Roche announces financial results for 2009

Roche has published its financial results for the whole of 2009, revealing record sales and double-digit growth in operating profit.

Group sales increased to 49.1 billion Swiss francs (29.16 billion pounds), equating to a rise of ten per cent.

Operating profit was up by 14 per cent to 15 billion Swiss francs, something the group attributes to ongoing productivity improvements and sturdy sales growth.

Additionally, sales of the firm’s pharmaceutical products also grew by 11 per cent – driven by cancer medications, Tamiflu and the organisation’s ophthalmology medicine Lucentis.

Chief executive officer of Roche Severin Schwan said: “We have laid the foundation for future growth – our pharmaceutical pipeline now comprises ten new molecular entities in late-stage development – which is remarkable by any standards in our industry.”

Last month, Roche revealed that it will invest 190 million Swiss francs into centres working towards the development of a device that will allow patients to self-administer biological cancer therapies.