Roche's New Basel Lab Uses Organoids to Revolutionize Drug Testing

A 23,000-square-metre hub for next-gen medicine is here. Roche's high-tech facility could transform how we test drugs—faster, smarter, and more humanely.

, and Administrator

2026 March 23 . 10:02 PM

1 min read

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Roche's New Basel Lab Uses Organoids to Revolutionize Drug Testing

Roche has opened a cutting-edge research facility in Basel dedicated to human biology and drug development. The new Institute of Human Biology (IHB) aims to speed up medical discoveries while cutting back on animal testing. Officially inaugurated on 23 March 2026, the centre marks a major investment in advanced research technologies.

The IHB occupies a fully refurbished 23,000-square-metre building, originally constructed in 2000. Now renamed Building 92, it specialises in human model systems and organoid technology—tiny lab-grown structures that mimic human organs. The facility can house up to 250 researchers working on next-generation drug testing methods.

During the opening, IHB co-director Matthias Lütolf showcased a robot designed to automate organoid preparation. This machine can process thousands of samples at once, significantly boosting research efficiency. Roche's 100 million Swiss franc renovation reflects its commitment to modernising drug development processes. So far, no international partnerships for organoid research have been announced since the facility's launch.

The new IHB facility represents Roche's push toward faster, more ethical drug testing. By focusing on human-based models, the company expects to reduce reliance on animal experiments. The centre's advanced tools and expanded capacity could reshape how new medicines are developed in the coming years.