Roche Group's sales during the first nine months ended September 2011 declined by 12.8 per cent to 31.5 billion Swiss Franc (CHF) from 36.1 billion CHF in the corresponding period of last year. Its pharmaceutical sales declined by 14.1 per cent to 24.4 billion CHF from 28.4 billion CHF and that of Diagnostics division moved down by 8.2 per cent to 7.1 billion CHF from 7.7 billion CHF in the similar period of last year.

The sales of Roche’s leading cancer medicines Herceptin increased by 8 per cent, and MabThera/Rituxan by 7 per cent. Eye medication Lucentis sales surged by 26 per cent and that of  rheumatoid arthritis medicine Actemra up by 86 per cent and professional diagnostics business increased by 9 per cent  The Group successfully launched targeted skin cancer medication Zelboraf  and companion diagnostic cobas BRAF Mutation Test following FDA approvals in August in US. EU approval expected in Q1 2012 and EU expert panel recommends approval of Avastin as front-line therapy for ovarian cancer.

Commenting on the Group’s 2011 performance to date, Roche CEO Severin Schwan said: “Roche’s solid sales performance in the third quarter is in line with our expectations. We’re on track to achieve our targets for 2011. The successful US launch of our new melanoma medicine Zelboraf and the diagnostic cobas BRAF test has strengthened our leading position in personalised healthcare. The good results we have achieved with new medicines in seven late-stage clinical trials so far this year further enhance our prospects for future growth.”

In the first nine months of 2011 Roche reported positive data from seven clinical studies, several of which have already formed the basis for regulatory filings and approvals in the third quarter

Its pharmaceutical sales in US declined by 16.3 per cent to 9.1 billion CHF from 10.9 billion CHF in the corresponding period of last year.  Sales in Western Europe decreased by 14.9 per cent to 6.2 billion CHF primarily due to government austerity measures. A decrease of 13.6 per cent in sales in Japan, excluding Tamiflu, was due primarily to ongoing effects following the disastrous earthquake in March. Diagnostics Division sales declined by 8.2 per cent to 7.1 billion CHF  The overall demand for immunoassays and in particular the division’s performance in China, where sales increased 25 per cent. In the third quarter Roche Diagnostics launched 17 new products in key markets .

Roche confirms its full-year outlook for 2011 on the basis of the positive nine-month sales performance. Barring unforeseen events, Group and Pharmaceuticals sales (excluding Tamiflu) are expected to grow at low single-digit rates at constant exchange rates, reflecting the impact of US healthcare reforms and European austerity measures. Pharmaceuticals sales are thus expected to grow in line with the market. In 2011 Diagnostics sales are again expected to grow significantly ahead of the market, driven by further rollouts of new products in all business areas.