Roche reports ‘strong’ sales growth

Roche has published its financial figures for the first nine months of the year, with the company posting ‘strong’ sales growth for the period while restating its core-earnings per share target and outlook for the full year.

The company generated a 12 per cent increase in group sales to 33.9 billion Swiss francs (14.1 billion pounds) for the first nine months of 2007 on the back of a 14 per cent rise in pharmaceutical sales in local currencies.

Roche posted double-digit growth in vital oncology drugs, while noting a positive response from the market to its launch of Avastin in the EU as a treatment for advanced lung cancer.

Franz B Humer, chairman and chief executive officer of the company, said: “With its strong nine-month sales growth of 12 per cent, the Roche group continues to outperform the market.

“Revenue growth in the second half of last year, as we all know, was also driven by a peak in stockpiling orders for Tamiflu for use in the event of a pandemic.”

He added that the double-digit growth of the firm continued following the completion of these orders, driven by a broad product portfolio.

In July 2007, Roche announced that, following its next annual shareholder’s meeting due to take place in March 2008, Dr Humer would be replaced in the role of chief executive by Severin Schwan.