Roche Q1 boosted by Tamiflu sales

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

Roche has reported a positive start to 2013, with Group sales having increased by 6% in the first quarter. The successful launch of two new cancer drugs contributed largely to this sales increase, as did the severe flu season in North America which led to an 84% higher demand in Tamiflu.

Sales in the pharmaceuticals division rose by 7% to a total of 9.2 billion Swiss francs. This was mainly attributed by the oncology portfolio, whose sales grew 10%.

“We got off to a very good start in 2013 due to strong organic growth. The launch of two new cancer drugs, Kadcyla in the United States and Perjeta in Europe, will help to further improve our leading market position in oncology. Based on the first-quarter results, I am confident we will meet our full-year targets.”

Roche CEO Severin Schwan.

Overall Roche Group sales were particularly dynamic in the United States and emerging markets, while strong demand for Avastin in ovarian cancer led to an increase in pharma sales in Europe.

As Roche CEO Severin Schwan has stated, the Swiss pharma company expects Group sales in 2013 to increase in line with last year’s sales growth and beyond.

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