Pharmaceutical Processing World

  • Home
  • Regulatory
    • Recalls
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Facility
  • Supply Chain
  • Equipment and Materials
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Resources
    • Voices
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Roche Says Full-Year Net Income Down 5 Percent

By Pharmaceutical Processing | February 4, 2009

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Roche Holding AG said Wednesday its net income for 2008 fell by 5 percent because of the strong Swiss franc, falling sales of its anti-flu drug and a drop in income from investments. Full-year net income was 10.8 billion francs ($9.33 billion), down from 11.4 billion francs in 2007, the company said. Net profit attributable to shareholders was 8.97 billion francs ($7.6 billion), an 8 percent drop from 9.76 billion francs the year before. Roche shares dropped 7.8 percent to 150 francs ($129.7) on the Zurich exchange. Sales dropped to 45.6 billion francs ($39.4 billion), 1 percent less than the 46.1 billion in 2007. Roche said sales were harmed by a strong Swiss franc and a sharp decline in orders for anti-flu medicine Tamiflu. Sales of Tamiflu, which governments around the world have been stockpiling to prepare for a possible flu pandemic, declined 68 percent to 609 million francs ($526.6 million) last year, compared with 1.6 billion francs in 2007. The company said it would increase its dividend for 2008 by 9 percent to 5 francs ($4.32) per share. The company registered a net financial income of 0.2 billion francs ($0.17 billion) in 2008, which is 0.6 billion francs ($0.52 billion) less than in 2007 and mostly due to lower interest income on liquid funds and cuts in interest rates, Roche said. Sales in the company’s pharmaceuticals division decreased by 2 percent, while sales at the diagnostics division gained 3 percent. Analysts at Zuercher Kantonalbank said the results failed to live up to expectations, with the diagnostics division in particular performing less well than foreseen. “In these times of economic upheaval it is more important than ever that we adhere rigorously to our strategy,” said Roche CEO Severin Schwan. “We will continue to focus on our core pharmaceuticals and diagnostics businesses,” he said in a statement. Roche on Friday announced a hostile $42.1 billion buyout offer for Genentech Inc.. The California-based company rejected a first $89-per-share offer in July as too low. Roche is now offering $86.5 per share. Analysts have said the lower offer may be an attempt to force talks with what has been a reticent Genentech board and take advantage of the company’s falling share prices amid the global economic crisis. Roche already owns 55.8 percent of Genentech.

Related Articles Read More >

Great Point Partners logo.
Great Point Partners acquires majority stake in Eutecma to fuel sustainable cold chain growth
Driving success in fast-paced high-tech pharma construction projects
This is a photo of the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies plant under construction in Holly Springs, North Carolina.
Fujifilm, Regeneron ink $3B U.S. manufacturing agreement
This is the logo of Johnson & Johnson.
J&J breaks ground on $2B manufacturing facility in North Carolina
“ppw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news, technologies, and developments in Pharmaceutical Processing.

DeviceTalks Tuesdays

DeviceTalks Tuesdays

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • DeviceTalks
  • MassDevice
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • MEDICAL TUBING + EXTRUSION
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medtech100 Index
  • R&D 100 Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Pharmaceutical Processing World

  • Home
  • Regulatory
    • Recalls
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Facility
  • Supply Chain
  • Equipment and Materials
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Resources
    • Voices
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE