Roche highlights encouraging pipeline progress

Roche has held an investor event in London to provide an update on its clinical development strategy and the progress of its drug discovery pipeline.

The company's portfolio currently contains 72 new molecular entities (NMEs), with 19 late-stage trials expected to read out over the next 18 months, while three NMEs will move into late-stage development this year.

Thanks to its commitment to personalised healthcare solutions, more than 60 per cent of Roche's pharmaceutical pipeline projects are coupled with the development of companion diagnostics, following the model of the recently launched Perjeta and Zelboraf.

Antibody-drug conjugates and synergistic combinations are being actively researched due to their high oncology potential, while the firm's metabolism and neuroscience operations are also progressing well, and research and development budgets remain stable.

Severin Schwan, chief executive officer of Roche, said: "Roche's strategy is based on developing differentiated medicines and diagnostics in areas of high unmet need that bring true medical benefit to patients."

Last month, the firm announced the appointment of Daniel O'Day as chief operating officer of Roche Pharma, following Pascal Soriot's departure from the group to become chief executive of AstraZeneca.