Roche Group, one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare company, posted sales growth of 21.5 per cent during the first quarter ended March 2006 to 9.8 billion Swiss francs (CHF) as against 8.09 billion CHF in the corresponding period of last year. The pharmaceutical division recorded total sales of 7.74 billion CHF as compared to 6.16 billion CHF in the last period, a strong growth of 26 per cent. Sales of the cancer medicines grew very strongly by 52 per cent.

Commenting on the Group's performance, Franz B Humer, Chairman and CEO, said, "Roche commenced the year with an outstanding quarter and all growth drivers continued last year's strong performance. Sales growth was primarily driven by our novel cancer medicines with proven survival benefits, and Tamiflu was also a major contributor to growth. US approval of the first rheumatoid arthritis indication for MabThera/Rituxan and the progress we have made in developing Actemra are major milestones for our emerging autoimmune disease franchise. The molecular diagnostics business and immunochemistry portfolio continued to be the main growth drivers for our Diagnostics Division, We expect sales in this division to accelerate over the next several quarter."

Barring unforeseen events, Roche expects full year sales and income for 2006 to be up significantly from 2005.

The sales growth in North America and Europe worked out to 24 per cent. The sales in Japan, however, declined by 8 per cent due to seasonal shifts in Tamiflu sales and trade stock adjustments in anticipation of government price cuts, which became effective from April 2006.

The company has 59 new molecular entities (NMEs) and 5 additional indications in its R&D pipeline.