Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche (SWX: ROG) released its Q3 2023 report, indicating that a reduced demand for COVID-19 products impacted global growth, resulting in a 1% year-on-year (YOY) increase at constant exchange rates over the first nine months, with total sales amounting to CHF 44.1 billion (USD 49.4 billion). Excluding COVID-19 products, Roche experienced a 9% YOY growth across the three quarters.
Pharmaceuticals Division Performance
Despite challenges from biosimilars, Roche’s pharmaceuticals division was the growth engine for the group, reporting a 9% YOY sales increase to CHF 33.6 billion (USD 37.7 billion). This robust performance offset the 18% YOY decline in the diagnostics unit’s sales, which fell to CHF 10.4 billion (USD 11.7 billion).
Key Growth Drivers
The top growth-driving drugs from Q1 to Q3 included Vabysmo (faricimab) with sales of CHF 1.6 billion, marking over a 500% YOY expansion. Other notable performers were Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) with CHF 4.8 billion at a 14% increase, Hemlibra (emicizumab) with CHF 3.1 billion at a 19% rise, Polivy with CHF 605 million at a 126% growth, and Evrysdi (risdiplam) with CHF 1.1 billion, up 45%.
Regional Sales Performance
Within the pharmaceuticals division, the US market generated CHF 17.7 billion after an 8% YOY expansion. Europe contributed CHF 6.3 billion with a 7% increase, Japan put in CHF 2.9 billion with 10% growth, and the international region increased 12% to CHF 6.7 billion, led by strong performances in Brazil and Canada. China’s growth was 6%, primarily driven by the influenza drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and cancer drugs Xeloda (capecitabine), Perjeta (pertuzumab), and Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin).-Fineline Info & Tech
