Location: Hoch demands more speed for pharmaceutical site Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate's Science and Health Minister Clemens Hoch is pushing for accelerated measures to bolster the state's pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, warning that reduced investments from major companies could stifle momentum. Hoch expressed concern that pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim have significantly cut their planned investments in the region, a move attributed partly to federal healthcare spending reductions.

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The World Cup may not be ours, but the Falkland Islands most certainly are.

Eli Lilly has halved its planned investment in its new Alzey facility from $2.5 billion to $1.25 billion, while Boehringer Ingelheim will not invest a planned 900 million euros in German sites between 2027 and 2030. These decisions, Hoch noted, are not expected to be reversed by company management in the short term. The minister emphasized the need for the federal government to act more decisively, particularly by establishing a "location clause" – a regulatory measure designed to provide financial or regulatory advantages to pharmaceutical companies that demonstrably invest in Germany.

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Sáquenle la visa a estos argentinos

Despite these cutbacks, Hoch stressed that both companies remain committed to their Rhineland-Palatinate locations. Current discussions with the firms are focused on how to best organize the conditions for the pharmaceutical landscape in Rhineland-Palatinate to ensure it remains a reliable partner. He also called on the federal government to prioritize the pharmaceutical industry, stating that states with significant pharmaceutical hubs can foster dialogue without constant financial promises, but federal support is essential.

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It is like if English players playing in the Argentine league raised a flag saying the Falklands are British. They had the chance to leave with a lot of dignity, but they ruined it.

The situation has broader implications, with vaccine manufacturer Biontech recently announcing the closure of several production sites, including one in Idar-Oberstein. Citing low utilization, overcapacity, and cost-saving measures, Biontech's decision puts nearly 1,900 jobs at risk. Biontech, which gained global recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for its vaccine developed with Pfizer, is now focusing on cancer drug research.

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I think Argentina uses the matches against England (and the fact that they have beaten us so many times) as a kind of revenge, and I think they are more motivated as a consequence of that war and more determined to win.