any activity related to research, development, and marketing of technologies in the field of biology and medical technology. It may perform any act and exercise any activity that is directly or indirectly related to its purpose. It may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and may hold participations in other companies, provided that companies holding real estate in Switzerland must have an exclusively commercial use. It may acquire, hold, encumber limited real rights, administer and alienate properties in Switzerland (with exclusively commercial use only) and abroad, as well as intellectual property. It may grant loans or any other form of financing to affiliated companies or third parties, as well as provide any type of security, for the direct or indirect benefit of affiliated companies or third parties, with or without remuneration, in particular in the form of guarantees, pledges or fiduciary transfers of the Company's assets.