Roche maintains strong growth in first quarter of 2013

Roche has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2013, during which it generated a group sales total of 11.6 billion Swiss francs (8.1 billion pounds).

This represented a six percent year-on-year improvement, with growth being driven by strong demand for pharmaceutical products such as Tamiflu, as well as new cancer medicines such as Kadclya and Perjeta.

Performance in the US and emerging markets were shown to be particularly dynamic, while Avastin sales in Europe for ovarian cancer patients were noted as being strong.

Diagnostic product sales also edged upwards during the quarter, leading the healthcare company to confirm its full-year sales targets.

Roche's chief executive officer Severin Schwan said: "The launch of two new cancer drugs – Kadcyla in the US and Perjeta in Europe – will help to further improve our leading market position in oncology."

In 2012, the company's annual sales total came to 45.5 billion francs, which was up by four percent on the previous year.