The company's purpose is to conduct research, development, manufacturing and trade in pharmaceutical products and related technologies and processes, as well as the acquisition, management and marketing of intellectual property rights and participations in other companies, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological field. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, take over representations and conduct all business and conclude contracts that may be suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are directly or indirectly related to it. It may acquire, hold, manage, encumber and sell real estate in Switzerland and abroad. The company may provide direct or indirect financing to its direct or indirect subsidiaries as well as to third parties, including its direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide security of any kind for the liabilities of such companies, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of shares of the company or guarantees of any kind, whether remunerated or not, and conduct all business that is connected with the purpose or suitable to promote it.