Roche sales rise to 46,493 million francs in first nine months of 2026
Key Facts
Roche's sales rose to 46,493 million Swiss francs in the first nine months of 2026, compared with 45,862 million francs in the corresponding period of 2025, according to the group's sales update issued on October 22. Growth from January to September was 6% at constant exchange rates and 1% in Swiss francs, returning reported sales in the group's currency to growth after a decline in the first half. In the third quarter, sales rose 7% at constant exchange rates, according to the company's statement. Quarterly growth in Swiss francs was 8%, exceeding the growth rate on the measure that excludes exchange-rate movements. Roche said in its results presentation that quarterly growth at constant exchange rates was 6% excluding the sales timing impact associated with the implementation of an enterprise resource planning system in Japan. Across the group's businesses, diagnostics sales totaled 10,281 million francs for the nine months, according to the statement.
The pharmaceuticals division accounted for the bulk of Roche's sales, recording 36,212 million francs from January to September, compared with 35,555 million francs a year earlier, up 7% at constant exchange rates and 2% in francs, according to the group's disclosure. Ocrevus sales reached 5,317 million francs, up 7% at constant exchange rates, according to the sales appendix accompanying the results presentation. Hemlibra recorded sales of 3,750 million francs over the same period, with growth of 12% on the same basis. Vabysmo sales rose 10% at constant exchange rates to 3,196 million francs for the nine months. Xolair generated sales of 2,521 million francs, up 20% at constant exchange rates, according to the appendix. Phesgo recorded sales of 2,064 million francs, up 18% at constant exchange rates from the corresponding period. Polivy sales totaled 1,302 million francs, with growth of 24% on the same basis, the highest increase among these drugs.
The group's sales in the first half of 2026 totaled 30,364 million francs, compared with 30,944 million francs in the corresponding period of 2025, according to the results statement for that period issued on July 23. Roche reported growth of 6% at constant exchange rates at the time, while sales denominated in francs fell 2%. Reported sales in the Swiss currency thus moved in a different direction from sales at constant exchange rates during the first half of the year. In its July statement, the group set a target for annual sales growth in the mid-single-digit range at constant exchange rates. It also targeted core earnings per share growth in the high-single-digit range on the same basis. In its nine-month results presentation, Roche estimated the expected negative impact of loss of exclusivity on 2026 sales at about 0.6 billion francs. The group said in its sales update that it expected to continue increasing its dividend in Swiss francs.
Alongside the performance of its marketed drugs, Roche's chief executive said the group was looking to expand its portfolio, adding: "We now aim to bring up to 20 new medicines to patients by 2030." Among the drugs whose regulatory progress the company is tracking is giredestrant for early and advanced breast cancer. Roche said in a statement on the early breast cancer study results issued on June 2 that the drug reduced the relative risk of invasive disease recurrence or death by 30% compared with standard endocrine therapy. In the advanced disease study, the group intends to continue following participants' overall survival, according to its October update. The company set November 30, 2026 as the target date for a U.S. Food and Drug Administration decision on giredestrant's use in early breast cancer. The target date for the U.S. decision on its use in advanced disease is December 18, 2026, according to the same statement. Following these regulatory milestones, Roche's next report is due on January 28, 2027, according to the group's calendar.