FIRST quarter sales were up six percent to 12.2 billion Swiss francs (US$11.6 billion) for Roche Holding AG, with both its pharmaceutical and diagnostic divisions showing growth. The Swiss drugmaker's key cancer drugs, including the flagship Avastin, were seeing increased sales, and more medicines were meeting approval for US markets. Confirming the company's outlook for 2010, CEO Severin Schwan said Roche was off to a very good start in 2010. The results beat several analysts' expectations. The group was anticipating a decrease in sales of Tamiflu - the anti-influenza drug - from 3.2 to 1.2 billion Swiss francs. Until now the drug has helped drive sales, in part over surging demand during the swine flu outbreak. Roche also confirmed that it plans to introduce at least six new medicines by the end of 2014.

SAPA, 16 April 2010