agreements. The company may grant securities of any kind for its own liabilities or the liabilities of the aforementioned persons, including by means of pledges, assignments, fiduciary transfers, guarantees of any kind or by means of offset obligations, whether against payment or not, even if such financing, securities or guarantees are in the exclusive interest of third parties or companies in which it is directly or indirectly involved, or of direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such parties are directly or indirectly involved.