Overview
Roche is number one in the international diagnostics market, the leading supplier of drugs for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation. Treatment of several severe diseases is coupled to another high priority at Roche: preventing severe degenerative and inflammatory disorders and maintaining good health. The company produces the Xenical diet pill, first marketed in 1998. There have been more than 16.7 million patients treated with Xenical all over the world. Xenical the weight-loss product, is approved for weight management in over 140 countries. It is part of the Roche Group's efforts to enhance well-being and quality of life.
Main activity areas
The Roche Group mainly focuses on prescription drugs and is specialized in several significant areas such as:
- nervous system diseases
- respiratory conditions
- anemia
- metabolic disorders
- cardiovascular disease
- cancer
- infectious disorders.
The company was founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland. A modest drug laboratory developed into a global corporation, highly involved in human health care and treating several serious disorders. Two recent commercial moves, the alliance with Chugai in Japan and the acquisition of the Amira company, have strengthened its commanding position on the international market.