Original from: Roche

·    Group sales were up by 5%1 at constant exchange rates (CER) (stable in CHF) in the first half, driven by the high demand for both our medicines and diagnostics; excluding COVID-19-related products, sales increased by 8% 

·    Group sales growth accelerated to 9% (7% in CHF) in the second quarter as the decline in COVID-19-related sales no longer had an impact on overall sales

·    Pharmaceuticals Division sales rose by 5% in the first half; strong growth of 8% in the base business2 excluding COVID-19 effect was driven by continued high demand for our newer medicines to treat severe diseases; eye medicine Vabysmo was again the major growth driver

·    Diagnostics Division sales rose by 5%, while growth in the base business2, which excludes the impact of COVID-19 sales, was 9% due to higher demand for immunodiagnostic products

·    Core operating profit increased by 11% (4% in CHF), core earnings per share grew by 9% (1% in CHF) and IFRS net income was down by 4%

·    Outlook for 2024 earnings raised

·    Highlights:

    -     US approval for Vabysmo prefilled syringe for three leading causes of vision loss and PiaSky for a rare blood condition; US filing acceptance for Susvimo in two leading causes of vision loss in adults with diabetes

    -     US FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation, priority review and filing acceptance for inavolisib (breast cancer); US FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Columvi (blood cancer)

    -     EU approval for Ocrevus subcutaneous injection (multiple sclerosis) and Alecensa (early-stage lung cancer); positive EU opinion for Vabysmo (retinal vein occlusion, a severe eye disease) and PiaSky in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare blood condition; EU marketing authorisation application review initiated for Elevidys (Duchenne muscular dystrophy)

    -     Positive phase III data for Columvi (blood cancer), five-year data for Evrysdi (spinal muscular atrophy), four-year data for Vabysmo (DME, a severe eye disease), phase Ib data for CT-388(obesity) and phase I data for CT-996 (obesity)

     -     CE mark for Accu-Chek SmartGuide, an AI-enabled continuous glucose monitoring solution offering critical predictions to people living with diabetes

    -     US approval of human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection solution, the first available in the country to allow women to privately collect their samples; two new WHO prequalifications for cervical cancer screening tools, including HPV self-collection solution

    -     Launch of new analytical units, cobas c 703 and cobas ISE neo, to deliver higher testing capacity and increased automation for laboratories

Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker: “Our strong sales growth in the first half of 2024 reflects the high demand for our innovative medicines and diagnostics. In the second quarter, we saw an acceleration of our growth momentum as Group sales were no longer impacted by the decline in COVID-19 sales, resulting in very strong sales growth for the Group. Based on our strong half-year results, we are raising our earnings outlook for the full year.

We also received a number of important regulatory approvals in the last three months, including EU approval for Alecensa for a form of early-stage lung cancer, as well as for the subcutaneous injection of Ocrevus, which provides an additional treatment option for multiple sclerosis. I am particularly pleased about the US approval for the ready-to-use prefilled syringe of our eye medicine Vabysmo, which continues to be our main growth driver. In diagnostics, our new Accu-Chek SmartGuide solution for continuous blood glucose monitoring uses artificial intelligence to provide reliable blood glucose level forecasts for several hours.”

Outlook for 2024 earnings raised
Roche expects an increase in Group sales in the mid single digit range (CER). 

Core earnings per share are targeted to grow in the high single digit range (CER), excluding the impact from the resolution of tax disputes in 2023. 

Roche expects to further increase its dividend in Swiss francs.

Group results
In the first half of 2024, Group sales were up by 5% at CER (stable in CHF) at CHF 29.8 billion. While the appreciation of the Swiss franc slowed against most currencies, it had an adverse impact on the results presented in Swiss francs compared to constant exchange rates.

Core operating profit grew by 11% (4% in CHF), driven by higher sales and cost management.

Core earnings per share increased by 9% (1% in CHF). IFRS net income was 4% lower (-11% in CHF), mainly due to the impairment of product and technology intangible assets in the research or development phase following strategic decisions. In addition, the IFRS result was impacted by the base effect of the release of provisions related to litigations in the first half of 2023. 

The Pharmaceuticals Division base business grew by 8%, while divisional sales increased by 5% to CHF 22.6 billion, driven primarily by higher sales of Vabysmo (severe eye diseases), with growing demand for Phesgo (breast cancer), Ocrevus (multiple sclerosis), Polivy (blood cancer) and Evrysdi (spinal muscular atrophy). These five medicines together generated total sales of CHF 7.3 billion, an increase of CHF 1.8 billion (CER) from the first half of 2023. 

The eye medicine Vabysmo, launched in early 2022, remained a major growth driver, generating sales of CHF 1.8 billion on growing demand in all regions, mainly the US. 

Sales of MabThera/Rituxan, Herceptin and Avastin decreased by a combined CHF 0.4 billion (CER) as the impact of biosimilar competition slowed further. Sales of the COVID-19 medicine Ronapreve were minimal compared with CHF 0.5 billion in the first half of 2023.

In the United States, sales grew by 5% as increased sales of Vabysmo, Polivy, Ocrevus and Xolair (food allergies) were partially offset by the continued decline in sales of medicines for which patent protection has expired. Vabysmo achieved CHF 1.4 billion in sales, showing a high uptake in both new patients and patients switching from other medications. 

In Europe, sales surged by 10%, driven by demand for Vabysmo in France, the UK and Germany as well as by the continued uptake of Phesgo, Ocrevus, Hemlibra (haemophilia) and Evrysdi. This was partially offset by lower sales of medicines for which patent protection has expired and of Perjeta (breast cancer) due to ongoing conversion of patients to Phesgo. 

Sales in Japan were down 28%, mainly due to the base effect of the supply of Ronapreve (COVID-19) to the government in the first half of 2023. Excluding this effect, sales in Japan were 5% lower as strong demand for Phesgo was more than offset by the impact of government price cuts.

Sales in the International region increased by 17%, led by demand for Perjeta, Evrysdi, Phesgo and Tecentriq (cancer immunotherapy). Sales in China increased by 14%, driven by Perjeta, Alecensa (lung cancer), Avastin (liver cancer), Xofluza (influenza) and Polivy.

The Diagnostics Division base business grew by 9%, while divisional sales increased by 5% to CHF 7.2 billion. Immunodiagnostic products, which include cardiac, oncology and thyroid tests, were the main growth drivers (11%). Additional growth impetus came from clinical chemistry (8%), advanced staining techniques in oncology (11%) and from companion diagnostics (46%).

The continued good growth in the division’s base business was partially offset by the expected sales decline of COVID-19-related products. Sales of COVID-19 tests further declined to CHF 0.1 billion in the first half of 2024 from CHF 0.4 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Sales growth was reported across all regions, with the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region growing by 4%, North America by 5%, Asia-Pacific by 3% and Latin America by 16%.

Source: Roche sales increase by 5% (CER) in first half of 2024; strong growth in second quarter – full-year earnings outlook raised