[Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR] Roche sales increase by 5% (CER) in first half of 2024; strong growth in second quarter – full-year earnings outlook raised

Core Insights - Roche's strong sales growth in the first half of 2024 is attributed to high demand for innovative medicines and diagnostics, with a notable acceleration in growth momentum in the second quarter as COVID-19 sales declines no longer impacted overall sales [1] - The company has raised its earnings outlook for the full year based on robust half-year results [1] Financial Performance - Group sales reached CHF 29.8 billion, a 5% increase at constant exchange rates (CER), remaining stable in CHF [3][13] - Pharmaceuticals Division sales were CHF 22.6 billion, also up by 5% at CER, with a core operating profit increase of 11% [2][17] - Core earnings per share grew by 9% (1% in CHF), while IFRS net income decreased by 4% (-11% in CHF) due to impairments and prior year provisions [4][13] Product Performance - The eye medicine Vabysmo was a major growth driver, generating CHF 1.8 billion in sales, with significant demand in the US [5][6] - Sales in the Diagnostics Division increased by 5% to CHF 7.2 billion, with a 9% growth in the base business driven by immunodiagnostic products [8][13] - Sales growth was reported across all regions, with Latin America showing a notable 16% increase [9] Regional Sales Insights - In the US, sales grew by 5%, driven by Vabysmo and other key products, despite declines in some older medicines [6][19] - European sales surged by 10%, primarily due to Vabysmo demand [19] - Sales in Japan decreased by 28%, largely due to the previous year's COVID-19 product supply effects [7] Regulatory Developments - The FDA approved updates to Susvimo, providing a new treatment option for severe eye diseases [10] - Vabysmo received a positive recommendation for a third indication, retinal vein occlusion (RVO) [11] - The European Commission approved Ocrevus subcutaneous injection, expanding treatment options for multiple sclerosis [37] Future Outlook - Roche anticipates mid-single-digit growth in Group sales for 2024 [14] - The company plans to further increase its dividend in Swiss francs [15]