Roche up 6%, to 109m euros

The local branch of the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche posted a 364 million-RON (109.3 million-euro) turnover last year (producer price), up 6% against 2006, according to estimates made by research company Cegedim, cited by Roche Romania. In the second half of the year, the company’s sales reached 188 million RON, compared with 176 million RON in the first six months of 2007, according to ZF calculations based on Cegedim data cited by the company. The growth rate announced by the company is below the estimates given at the end of August by Dan Zamonea, general manager of Roche Romania, who forecast a 15% increase, similar to the one reported in 2006. According to company information, the market share of the Swiss group’s local branch was 6.83% in 2007. Roche representatives are counting on a growth rate that matches that of the pharmaceutical market, estimated at 10-15%. The products with the highest sales in 2007 were those used in the treatment of viral hepatitis B and C and anaemia.