What should I know about Roche?
Roche is a Swiss healthcare company headquartered in Basel, founded in 1896. It has two divisions: Pharmaceuticals (prescription medicines) and Diagnostics (tests and laboratory systems). Roche describes itself as the world's largest biotechnology company and a leading supplier of in-vitro diagnostics, and says its founding families still hold the majority of its shares. The group includes Genentech in the United States and Chugai in Japan. In the first half of 2026 Roche had sales of CHF 30.4 billion, of which CHF 23.6 billion came from pharmaceuticals and CHF 6.7 billion from diagnostics.
What are Roche's main drugs?
Roche's two biggest medicines are Ocrevus, for multiple sclerosis, and Hemlibra, for haemophilia A. In the first quarter of 2026, Ocrevus had sales of CHF 1.69 billion, Hemlibra CHF 1.19 billion, the eye drug Vabysmo CHF 1.02 billion and Xolair, for allergic asthma and food allergies, CHF 708 million. Together with the breast cancer drug Phesgo, these were the top five growth drivers in the first half of 2026, with combined sales of CHF 11.0 billion. Other products include the cancer medicines Tecentriq, Perjeta and Itovebi, plus Elevidys for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Japan.
What is Roche currently developing?
Roche wants to reach the top three of the obesity market and has a collaboration with Zealand Pharma on petrelintide. In breast cancer, the oral drug giredestrant is under FDA priority review, with a US launch expected by the end of 2026. Roche also expects data this year on a multiple sclerosis drug that could succeed Ocrevus, and its Alzheimer's candidate trontinemab has advanced to Phase 3. Chief executive Thomas Schinecker has said up to 19 new medicines could launch by 2030.
Have there been any controversies involving Roche?
Roche's best-known controversy involves the flu drug Tamiflu. From 2009, researchers at the Cochrane Collaboration asked for full trial data, and Roche agreed to release it in 2013 after a public campaign. Cochrane's later review concluded that Tamiflu was not proven to reduce hospital admissions or complications, which mattered because governments had stockpiled it; the study estimated the UK had spent almost £500 million. Roche disagreed and defended the drug. In 2001 the European Commission fined Roche €462 million for its role in a vitamin price-fixing cartel, after it had paid $500 million in US penalties in 1999.
Is Roche publicly traded, and how big is it?
Yes. Roche is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (tickers RO and ROP), and its shares also trade over the counter in the US as RHHBY. Its market value was $328.5 billion at the end of June 2026, ranking 45th among listed companies worldwide. Sales were CHF 61.5 billion in 2025, and in the first half of 2026 they rose 6% at constant exchange rates but fell 2% in Swiss francs because of the strong franc, to CHF 30.4 billion. Roche expects mid-single-digit sales growth for 2026.