Strong start to 2018 for Roche, as sales grow 6%

In the first three months of 2018, group sales at Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX) rose 6% to 13.6 billion Swiss francs ($13.8 billion), beating analysts’ average estimate of 13.3 billion francs in a Reuters poll.

Sales in the Pharmaceuticals Division increased 7% to 10.7 billion francs. A key growth driver was Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), used to treat two forms of multiple sclerosis. It continued its strong growth in the USA and was launched in Europe and additional countries worldwide during the first quarter.

The continued strong sales increase of Perjeta (pertuzumab) was supported by the US approval for its use for adjuvant (after surgery) treatment of patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence. By the end of the first quarter, 10 countries had granted approval for Perjeta in this additional indication. The growth reported for the Pharmaceuticals Division was partially offset by lower sales of MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab), Tarceva (erlotinib) and Avastin (bevacizumab).