At a time of patent expiries and a strong Swiss franc, the Roche Group is expanding its presence in oncology and other disease areas in order to stimulate growth. Sales for the first half year were CHF 30.4 billion, an increase of 6% at constant exchange rates, and 8% in US dollars. Measured in Swiss francs however, sales declined by 2%. The trend, driven by an appreciation of the franc, was visible across both the pharmaceutical and diagnostics divisions. Pharmaceuticals delivered sales of CHF 23.6 billion, up by 6% at constant exchange rates, and down by 1% in francs, while diagnostics had sales of CHF 6.7 billion, up by 3% at constant rates, and down by 3% in francs.
IFRS operating profit for the first half was CHF 9.67 billion, up by 6% at constant exchange rates, and down by 6% in Swiss francs.
The launch of generic versions of five former Roche blockbuster medicines, including Avastin and Herceptin, put downward pressure on sales. To offset this, the company has widened the scope of its disease coverage and now generates revenue from drugs for asthma, haemophilia A, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, and severe eye diseases. Heading for US regulatory reviews are new drugs and new indications for breast cancer, thyroid eye disease, colon cancer and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.
The diagnostics division received a US approval in the first half for Ventana PTEN, a companion diagnostic to assess the levels of a key protein in prostate cancer. In the EU, it received approvals for two blood tests: one to detect Alzheimer’s pathology and the other to identify latent tuberculosis infection.
Roche is forecasting a mid-single digit increase in sales at constant exchanges rates for the year. It further expects to increase its dividend in Swiss francs. In 2025 the gross dividend was CHF 9.80 per share.
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