A pharma location with a long tradition and innovative dynamics

The sustainable success of the pharmaceutical industry in Berlin-Brandenburg is based on innovative products and a history dating back to the 19th century. The industry benefits from an excellent scientific and clinical environment as well as proximity to the decision-makers of the German health care system. Added to this is the geographic location of the German capital region, which provides good access to Western, Central, and Eastern European markets. Global players such as Bayer, Berlin-Chemie (Menarini), Daiichi Sankyo, Pfizer, Bausch + Lomb, Sanofi, and Takeda, as well as more than 30 medium-sized pharmaceutical companies are based in Berlin-Brandenburg and employ around 12,300 people. 

The close connection between research, development, and clinical practice is also reflected in the successful and well-established translational research, the excellent infrastructure for technology transfer,  and the many opportunities to implement clinical trials in the region. With a large and diverse patient collective and over 140 clinics, the Berlin-Brandenburg region enables all types of clinical research projects. 

No. 1 in Clinical Studies in Germany 

Nationwide, the most clinical studies are carried out in Berlin (as of 2022). The driver is above all Charité, as Germany's largest and most prestigious university hospital. The Charité Research Organization (CRO), a subsidiary of the Charité, also plays a key role. As a service provider for conducting early clinical trials – first time in human (FTIH) to proof of concept (PoC) – its main area of responsibility is conducting complex clinical trials with a translational approach in many therapeutic areas. Around 20 other clinical research organizations are located in the capital region, including Parexel, with more than 800 employees at the location.