Categories: Business

Tamiflu demand boosts Roche sales in Q1 2013

Roche has reported a 5 percent rise in sales for the first quarter of 2013, boosted by strong demand for Tamiflu

Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has reported a 5% rise in sales for the first quarter of 2013, boosted by strong demand for its flu treatment, Tamiflu.

Total sales hit 11.6 billionn Swiss francs ($12.4 billion) in the first three months of 2013.

Roche has reported a 5 percent rise in sales for the first quarter of 2013, boosted by strong demand for Tamiflu

Tamiflu sales rose during a heavy flu season in the US, and there was also strong demand for Roche’s cancer drugs.

“We got off to a very good start in 2013 due to strong organic growth,” said Roche chief executive Severin Schwan.

During the first quarter of 2013, the Basel-based company launched two new drugs to fight breast cancer, Kadcyla in the US and Perjeta in Europe.

Roche expects its full-year total sales to grow at much the same rate as 2012, when they rose by 7%. Roche also said it expected to increase its share dividend this year.

“Based on the first quarter results, I am confident we will meet our full-year targets,” Severin Schwan said.

Clyde K. Valle

Clyde is a business graduate interested in writing about latest news in politics and business. He enjoys writing and is about to publish his first book. He’s a pet lover and likes to spend time with family. When the time allows he likes to go fishing waiting for the muse to come.