Roche Group has presented strong growth in net earnings during the year ended December 2013 on account of higher demand for biologic medicines in the area of oncology, immunology and ophthalmology. Its net profit improved by 17.7 per cent to Swiss Francs (CHF) 11,373 million from CHF 9,660 million in the previous year. Its sales improved by 2.6 per cent to CHF 46,780 million from CHF 45,499 million. EPS surged by 10 per cent to CHF 14.27 and the Board increased dividend by 6 per cent to CHF 7.80 per share.

Sales of the pharmaceutical division grew by 7 per cent to CHF 36,304 million during 2013 from CHF 35,232 million in the previous year due to continued strength of established and new medicines for cancer as well as good growth in medicines for rheumatoid and eye diseases. This worked out to over 78 per cent of its total sales. The sales of oncology division increased by 10 per cent to CHF 22,553 million from CHF 21,163 million. The immunology segment registered 11 per cent sales growth to CHF 4,628 million from CHF 4,285 million. However, sales of infectious diseases, neuroscience and other therapeutic areas declined during 2013.

Severin Schwan, CEO, said, “2013 was a very good year for Roche. We exceeded our financial targets with strong demand for our existing products and positive uptake of recently launched medicines and diagnostics. With the launch of Perjeta and Kadcyla, we have added a new generation of treatments for women with a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer. Another highlights was the launch of Gazyva for chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the US.”

Roche's eight products viz., Avastin, Herceptin, MabThera/Rituxan, Xeloda, Tarceva, Actemra/RoActemra, Pegasys and Lucentis remained as blockbuster during 2013. The sales of Avastin increased by 13 per cent to CHF 6,254 million from CHF 5,764 million and that of Herceptin went up by 6 per cent to CHF 6,079 million from CHF 5,889 million. The sales of MabThera/Rituxan for oncology increased by 5 per cent to CHF 5,760 million and that for immunology increased by 12 per cent to CHF 1,191 million.

Its pharmaceutical sales in US increased by 10 per cent to CHF 15,097 million from CHF 13,856 million in the previous year. Its sales in Europe improved by 2 per cent to CHF 9,254 million from CHF 8,952 million and that in Japan increased similarly by 2 per cent to CHF 3,405 million. Emerging market sales went up by 12 per cent.

The diagnostic division has registered sales growth of 4 per cent to CHF 10,476 million during the year ended December 2013 with strong demand at clinical laboratories for products. Diabetes care sales, however, declined by 3 per cent to CHF 2,459 million due to challenging market environment and reimbursement changes in blood glucose monitoring in some key markets like US. The diagnostic sales in Europe, Middle East and Africa increased by 2 per cent to CHF 4,825 million and that in North America increased by one per cent to CHF 2,611 million. The sales in Asia-Pacific jumped by 13 per cent to CHF 802 million.