Roche

Roche, officially F. Hoffmann-La Roche, is a Swiss multinational healthcare company headquartered in Basel. It operates through two main divisions, Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics, and conducts research, development, manufacture, and distribution of medicines and diagnostic tests. The group is widely regarded as one of the world’s largest and most influential pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, with a global footprint spanning clinical development, manufacturing, and commercial activities.

The company was founded in 1896 in Basel by Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche as F. Hoffmann-La Roche. The name reflects the founder’s surname and its early branding. Over the 20th and 21st centuries, Roche expanded through internal growth and strategic acquisitions, notably acquiring Genentech in 2009 and Chugai in 2000. Genentech remains a key U.S. subsidiary for oncology and other therapies, while Chugai strengthens Roche’s presence in Japan. The corporate structure positions Roche as a parent company with integrated pharmaceutical and diagnostic capabilities.

Roche’s product portfolio includes major oncology and immunology medicines such as rituximab (Rituxan), trastuzumab (Herceptin), and bevacizumab (Avastin) through its subsidiaries; the Diagnostics division provides in vitro testing systems and assays, including the Cobas platform used in laboratories worldwide. In infectious diseases, Roche has marketed antiviral oseltamivir (Tamiflu) under collaboration with Gilead in various markets.

Research and development drive Roche’s activity across oncology, neuroscience, infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditions. The company maintains extensive collaborations, licensing deals, and ongoing clinical programs, aiming to advance personalized medicine and diagnostic innovations on a global scale.