Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche (SWX: ROG) released its Q4 and full-year 2024 financials, reporting a strong year with 7% year-on-year (YOY) growth across the group at constant exchange rates. Total sales reached CHF 60.495 billion ($66.34 billion), while overall group revenues were CHF 62.395 billion ($68.42 billion), also up 7%.
Divisional Sales Performance
In terms of divisional sales, the Pharmaceuticals division achieved CHF 46.171 billion ($50.63 billion) after an 8% YOY expansion. The Diagnostics division generated CHF 14.324 billion ($15.7 billion) with 4% YOY growth.
Pharmaceuticals: Key Growth Drivers
Key growth drivers in the Pharmaceuticals division included:
- Ophthalmology drug Vabysmo (faricimab), with sales up 68% to CHF 3.86 billion ($4.23 billion).
- Multiple sclerosis therapy Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), up 9% to CHF 6.74 billion ($7.39 billion).
- Allergy and asthma therapy Xolair (omalizumab), with 16% growth to CHF 2.47 billion ($2.7 billion).
- Lymphoma therapy Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin), up 39% to CHF 1.12 billion ($1.23 billion).
Geographic Performance
Geographic performance showed strong expansion in International markets at 17%, with China up 6%. Key drivers in China included breast cancer drug Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine), PD-L1 inhibitor Tecentriq (atezolizumab), ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy Alecensa (alectinib), and Avastin (bevacizumab). Demand for Vabysmo, which was added to the National Reimbursement Drug List at year-end, and the newly launched Polivy also contributed to growth.
Pipeline Adjustments
The earnings presentation revealed significant adjustments in the pipeline, with five new molecular entities (NMEs) seeing Phase I trials cancelled:
- RG7827, a 4-1BB agonist antibody fusion protein.
- RG6194 (runimotamab), a HER2xCD3 bispecific drug.
- RG6323 (efbalropendekin alfa), an interleukin (IL)-15/IL-15-receptor alpha (IL-15Ra) complex fused to a bispecific Fc domain.
- A glypican-3xCD3-targeted bispecific antibody from Chugai.
- SPYK04, an oral drug under development for solid tumors with MAPK pathway alterations.
Notably, the 4-1BB agonist RG7827 is only discontinued for development in combination with CEAxCD3 bispecific cibisatamab, with ongoing studies for the molecule alone or in other combinations still planned.-Fineline Info & Tech
