Developments in Bavaria and Munich
The Bavarian biopharmaceutical industry has seen record investments and stable development, despite global economic challenges.
The number of employees in Bavaria remained largely stable at 57,000 (-2%), as growth in the pharmaceutical sector and among contract research organizations (CROs) almost offset the slight decline in the number of employees at biotech companies.
Overall, the sector set a new record for financing in Bavaria in 2024/25. At EUR 910 million, this was almost double the previous year's figure. The investment round of EUR 188 million for the radiopharmaceutical company ITM in Garching was outstanding. CatalYm (139 million EUR), Tubulis (128 million EUR) and SciRhom (63 million EUR) also reported successful financing rounds:
Among the large companies, Roche opened a new center for the development of gene therapies in Penzberg - another milestone for the site south of Munich. In addition, the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony took place for a new production center for diagnostics, which will be built with an investment volume of around 600 million euros.
In Oberschleissheim, north of Munich, a new life science cluster is being built on an area of 15 hectares: this ONE Health & Technology Cluster is specially designed for cutting-edge research in the fields of medicine, medical technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical products and IT. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025/2026, with completion scheduled for 2027.
In drug development, the area of cancer therapeutics continued to dominate, accounting for more than half of all projects, followed by therapeutics for the central nervous system, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.
