Roche beats estimates with strong 2015 sales
pharmafile | January 28, 2016 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing |Â Â Esbriet, Herceptin, Roche, avastinÂ
Roche reported full-year financial results today, beating analysts’ estimates, with the Swiss drugmaker announcing Group sales increases for 2015 in both own currency (+1%) and currency adjusted (5%) terms.
Annual sales were 48.15 billion in Swiss francs (CHF), and net income climbed 4% in constant currency terms to CHF9.06 billion, although this represented a 5% fall in francs, with the Bank of Switzerland having unpegged the currency from the Euro in January 2015.
Pharmaceutical division sales rose 5% to CHF37.3 billion, aided by strong US sales of oncology medicines Herceptin, Avastin and Perjeta, and of Esbriet for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Sales in the Group’s diagnostics division also rose, by 6% to CHF10.8 billion, driven by demand for its immunodiagnostic products, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where sales grew 15%.
The non-Hodgkin lymphoma-treating Mabthera (rituximab) was the company’s overall top seller, growing 5% and accounting for just over CHF7 billion, CHF3.76 billion of which came in the US.
Roche noted the strong progress made on its portfolio last year; in 2015 it achieved five major approvals and four breakthrough therapy designations from the FDA. Roche announced it would submit trial data to regulators worldwide for Ocrelizumab in treating multiple sclerosis and primary progressive multiple sclerosis this year.
Commenting on the Group’s results, Roche chief executive Severin Schwan says: “2015 was a successful year, with strong business results in both Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics, driven by our newly launched medicines and diagnostic platforms. I am particularly pleased with the progress of our product pipeline. We reported important clinical data across several areas including cancer, multiple sclerosis, immune and blood diseases. Based on our strong product portfolio and promising pipeline, we are well positioned for the future.”
The company forecast sales growth in the mid to low single digits for 2016, at constant exchange rates.
Joel Levy
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