The history of Roche begins in the late 19th century, when major advances in medical science evolved along with dramatic developments in industrial technology. The converging trends offered unprecedented opportunities for meeting the needs of an emerging worldwide healthcare market.

In 1896, after gaining experience in pharmacy and the chemical trade, Fritz Hoffmann formed F. Hoffmann-La Roche & Company in Basel, Switzerland, naming it not only for himself but for his wife, Adele La Roche. The twenty-eight year old Hoffmann’s goal for his new company was to develop and manufacture novel drugs of uniform strength and quality and market them around the world.

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Hoffmann-La Roche has remained at the forefront of biomedical knowledge through virtually every decade of its existence. Key products introduced in the company’s early years included: Aiodin^®, a thyroid preparation; Airol^®, a wound anti-septic; Allonal^®, an analgesic sedative and hypnotic and the first Roche product using compounds produced by synthetic chemistry; Sirolin^®, a non-prescription cough syrup marketed for over 60 years; and, Pantopan^®, a remedy for pain, colic cough and anxiety. Pantopan^® is still sold in several countries and is the longest-selling Roche product.

In 1905, Roche opened its first office in the United States in New York City, and in 1929, the company relocated to its current campus in Nutley, N.J., where it was incorporated as Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.

In 1933, Roche introduced the analgesic Saridon^®, an effective pain reliever that is still sold today. Roche introduced the skin care product Bepanthen^® in 1944 and in 1952, the anti-tuberculois drug Rimifon^® was launched. Beginning with Rimifon^®, Roche became a leader in anti-microbial chemotherapy.

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The Benzodiazepine Era

In the mid-1960s, a new group of sedatives, known as tranquilizers was introduced. Returning to a group of compounds he had worked on previously, Leo Sternbach discovered the benzodiazepines, a new class of agents.

In 1960, Librium^® (chlordiazepoxide) was introduced for the management of emotional, psychosomatic and muscular disorders. Modifications to the basic structure of this new class of agents yielded a succession of products. Valium^® (diazepam), a sedative and anxiolytic drug belonging to the benzodiazepine family, was launched in 1963. Valium became a huge commercial success and enabled Roche to build a world-wide reputation in psychotropic medications.

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Roche launched Rocaltrol^® (vitamin D analog) for the treatment of osteodystrophy, especially in kidney failure and hemodialysis patients, in 1978.

In 1980, Roche scientists isolated a pure alfa interferon and Roche and Genentech began work on producing a genetically engineered version. The antibiotic Rocephin^® (ceftriaxone sodium), was launched in Switzerland in 1982, and for more than 18 years it was the leading antibiotic – it outsold all other Roche products worldwide. In 1986, Roferon-A^® (interferon alfa-2a), Roche’s first genetically engineered drug, was introduced for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, and in 1989, Cytovene^® (ganciclovir) was approved in IV form for the treatment of CMV retinitis in immunocompromised patients, including AIDS patients, and for the prevention of CMV disease in transplant patients at risk for CMV disease. An oral form of Cytovene was approved five years later.

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The 1990s

Hivid^® (zalcitabine), the first Roche AIDS drug, was introduced in 1992. Roche acquired Syntex Corp. (headquartered in Palo Alto, C.A.) in 1994 and the next year, Syntex was re-named Roche Bioscience. This Roche unit is currently known as Roche Palo Alto LLC and is one of the company’s major research sites.

In 1995, Invirase^® (saquinavir), the word’s first protease inhibitor HIV anti-viral drug was launched, opening the way for a new class of drugs in the U.S. Over the next three years, Roche introduced a series of important products: CellCept^® (mycophenolate mofetil) and Zenapax^® (daclizumab) for transplantation; Fortovase^® (saquinavir) and Viracept ^® (nelfinavir) for HIV infection; and, Xeloda^® (capecitabine) for breast and colorectal cancer.

In 1999, Roche launched two important products in the United States. The first is the anti-obesity drug Xenical^® (orlistat), which marked a new approach to the treatment of obesity as the drug specifically blocks 30% of fat from being absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Later in the year, Roche launched Tamiflu^® (oseltamivir phosphate), an oral neuraminidase inhibitor for influenza A and B. In its first full year on the U.S. market, Tamiflu became the leading influenza medicine, reducing the duration and severity of the flu.

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Recent History

In late 2000, the FDA approved Tamiflu for the treatment of influenza in children aged one year or older and for the prevention of flu in adolescents and adults. That same year, Roche further strengthened its oncology presence by acquiring the global rights to the anti-nausea and vomiting drug Kytril^® (granesitron), which can be given to patients receiving chemotherapy. Later, Kytril was given FDA approval for post-operative nausea and vomiting.

After being approved in the U.S. in 2001 for AIDS-related retinitis, Valcyte^® (valganciclovir), a pro-drug of Cytovene (ganciclovir), established itself as a potent drug for combating eye infections caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV retinitis), which often afflicts AIDS patients. The following year, Roche launched Pegasys^® (peginterferon alfa-2a) and its companion medicine, Copegus^® (ribavirin, USP), to treat hepatitis C. Roche continued its innovative tradition in HIV/AIDS in 2003 when the company launched Fuzeon^® (enfuvirtide), the first in a new class of drugs (fusion inhibitors) that blocks HIV from fusing with a host cell. In 2005, the FDA approved Boniva^® (ibandronate), the only once-monthly, oral treatment for osteoporosis, and a new indication for Pegasys for the treatment of hepatitis B. Also in 2005, Roche marked its Centennial in the U.S.

Today, Roche operates in more than 60 countries and employs more than 74,000 people, selling its products in over 150 countries. While much has changed since the company’s inception, our mission has remained constant: to improve patient care by discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel, high quality and cost-effective healthcare products and services.

For more on the history of the global Roche Group, click here.

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