Roche reported overall group sales in the first-quarter of 2015 of CHF 11.833 billion ($12.374 billion) up 5% at constant exchange rates (CER) with pharmaceutical sales up 4% CER to CHF 9.322 billion ($9.746 billion).

In pharmaceuticals, medicines for HER2-positive breast cancer (Herceptin, Perjeta, Kadcyla) saw strong growth of 23%. Herceptin sales increased 12% to CHF 1.652 billion ($1.727 billion), Perjeta sales increased 82% to CHF 322 million ($337 million), and sales of Kadcyla increased 80% to CHF 179 million ($187 million).

Herceptin, along with Avastin and MabThera/Rituxan, were Roche’s top-selling drugs in the first quarter. Sales of Avastin (+6%), which is used to treat seven different cancers, was up 6% at CER to CHF 1.619 billion ($1.692 billion), and sales of MabThera/Rituxan, used in treatment for blood cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, were up 5% to CHF 1.744 billion ($1.823 billion).

Source: Roche