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R & D Overview

Custom-made solutions for patients
Roche believes that finding innovative solutions for serious medical problems is what being a healthcare company is all about. Our people strive to create clinically differentiated drugs and diagnostics to help people live longer, healthier lives.
Two research-intensive businesses – pharmaceuticals and diagnostics – devote their resources to work on medical problems in areas of significant unmet needs, where Roche has the expertise to make a difference.
R&D Pharmaceuticals
The R&D organisation in Pharma – which is committed to shaping the future of medicine by creating clinically-differentiated therapies – is built around five Disease Biology Areas (DBAs):
- Oncology
- Virology
- Inflammation
- Metabolism
- Central Nervous System
The DBAs are responsible for selecting and managing compounds from drug discovery through to medical proof-of-concept (normally in phase II of clinical development).
A dedicated interface with the Diagnostics Division ensures diagnostics input throughout the drug development process.
R&D Diagnostics
Roche’s Diagnostics Division is a world leader in in vitro diagnostics: products used to test blood and other body fluids and tissues to obtain information for the early detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment monitoring of diseases. The division also supplies state-of-the-art instruments and reagents for life science research and is organised in 5 business areas:
- Roche Applied Science
- Roche Molecular Diagnostics
- Roche Diabetes Care
- Roche Professional Diagnostics
- Roche Tissue Diagnostics
Roche Diagnostics has R&D facilities in Europe and the United States, augmented by a network of alliances and partnerships giving it broad access to key technologies.
Innovation is the backbone of Roche’s strategy
Innovation requires perseverance and a long-term perspective.
That is why we spent more than 8.4 billion Swiss francs on it in 2007, and why in the coming years we will continue to increase our R&D budget.
Today, biopharmaceuticals account for over half of Group sales, and Roche is a leader in Biotechnology. Biotechnology has opened up completely new approaches to diagnosing and treating disease, particularly cancer.
| 2007 | 2006 | % change CHF | % change LC | 2007 % of sales | 2006 % of sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | 8,385 | 7,365 | + 14 | + 16 | 18.2 | 17.5 |
| 2007 | % change CHF | % change LC | % of sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | 7,598 | 15 | 18 | 20.7 |
| Diagnostics | 787 | 2 | 1 | 8.4 |