The company's purpose is to conduct research in the field of life sciences and, as a result, to develop and distribute products and technologies in the areas of biotechnology, pharmacy, medical technology, diagnostics, and therapy, as well as to provide services in this context. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and/or abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and/or abroad, acquire, hold, encumber, and sell real estate or intellectual property rights in Switzerland and/or abroad, and conduct all commercial, financial, or other business activities that are directly or indirectly related to the company's purpose. Furthermore, the company may grant loans or other financing to its direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, as well as to third parties, for consideration or free of charge, and provide security of any kind for the liabilities of such persons or group companies, including guarantees, pledges, and fiduciary transfers of the company's assets. In addition, it may engage in liquidity balancing/net liquidity centralization (cash pooling), including periodic balance adjustments (balancing), with group companies, either without consideration, on preferential terms, interest-free, without the intention of generating profits for the company, and assuming bulk risks.