Inside TRB Chemedica: a visit to one of Valais’ quiet pharmaceutical powerhouses
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Tucked away in Vouvry, in the Swiss canton of Valais, TRB Chemedica is the kind of company that rarely makes headlines yet quietly supplies patients around the world. A delegation from Swiss Valley recently had the opportunity to tour the site, discover its manufacturing processes, and walk the prefilled-syringe filling lines first-hand.
The company specialises in prefilled syringes containing hyaluronic-acid-based solutions designed to relieve joint pain. Its flagship product, OSTENIL®, is a viscoelastic solution injected directly into the joint space to ease pain and improve mobility in osteoarthritis of the knee — as well as other large synovial joints such as the hip and shoulder.
But joint care is only part of the picture. The Vouvry site also produces ophthalmic solutions for vision care. Visiol® is intended for use as a surgical aid in operations on the anterior and posterior segments of the eye, including: cataract extraction, intraocular lens implantation, corneal transplantation, filtration surgery for glaucoma, and surgical procedures for retinal reattachment.
Furthermore, TRB Chemedica manufactures in Valais GM1, a compound used notably in South America to relieve the effects of Parkinson’s disease. The GM1 production is a particularly striking example of pharmaceutical craftsmanship: derived from porcine brain tissue, it relies on an extremely precise and demanding manufacturing process, with output of around 50 kg per year.
Beyond manufacturing, the site is home to a dedicated Research & Development hub, and further expansion projects are on the horizon — though details were not disclosed during the visit.
A family business with global reach
Founded in 1980 by Guido Di Napoli, TRB Chemedica remains a family-owned company. The Vouvry site employs 107 people and forms part of an international group with around 1,000 staff and 20 subsidiaries worldwide. The group reported 2024 sales of roughly CHF 250 million, and operates three production facilities: Vouvry (Switzerland), Brazil, and Argentina.
A warm thank-you to Philippe Tivollier, site director, for his welcome and for opening the doors to a business that combines deep manufacturing expertise with a genuine commitment to patient care — right here in the Valais.
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