Roche Announces Financial Results for First Half of 2021

Roche increased group sales by 8% in the first half of the year, reaching CHF 31 billion. Roche disclosed its financial results for the first half of 2021. Continuing its successful financial performance, Roche increased group sales by 8% on a constant currency basis compared to the same period of the previous year, bringing them to CHF 31 billion. Pharmaceutical Division sales declined by 3% to CHF 22 billion due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and biosimilar competition; however, recovery effects were noted in certain regions during the second quarter of the year. Diagnostics Division sales posted strong growth of 51%, reaching CHF 9 billion, driven by expansion in the core business area which was significantly impacted by the pandemic in 2020. Roche's market-leading COVID-19 test portfolio contributed a total of CHF 2.5 billion to this increase.  

"The successes we have achieved in our product portfolio support our outlook for year-end"

Commenting on the financial results for the first half of 2021, Roche Group Chief Executive Officer Severin Schwan, stated: "We achieved strong results in the first six months of the year, particularly with demand for our new therapies and COVID-19 tests. The Pharmaceutical Division resumed growth in the second quarter, while our core diagnostics business is showing strong momentum. As expected, demand for COVID-19 tests peaked in the second quarter. Along with all of this, I am extremely excited about the significant progress we have made in our product portfolio, including very promising study results in early-stage lung cancer, additional positive data for our spinal muscular atrophy and COVID-19 therapies. Based on these results achieved in the first half of 2021, I can confirm that the outlook we presented at the beginning of the year for the full year remains on track."