NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Roche today reported that its molecular diagnostics sales rose 5 percent and its applied science revenues increased 8 percent year over year for the first half of 2009.
The Swiss pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and life sciences firm reported molecular diagnostic sales of CHF594 million (US$553.8 million), up 5 percent, while its applied science business brought in revenues of CHF 403 million, an increase of 8 percent year over year.
Overall, Roche's diagnostic business, which houses both of those parts of the firm's business, generated first-half 2009 revenues of CHF4.9 billion, a 3 percent increase.
Roche said that its molecular diagnostics growth was led by its core blood-screening portfolio. In particular, it cited its cobas TaqScreen MPX multiplex blood-screening test, which has been available in Europe for a few years but was launched in the US last year, as a "major contributor to growth." The firm also noted that there has been strong uptake for its recently launched TheraScreen K-RAS Mutation Test.
Roche said that its applied science sales were led by its DNA sequencing systems and microarrays, which it said delivered "robust double-digit sales increases."
Roche reported total revenues of CHF24 billion for the first half of the year. Its pharmaceuticals division reported 11 percent revenue growth to CHF19.1 billion.
The firm's net income dropped 29 percent to CHF4.05 billion from CHF5.73 billion, due to items related to its acquisition of Genentech. Excluding these exceptional items, its net income was up 11 percent for the first half.