12
RESPONSIBILITY AT A GLANCE 2018– 2019
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance 1
RESPONSIBILITYAT A GLANCE
2018–2019
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance2
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance 3
The Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Switzerland. It aims to become the global
leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. Mid 2019, the company had just over 2,750 employees.
It has production sites in Switzerland and Portugal as well as a dynamic network of affiliates and partners all over the
world. Vifor Pharma products are marketed in more than 100 countries.
The Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier
lives. We focus on having a positive impact on our stakeholders and the communities we operate in. This also supports
our long-term success as a company.
Our Corporate Responsibility approach centres around five Responsibility Pillars, defining the areas where we as
a company see a responsibility towards society and the environment we operate in. The five Responsibility Pillars
reflect our long-term dedication to being a responsible company.
Within each of the pillars, two areas were identified that contribute to a more sustainable business. These Focus Areas
guide our engagements and help us meet our stakeholders’ expectations. They reflect our mid-term focus and are
adaptive to developments.
INTEGRITY
We are highly
committed to
integrity and ethical
business behaviour.
We protect the
rights of our
employees and
stakeholders, and
we foster trust and
transparency.
PATIENTS
Patients are at the
centre of everything
we do. By under-
standing their
needs, we can help
them live better,
healthier lives. With
improved access to
healthcare, more
patients can benefit.
EMPLOYEES
Employees are
our most valuable
resource. We are
committed to
supporting career
development and
fostering a diverse
workforce. We seek
to offer a safe and
attractive work
environment.
ENVIRONMENT
Caring for the
environment is
essential to the
way we conduct
business. We focus
on the efficient use
of resources and
on minimising our
environmental
impact.
COMMUNITY
We respect the
communities in
which we operate.
We engage in
meaningful, local
initiatives and
encourage the
spread of scientific
knowledge and
understanding
of healthcare.
ABOUT VIFOR PHARMA
OUR APPROACH TOWARDS CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
FOCUS AREA
PATIENT NEEDS & SUPPORT
FOCUS AREA
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
FOCUS AREA
BUSINESS BEHAVIOUR
FOCUS AREA
TRANSPARENCY
WE CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH
INTEGRITY
WE FOCUS ON
PATIENTS
FOCUS AREA
EMPLOYEE POTENTIAL
FOCUS AREA
WORKPLACE & WELL-BEING
WE VALUE OUR
EMPLOYEES
FOCUS AREA
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
FOCUS AREA
MINIMISATION OF EMISSIONS
WE CARE ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT
FOCUS AREA
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
FOCUS AREA
SCIENCE & HEALTH KNOWLEDGE
WE ENGAGE WITH OUR
COMMUNITY
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance4
Vifor Pharma’s Responsibility Committee coordinates the company’s Corporate Responsibility activities.
It has a direct link to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.
Responsibility Ambassadors in each national affiliate and production site ensure that our Responsibility approach
is embedded in local organisations.
MANAGING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Vifor Pharma Responsibility – materiality mix
Vifor Pharma publishes annually information and data on its Corporate Responsibility related achievements and activities. Our detailed annual Responsibility Highlights Reports can be found on our corporate website.
Relevance for Vifor Pharma
Patients Needs & Support
Business Behaviour
Transparency
Access to Healthcare
Employee Development
Resource EfficiencySocial Engagement
Minimisation of Emissions
Science & Health Knowledge
low
low
medium
high
very high
medium high very high
Workplace & Wellbeing
Rel
evan
ce fo
r St
akeh
old
ers
In 2018, Vifor Pharma’s Responsibility Committee assessed the relevance and impact of the responsibility areas
on our stakeholders and on Vifor Pharma. The results provide us with valuable insights to consider when assessing
which areas are of particular importance.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY STRATEGYEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY COORDINATIONRESPONSIBILITY COMMITTEE
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY IMPLEMENTATIONRESPONSIBILITY AMBASSADORS NETWORK
TRANS-PARENCY
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
SCIENCE& HEALTH
KNOWLEDGE
PATIENTNEEDS &SUPPORT
ACCESS TOHEALTHCARERESOURCE
EFFICIENCY
MINIMI-SATION OFEMISSIONS
WORKPLACE& WELL-BEING
EMPLOYEE POTENTIAL
BUSINESS BEHAVIOUR
FOCUS AREA
STA
KE
HO
LDE
R R
ELE
VA
NC
EFOCUS A
REA
VIFOR PHARMA RELEVANCE
VIF
OR
PH
AR
MA
REL
EVA
NC
EV
IFOR
PH
AR
MA
RELEV
AN
CE
VIFOR PHARMA RELEVANCEVIFOR PHARMA RELEVANCE
FOC
US A
RE
A FOC
US
AR
EA
STAKEHOLDER RELEVANCESTAKEHOLDER RELEVANCE
STAKEHOLDER RELEVANCE
STAK
EH
OLD
ER
RE
LEV
AN
CE
FOCUS AREA
Informed stakeholders
Better and healthier patient lives
Adequate treatment for underserved
patients
Attractive job and developmentopportunities
Safe, healthyand pleasant
workplaces
Protectedresources
Mitigatedclimate change
Strengthenedcommunities
and aid
Fair business and competition
Ethical business improves corporate culture, reputation and helps prevent legal disputes
INTEGRITYCOMMUNITY
PATIENTSENVIRONMENT
EMPLOYEES
Promoting scienceand health knowledgehelps the acceptance of
our business and enhances visibility
Transparencybuilds trust amongstakeholders and
fosters integrity whenworking with third
parties
Better access tohealthcare creates
opportunities toreach morepatients and
to driveinnovation
Efficient use ofresources reduces
both waste andcosts
Minimising emissionshelps prevent
negative effectsof climate changeand reputational
damage
Social engagementbuilds community
trust, enhances ourreputation and
motivates employees
A skilled and diverseworkforce fostersinnovation and improvesbusiness performance
A healthy and motivatedworkforce improves
performance and leads tobetter retention rates
Engaging with patients helps us to
understand their health needs and improve patient
solutions
Educated andinformed society
DRIVING A MORE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance 5
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance6
WE CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY
FOCUS AREA BUSINESS BEHAVIOUR
FOCUS AREA TRANSPARENCY
In an industry subject to strict regulations, compliance
is key. We work actively against any form of corruption
and are committed to the protection of general human
rights. All our employees are trained on compliance
matters and expected to report violations.
We are committed to sharing and exchanging
relevant information, data and best practice. We
strive to be open about our relationships, especially
with Health Care Professionals (HCPs) and Health
Care Organisations (HCOs), in order to build trust
and improve outcomes and performance.
Our specific measures include:
– Payments and contributions: We disclose
contributions to HCPs and HCOs in accordance
with relevant law and provisions.
– Clinical data: We publish information on clinical
research in accordance with industry principles.
– Advocacy: We have registered with the
EU Transparency Register, as we advocate for a
sustainable business environment and access to
high quality healthcare.
As set forth in our Code of Conduct,
we expect our suppliers to follow
our ethical standards, especially
regarding human rights. This
includes but is not limited to child
or forced labour and other forms
of human rights violations.
Our specific measures include:
– Ethics code: Our Code of Conduct sets forth
expectations regarding ethical business behaviour.
It applies to all our employees.
– Anti-bribery, anti-corruption: An internal directive
sets the standards on our global anti-bribery and
anti-corruption measures.
– Speaking up: A speak-up hotline gives all
our employees an anonymous platform to voice
compliance concerns.
Vifor Pharma is committed to the
‘Principles for Responsible
Clinical Trial Data Sharing’
issued by the European and U.S.
pharmaceutical industry bodies.
Upon request and following
specific criteria, we provide
academic researchers with access
to clinical trial data.
Conducting business in an ethical manner leads
to fairness and improves corporate culture.
Transparency builds trust, fosters integrity and
leads to informed stakeholders.
1 Due to training set-up and natural fluctuation, the total figure slightly differs from the total number of employees.2 Proportion, by value, of payments to healthcare professionals and organisations that were disclosed on individual level for countries in which the Vifor Pharma Group
makes transparency disclosures (except Australia, due to a different disclosure cycle).
COUNTRIES18
LANGUAGES10
TRAINING RATE
ON CODE OF CONDUCT, ANTI-CORRUPTION AND DATA PRIVACY
100% ON CODE OF CONDUCT
ON ANTI- CORRUPTION PREVENTION
ON DATA PRIVACY
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES TRAINED¹ 2,829
2,7902,806
365 DAYS24/7
AROUND THE CLOCKSPEAK-UP HOTLINE
Vifor Pharma’s speak-up hotline for our employees:
Vifor Pharma employees are regularly trained on compliance issues to ensure ethical business conduct. As per May 2019:
Vifor Pharma advocates for a sustainable business
environment and policies ensuring high quality
PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUAL DISCLOSURE OF HCPs AND HCOs BY VALUE 2:
80
60
20
40
%
2016
80
.4
2017
88
.8
2018
89
.3
2015
68
.3
100
healthcare. We have registered in
the EU Transparency Register
that lists stakeholders engaging
with EU institutions on policy
issues.
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance 7
WE FOCUS ON PATIENTS
PATIENTS
FOCUS AREA PATIENT NEEDS & SUPPORT
FOCUS AREA ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
A proactive approach to improving access to medicines
can help ensure more people receive appropriate
treatment. It may also lay the foundation for advancing
innovative solutions. We are committed to contribute to
enhanced access to medicines for underserved patients.
Putting patients at the centre of our work requires us to
understand their burden and needs. We seek to
understand how we can provide meaningful support to
patients by engaging directly with them and learning
how to develop solutions that will make a difference.
Our specific measures include:
– Tools and services: We support numerous information
tools and platforms that provide patients with relevant
support.
– Patient organisations: Where appropriate, we
provide selected patient organisations with financial or
in-kind support.
– Patient centricity: To understand patients’ experience,
we run patient advisory boards and several internal patient
centricity initiatives.
Our specific measures include:
– Access programmes: In specific situations and where
allowed, we may consider entering strictly regulated
access programmes.
– Emergency situations: In emergency situations,
such as natural disasters, we may provide selected
ad-hoc access to medicines and support.
– Advocating for access: Through dedicated
engagement activities we advocate for access to high
quality healthcare.
Our patient support programme
Nefralia® in Spain offers kidney
patients specified services such
as cooking
lessons and
nutritional
information.
Vifor Pharma participates
in the ‘Mechanism for
Coordinated Access to
Orphan Medicines’ a
European initiative aimed
at improving patient access
to innovative medicines.
Daniel, Human
Resources Director,
chronic kidney
disease patient:
“My disease does
not define me.”
Patient Advisory Boards help obtain patient input on clinical trials and the need for disease awareness.
Vifor Pharma develops treatments for patients, making a difference to their lives.As per May 2019:
Learning from patients during a workshop
session, co-developing a patient support platform.
Sam, lawyer, mother of two, iron de-
ficiency patient: “Iron deficiency stops
me being the person I want to be.”
Nick, Founder of the Pumping Marvellous
Foundation, chronic heart failure patient: “Heart
failure makes you feel as if you are failing.”
3 In collaboration with the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF), Vifor Pharma organised in 2019 a Patient Advisory Board on Beta-Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder. We obtained valuable patient input on our clinical trial programme and on the need for disease awareness and patient education.
1st VIFOR PHARMA PATIENT ADVISORY BOARD ON BETA-THALASSEMIA3
5 JUNE 2019
THALASSEMIA PATIENT EXPERTS FROM
9
6 COUNTRIES
APP
RO
X.
7%
WORLD POPULATION WITH A SEVERE HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDER, INCL. THALASSAEMIA
BIRTHS EACH YEAR
300-500 WITH A SEVERE HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDER
THO
USA
ND
OF PATIENT EXPERIENCEMILLION YEARS>9
FERINJECT® FERINJECT®
COUNTRIES WHERE FERINJECT®/ INJECTAFER® HAS BEEN APPROVED
> 76VENOFER®
MILLION PATIENT YEARSOF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
>25
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance8
4 In 2019, all Vifor Pharma locations in Switzerland have been awarded with the Fair Pay certification. The analysis was assessed by INCON, an external consultancy firm, and verifies that Vifor Pharma pays female and male employees equally for the same job or for a job of the same value in the assessed locations.
Vifor Pharma is proud of its diverse and inclusive workforce.
It is important to us to listen to the views of our employees. In 2018, we asked for feedback in a first Group-wide ‘Employee Engagement Survey’.
We want our employees to work in a safe and healthy workplace. We have a number of safety measures in place to keep accident-rates as low as possible.
WE VALUE OUR EMPLOYEES
EMPLOYEES
FOCUS AREA EMPLOYEE POTENTIAL
FOCUS AREA WORKPLACE & WELL-BEING
Our employees’ knowledge and skills are vital
to our ability to research, develop, manufacture and
market therapeutic solutions. Career development
opportunities are key. We value an inclusive and
diverse workforce and support upcoming generations
through dedicated programmes.
Creating an attractive and safe working environment
and encouraging a positive work-life balance are
essential to the well-being of our employees. For
them to thrive, we aim to offer a great workplace,
while listening carefully to their needs and trying
to improve steadily.
Our specific measures include:
– Employee development: We offer a host of
education and development programmes, the
flagship being the Vifor Pharma Academy.
– Inclusion & Diversity: We consider inclusion and
diversity aspects in our talent recruitment to foster
a diverse workforce.
– Future talents: Through our annual Student of the
Year Award programme students can win a 3-month
paid internship.
Our specific measures include:
– Workplace environment: We have strict policies in
place to ensure a safe and discrimination free workplace.
– Employees’ voice: Staff committees contribute to
workplace related issues. Regular employee surveys
provide clues regarding satisfaction rates.
– Work-life-balance: We have a modern home office
policy and parental leave arrangements. Several local
employee assistance programmes exist.
The Vifor Pharma Academy is
a training hub offering employees
development programmes and
personal skills trainings across
a broad range of competencies.
Vifor Pharma has been
awarded the Fair Pay
certification in all our
locations in Switzer-
land 4. This reflects
our commitment to
demonstrate gender
pay equality and
foster inclusion.
Vifor Pharma Australia participated in
Virgin Pulse’s Global Challenge in 2018.
The programme increases job satisfaction,
health and corporate culture.
The annual Student of the Year Award is
co-organised with Universum Global.
At several Vifor
Pharma locations,
employees are
offered regular
health and
wellbeing-related
activities, such as
yoga classes.
Our employees enjoy a modern
working environment with
dedicated areas such as the
Bistro area at our operational
headquarters that allow for
exchange with colleagues.
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN
51.5%
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
43.4%
2016
42.5
24.7
2017
42.2
27.3
2018
LISBON CELEBRATING
DAYS WITHOUT ACCIDENTS (MAY 2018).
28.6%
50.6 51.2%
%
%
50+PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES OLDER THAN 50
76%1,500
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY
ENGAGEMENT SCORE
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance 9
WE CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
FOCUS AREA RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
FOCUS AREA MINIMISATION OF EMISSIONS
Our manufacturing processes and business activities
generate CO2 and other air emissions. We understand
that the impact of climate change will also affect our
wider business and operations. We are therefore
committed to minimise our emissions and introduce
dedicated measures.
Manufacturing medicinal products requires
resources. As non-renewable resources are scarce and
their costs keep rising, we put an increased emphasis
on resource conservation, efficiency measures
and waste management. Conscious and efficient use
of resources is crucial for a sustainable business.
Our specific measures include:
– Renewable sources: All our production sites obtain
100% electricity from hydropower.
– Environmental management: All our production
sites are guided by ISO 14001, the global environmental
management standard.
– Resource consciousness: Our internal ‘Green Code
of Conduct’ defines guidelines for energy use, travel
reduction and conscious use of IT infrastructure.
Our specific measures include:
– Carbon Disclosure Project: We regularly report
environmental data which helps us understand how
environmental issues influence our business model.
– CO2 emissions: Our Swiss production sites have target
agreements to reduce emissions and increase energy
efficiency.
– Responsible care: Vifor Pharma is a signatory of the
‘Responsible Care Global Charter’.
All our production sites are
ISO 14001 certified. This
environmental manage-
ment standard supports
a more efficient use of
resources and reduction
of waste.
We have committed
to sustainability
principles associated
with the Responsible
Care Programme,
the global chemical
industry’s unifying
sustainability initiative.
Solar panels on the rooftop of our Lisbon
production site contribute to the use of
renewable energy.
Our production sites have target agreements in place to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.5
We use modern video
conferencing technology to avoid
unnecessary business travel.
The majority of Vifor Pharma’s sites provides
electric car charging for our employees.
We participate in the
Carbon Disclosure
Project, a non-profit
environmental re-
porting organisation.
We’ve steadily kept
improving our scoring
over the years.
Vifor Pharma aims to keep improving efficiency when using resources or producing waste.
TOTAL CONSUMPTION PER THOUSAND CHF NET SALES
2016
2017
2018
WASTE (kg/TCHF)
0.790.8
3
0.6
4
WATER (m3/TCHF)
0.16
0.18
0.1
5
ENERGY (GJ/TCHF)
0.10
0.12
0.1
2
5 Our Swiss production sites have a target agreement with the national environment agency (BAFU) to reduce CO2 emissions and increase energy efficiency. With support of the private sector Energy Agency (EnAW), measures were identified to achieve the objectives over a period of ten years.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF THERMIC ENERGY
SAVED
9,000GJ>
TOTAL AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY SAVED
4,300GJ
TOTAL CO2 EMISSIONS SAVED
957T
TOTAL NUMBERS OF MEASURES SINCE 2013
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance10
Vifor Pharma employees regularly participate in ‘Kidney Walks’, increasing awareness for a still under- served disease and providing financial support to major kidney patient organisations.
WE ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
FOCUS AREA SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTAs a global company, we operate in a range of
communities. To contribute to their well-being,
we support selected charitable causes and provide
meaningful support of various kinds. It’s a way for us to
show appreciation and give back to these communities.
Being a science-led company, we have extensive
scientific knowledge. We seek to share this knowledge
and contribute to the building of health awareness
and knowledge. We aim to foster interest in science
and increase the general understanding of healthcare-
related issues.
Our specific measures include:
– Local communities: We engage in selected projects
directly supporting local communities.
– Disaster relief: In emergency situations, such as natural
disasters, we provide ad-hoc support, especially when
employees are affected.
– Charity support: We participate in charity events usually
organised by patient groups to support patients and raise
awareness of little-known diseases.
Our specific measures include:
– Science & Innovation: We support initiatives
increasing interest in science-based knowledge
such as simplyscience.ch.
– Providing health knowledge: We share our health
expertise, supporting initiatives such as the Swiss
Congress on Health Economics and Health Sciences.
– Raising awareness: We provide scientific health
information on lay audience platforms such as
irondeficiency.com.
Vifor Pharma Portugal offers
a helping hand: Together with
local stakeholders, such as
Lisbon’s social services, our
Portuguese colleagues
regularly organise initiatives,
where employees collect
goods such as food, clothes
and toys that are then given to
local families in need.
Vifor Pharma employees, as here
in England during ‘UK Charity Day’,
regularly support local charities.
Vifor Pharma supports
Simply Science, a
foundation fostering
interest in natural
sciences among children
and teenagers.
Our employees regularly participate in ‘Kidney
Walks’, fundraising and increasing awareness
for a still under-served disease.
Vifor Pharma Switzerland regularly co-sponsors
expert talks addressing healthcare issues.
Public blood testing
during Iron Deficiency
Day 2018 in
Bucharest, Romania.
FOCUS AREA SCIENCE & HEALTH KNOWLEDGE
6 See Thachil J. Iron deficiency: still under-diagnosed? Br J Hosp Med. 2015;76(9):528-532 | Miller JL. Anemia: a common and curable disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013 Jul; 3(7).
KIDNEY WALKS PARTICIPANTS
Employees in Switzerland
Employees in the US
0 100 200 300 400
2016 91
2017 180
2018 120 276
COUNTRIES TAKING PART IN IRON DEFICIENCY DAY
29
1473
20162015 2017 2018
Since 2015, we celebrate Iron Deficiency Day to raise the awareness of this still under- recognised condition6. It’s proven to be a great success, with more and more countries joining the efforts and introducing local activities such as blood testing or information sessions.
Vifor Pharma Ltd. Responsibility at a glance 11
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stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form
or by any means, without previous written approval by
the Vifor Pharma Group. All Vifor Pharma Group’s
intellectual rights, including copyright, are reserved
by the Vifor Pharma Group.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
Vifor Pharma GroupVifor Pharma Management Ltd. Flughofstrasse 618152 GlattbruggSwitzerland
Phone +41 58 851 80 00 Mail [email protected] Web viforpharma.com
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Vifo
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