Roche Starts 2019 on a Strong Note

Roche, one of the world's leading companies in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics through its science and innovation-based work, delivered strong results in the first quarter of 2019. Group sales increased 8% on a constant currency basis year-over-year to reach CHF 14.8 billion. Pharmaceutical Division sales rose 10% to CHF 11.9 billion, while Diagnostics Division sales increased 1% to CHF 2.9 billion. Severin Schwan, Chief Executive Officer of Roche Group, said: "We entered 2019 with strong sales growth as a group. In particular, the high demand for new treatments introduced by our pharmaceutical unit and the important approvals we received from health authorities in the framework of cancer immunotherapy, along with our diagnostics unit's advances in molecular diagnostics, propelled our performance forward. These results from the first three months will mean improved guidance for the full year 2019."