Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche is prescribing itself a hefty dose of ambition. The company plans to deliver 20 new medicines this decade, targeting some of society’s most burdensome diseases. This bold move could triple its patient reach by 2029, transforming millions of lives — and Roche’s bottom line.
- After several failed clinical trials, the Swiss healthcare innovator renowned for groundbreaking treatments has revamped its research and development efforts, aiming to increase its success rate by about 20%.
- The drugmaker is now focusing on five key areas: cardiovascular disease, ophthalmology, immunology, neurology, and cancer/hematology.
R&D overhaul: The success of Roche’s new plan relies heavily on its revamped research and development strategy. The company has tightened its criteria for advancing drug candidates and streamlined its drug pipeline. Roche is also seeking acquisitions and partnerships to strengthen its portfolio, particularly in obesity treatments, recently spending $3.1B on an acquisition to compete with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. With a goal of launching two “transformational medicines” each year, Roche is betting big on its new plan — but let’s hope it doesn’t come with unwanted side effects.
