Roche is one of the world's largest research-based healthcare groups. The company is involved in the discovery, development and manufacture of pharmaceuticals and diagnostic systems. It claims to be the world’s biggest biotech company and an innovator of products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Roche is a leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, a market leader in virology and active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammation, metabolism and central nervous system.
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, it has around 80,080 employees active in more than 150 countries.
History
The Roche group was founded in 1896.
Company movements
In August 2009, Roche said that it plans to exercise an option to buy a biopharmaceutical facility in Singapore from Lonza for $290m (€203m) plus milestone payments of $70m. For more on this please see Roche buys Lonza biopharmaceutical facility in Singapore on ICIS news.
In March 2009, Roche reached an agreement to take over the remaining stake in Genentech in a $46.8bn (€36.6bn) merger deal. Roche already owns more than 56% of Genentech.
Roche Pharmaceuticals
This division has around 52,000 employees and forms the core of all Roche's operations. Divisional headquarters are in Basel, Switzerland, with affiliates in over 50 countries and business activities in over 100. Roche established a foothold in the US market with the acquisition of a majority holding in California-based biotechnology company Genentech, and an alliance with Chugai to create a research-driven pharmaceutical company in Japan.
Roche Diagnostics
Diagnostics develops and manufactures reagents and instruments used for early, rapid and accurate disease diagnosis. It claims to be the world's leader. The division employs around 21,000 people and has five business units to match diagnostic needs to the appropriate technology, competencies and customer care programmes.
Roche Applied Science produces research reagents and systems to research institution and universities, as well as industry, for the advancement of medical science.
Roche Centralised Diagnostics develops precise and robust diagnostic tests, laboratory diagnostics, automated diagnostic systems and integrated solutions used in clinical chemistry and immunochemistry.
Roche Diabetes Care provides individualised tools, services and information to allow people with diabetes to better manage their disease and improve their quality of life.
Roche Molecular Diagnostics develops products using polymerase chain reaction technology (PCR) (DNA probe) in the application of clinical diagnostics, screening of blood and blood products, forensics and research. It allows for the diagnosis of infectious agents earlier and to monitor disease progression and response to therapy.
Roche Near Patient Testing bridges the gap between the consumer market and large laboratories. It offers diagnostic methods employed by medical professionals 'near the patient', for example, in operating theatres, intensive care, ambulances, surgery, blood banks, ward based mini-labs or pharmacists.
Roche Lab Network has the task of improving operational efficiencies within and across Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Roche Centralised Diagnostics and Roche Near Patient Testing.
Roche
Strategy & Financial Highlights
Roche’s outlook is to achieve above-market sales growth, with double-digit increases for the Roche Group and the Pharmaceuticals division; and core earnings per share (eps) growth target in line with sales growth. (Edited from annual report and company website). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Roche Strategy & Financial Highlights
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