In 1980, a pure interferon alpha was isolated at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology. Roche Nutley and Genentech, a biotech company based in south San Francisco, are launching a joint project to produce a genetically modified version of the substance. In January 2017, the company acquired ForSight VISION4. [51] In June, the company acquired diabetes management platform mySugr GmbH for an undisclosed price. [52] In November, Roche acquired Viewics, Inc.[53] In late December, the company announced the acquisition of Ignyta Inc., expanding its global oncology business. [54] When the First World War broke out in 1915, Roche went through an international and financial crisis. The Germans boycotted their products and Roche`s headquarters in Basel were isolated from the production plant in Grenzach. Then, during the revolution of 1917, the company lost its fortune and its place in the Russian pharmaceutical market. When the company began to overcome the crisis, Roche`s founding father, Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche, died in 1920. Roche is the world`s largest biotechnology company with differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and central nervous system diseases. Roche is also a world leader in in vitro and tissue diagnostics of cancer and a leader in diabetes management. In recent years, Roche has invested in partnerships with genomic profiles and real-world data and has become a leading industry partner for medical knowledge. On January 16, 2015, the Company announced that it would acquire Trophos for €470 million ($543 million) to increase its presence in neuromuscular diseases.

The transaction involves Phase II and Phase III olesooxime (TRO19622) for spinal muscular atrophy. [45] In April 2015, Roche acquired CAPP Medical and its leading technology for cancer prevention and monitoring through circulating tumor DNA detection. [46] Stanley Adams, Global Product Manager at Roche in Basel, approached the European Economic Community in 1973 with evidence that Roche had violated antitrust law and engaged in pricing and sharing the vitamin market with its competitors. Roche was punished accordingly, but a botch by EWG allowed the company to discover that it was Adams who had reported the problem. He was arrested for illegal disclosure – a criminal offence under Swiss law – and imprisoned. His wife, who had learned that he faced decades in prison, committed suicide. [81] As Egypt moves toward universal health coverage for its population of more than 100 million, it has become the fastest growing pharmaceutical market in the Middle East and Africa. A year later, Roche had redefined its structure. This time, the company decided to focus exclusively on two main divisions – Pharma and Diagnostics. Meanwhile, the company has also begun to personalize healthcare. “Personalized healthcare means the right therapy for the right group of patients at the right time,” says Roche. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the Roche Group operates in more than 100 countries and employed more than 100,000 people worldwide in 2020.

In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and generated sales of CHF 58.3 billion. Genentech in the United States is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder of Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, see www.roche.com. “Early on, the company was known for producing various vitamin supplements and derivatives.” Roche was found in 1896 by a man named Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche. The visionary founder was “one of the first to realize that the industrial production of standardized drugs would be a major breakthrough in the fight against disease.” He has focused his company on innovation and building an international presence. After eight months of negotiations, Roche`s dream of personalized healthcare became a reality when, on March 12, 2009, Roche agreed to fully acquire biotechnology pioneer Genentech, in which it had held a majority stake since 1990. The acquisition was completed on March 25. As a result, Roche moved its research facilities to Nutley, while Nutley`s U.S. headquarters moved to Genentech`s San Francisco site.

Genentech strengthens Roche`s access to innovation and new technologies to strengthen its commitment to more targeted therapies. On April 7, 2014, Roche announced its intention to acquire IQuum for up to US$450 million[37] and the rights to an investigational drug (ORY-1001) from Spain`s Oryzon Genomics for US$21 million and up to US$500 million in milestone payments. [38] On June 2, Roche announced its intention to acquire Genia Technologies Inc. for up to $350 million. [39] In August 2014, the Company agreed to purchase California-based pharmaceutical company InterMune for $8.3 billion, representing a 38% premium to the final closing share price of $74 per share,[40][41] and Santaris Pharma A/S for $450 million. [42] In December 2014, the Company acquired Bina Technologies, a next-generation sequencing processing company, for an undisclosed amount[43] and Dutalys GmbH[44], a developer of next-generation antibodies. [44] F. Hoffmann-La Roche & Co. was founded at a time when the Industrial Revolution was changing the face of Europe. On October 1, 1896, at the age of 28, Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche founded his company to succeed Hoffmann, Traub & Co in Basel, Switzerland. He was one of the first to realize that the industrial production of drugs would be a major breakthrough in the fight against the disease.

Since then, Roche has become one of the world`s leading healthcare companies. Roche has also produced various HIV tests and antiretroviral drugs. It purchased the patents for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in 1992. In 1995, the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was ushered in with the approval of Hoffman LaRoche`s HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir by the U.S. FDA. Within 2 years of approval (and ritonavir approval 4 months later), the annual number of AIDS deaths in the United States increased from over 50,000 to approximately 18,000 [13] On April 28, 1995, Hoffmann-La Roche sold Roche Biomedical Laboratories, Inc. to National Health Laboratories Holdings Inc. (which later changed its name to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings). [14] Roche acquired Syntex in 1994 and Chugai Pharmaceuticals in 2002. In January 2016, the company announced it would acquire Tensha Therapeutics for $115 million early, with $420 million in contingent payments.

[50] In 1957, Roche introduced the class of tranquilizers known as benzodiazepines, which include Valium and Rohypnol among the best-known members. The desired effect of these benzodiazepines was to sedate patients without drowsiness. In July 2013, Roche Diagnostics acquired blood diagnostics company Constitution Medical Inc. for $220 million. [35] Later, in September, Genentech announced the acquisition of Arrayit Corporation. [36] Today, Roche is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Today, the company employs 80,000 people at several pharmaceutical and diagnostic sites around the world. Hoffmann-La Roche develops drugs for the treatment of cancer, viral diseases and the treatment of metabolic diseases. The company is the world`s largest donor to pharmaceutical research and development. [79] In 2011, the company received the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering`s Facility of the Year Award for Process Innovation as part of Roche`s MyDose Clinical Supply project.

[29] In March 2011, Roche acquired PVT Probenverteiltechnik GmbH for up to EUR 85 million. [30] In July 2010, Roche acquired mtm laboratories AG for up to €190 million. [31] In October, Roche acquired Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for $230 million. [32] In December, Roche announced the acquisition of Munich-based Verum Diagnostica GmbH, giving it access to the fastest growing segment of the coagulation diagnostics market. [33] On June 26, 2012, Roche announced the closure of the Nutley/Clifton campus, which was completed in 2013.