Roche reports “very good start” to 2008

First quarter sales figures for Swiss company Roche show growth in both its pharmaceutical and diagnostics divisions, the company has announced.

Group sales are up by nine per cent, excluding the flu pandemic treatment Tamiflu, to 10.8 billion Swiss francs (5.45 billion pounds).

When Tamiflu sales are added to the picture, group sales were 10.9 billion francs.

Roche stated its main successes are its five oncology treatments plus CellCept and Bonviva/Boniva, and noted the approval of several key drugs across several markets including Japan.

Its diagnostics division was also growing ahead of the market and Roche noted its acquisition of Ventana had been completed successfully.

The outlook for 2008 was confirmed as “high single-digit sales increase for the group, with above-market sales growth in both divisions”.

At Roche’s annual general meeting in March the annual report and financial statements were approved for 2007 and the dividend for shareholders was raised by 35 per cent.

Roche recently bought privately-owned biotechnology firm Priamed, extending its oncology portfolio.