Roche says financial results are strong

Roche has described its 2008 financial results as “strong”.

The organisation’s comments follow the release of its full-year figures today, which reported a ten per cent increase of group sales in local currencies and a four per cent rise in operating profit from the record achieved a year ago.

However, the firm’s net income decreased five per cent to 10.8 billion Swiss francs (6.42 billion pounds), which the company says was a result of the strength of the country’s currency.

Commenting on the results, Roche’s chief executive officer Severin Schwan notes Roche continued its positive trend of recent years.

He added: “In these times of economic upheaval it is more important than ever that we adhere rigorously to our strategy.

“We will continue to focus on our core pharmaceuticals and diagnostics businesses.”

In October last year, the company announced its group sales had increased ten per cent over the first nine months of 2008.