The sale of Roche's non-prescription business Roche Consumer Health (RCH) to Bayer was closed on 31 December 2004. Following approval by the European Union antitrust authorities, the necessary clearance has now also been obtained from the other relevant authorities. In a few smaller markets where the transaction has yet to be closed, completion is expected within the next few months. The total value of the transaction amounts to around 3.6 billion Swiss francs.

Roche announced the sale of its OTC (over-the-counter medicines) business to Bayer earlier this year. The transaction includes all assets of RCH and the five pharmaceutical production facilities in Grenzach (Germany), Gaillard (France), Pilar (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco) and Jakarta (Indonesia), as well as Roche's 50 per cent stake in its joint venture with Bayer, which markets OTC products in the United States.

The sale of RCH will reinforce Roche's strategy of focusing on its innovation-driven pharmaceuticals and diagnostics divisions, two businesses with significant potential for above-average market growth and high value creation, the Roche release said.