In the first nine months of 2010 Group sales rose 2% in local currencies (-1% in Swiss francs; 3% in US dollars) to 36.1 billion Swiss francs. Excluding Tamiflu sales, which as expected were significantly lower than in the previous year, Group sales increased 6% (3% in Swiss francs, 7% in US dollars). The Pharmaceuticals Division's nine-month sales totalled 28.4 billion Swiss francs, an increase of 1% in local currencies (-2% in Swiss francs; 2% in US dollars). Excluding Tamiflu, pharmaceutical sales advanced 5% - in line with global market growth. The Diagnostics Division's sales continued to grow faster than the global in vitro diagnostics market, advancing 8% in local currencies (5% in Swiss francs; 9% in US dollars) to 7.7 billion Swiss francs.
In September Roche was named Supersector Leader in Healthcare in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) for the second year running. This top ranking among the world's leading sustainability-driven healthcare companies is a reflection of Roche's commitment to its employees, communities and the environment, and positions Roche as a global leader in sustainable business practices. Roche has been included in the DJSI World and DJSI STOXX since 2004 and was first named Supersector Leader in Healthcare in 2009.
Full-year outlook confirmed
Despite lower Tamiflu sales (expected to total up to 1 billion Swiss francs in the current year, down from 3.2 billion Swiss francs in 2009) and the more challenging market environment, Roche confirms its full-year outlook for 2010 on the basis of the positive nine-month sales performance. Barring unforeseen events, Roche expects local-currency sales growth in the mid-single-digit range for the Group and the Pharmaceuticals Division in 2010 (excluding Tamiflu sales). Full-year sales by the Diagnostics Division are expected to grow significantly ahead of the market. Roche is also aiming for double-digit growth in core earnings per share at constant exchange rates.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2009, Roche had over 80'000 employees worldwide and invested almost 10 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 49.1 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.