The company's purpose is to conduct research, development, manufacturing, sales and licensing of products in the fields of biotechnology, pharmacy, medical technology, diagnostics and therapy, and related fields. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad. The company may acquire, hold, manage, encumber, exploit and dispose of intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad, as well as finance other companies. The company may provide direct or indirect financing to its direct and indirect subsidiaries and third parties, including its direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide security for its own liabilities and those of other companies (including direct or indirect shareholders of the company or companies in which these shareholders are directly or indirectly involved), including by way of pledges, fiduciary transfers or assignments of the company's assets, or guarantees, sureties, or other forms of collateral. Furthermore, the company may engage in cash pooling with the aforementioned companies or join such an arrangement, including periodic account balancing. All of this may be done by the company without consideration, on preferential terms, without interest, without regard to the company's profitability, and with the assumption of cluster risks. The company may engage in all commercial, financial and other activities that appear to promote the company's purpose or are related to it.