Roche third-quarter sales beat forecast with growth across divisions, currency boost

ZURICH/ LONDON, Oct 22 Roche slightly beat third-quarter sales expectations on Thursday, lifted by steady ​demand across its pharmaceuticals and ‌diagnostics units and relief from months of currency headwinds. Group sales reached 16.13 billion Swiss francs ($19.61 billion), up 7% at constant ‌exchange ​rates and topping an ⁠average analyst estimate ⁠of 15.75 billion francs, according to a company compiled consensus. The Basel-based drugmaker confirmed its full-year targets, with ​Chief Executive Thomas Schinecker adding that the company now aims to ⁠bring up to 20 ⁠new medicines to market ​by 2030. Roche benefited from a stabilising dollar ​against the Swiss franc after a ‌prolonged exchange-rate drag, a key dynamic given North America accounts for nearly half of group revenue. Top-selling therapies ⁠led the pharmaceutical expansion: multiple sclerosis treatment Ocrevus rose 9% at constant currencies, while ⁠haemophilia ‌medicine Hemlibra gained 13% from ⁠the year-ago period. Asthma