Roche Group, Switzerland, posted better financial performance during the first half ended June 2005 on account of strong sales growth for oncology products and the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu.

The company’s sales for the first half of 2005 touched 16,622 million Swiss Francs (CHF) from 14,526 million CHF in the corresponding period of last year. Its net earnings increased by 4 per cent to 3242 million CHF from 3121 million CHF. The company’s R&D spending increased by 8 per cent to 2559 million CHF from 2,361 million CHF in similar period of last year.

The company’s Pharmaceuticals division was the key growth driver with sales increased three times faster than the global market average and significantly ahead of the growth rates in the US, Europe and Japan, the division’s three most important markets. The Pharma division notched up sales of 12,652 million CHF as against 10,647 million CHF in the last period, registering a growth of 19 per cent. The profit before interest, depreciation and taxation of this division increased by 21 per cent to 4335 million CHF from 3584 million CHF. In the Diagnostics division, sales in local currencies increased by 4 per cent, in line with global market growth.

Franz B Humer, chairman and CEO, said, “ Roche performed extremely well in the first half of 2005, we increased our net income, strengthened our market position and made progress on major development projects. Our strong sales growth resulted in additional market share gains, and we saw a further significant improvement in the Group’s earnings performance. Most important of all, though, are the very positive data coming out of so many of the Group’s clinical trials. We therefore remain confident about the outlook for full-year 2005, despite the loss of our Rocephin patent in the US, and we are raising our guidance again for the Pharmaceutical Division.”