Roche’s diagnostics business continues to be buffeted by China headwinds, but the Swiss major believes it has enough underlying sales strength to weather the storm.
Roche’s diagnostics division grew by just 1% year over year for the first nine months of 2025, bringing in 10.3 billion Swiss francs ($12.91 billion).
In its financial report for the quarter, Roche said “demand for pathology solutions and molecular diagnostics more than offset the impact of healthcare pricing reforms in China.”
Those reforms have seen China change how medical devices and certain diagnostic services are paid for by implementing strict pricing reforms to lower what the country saw as high prices.
Roche has previously stressed China’s importance to its long-term business. Diagnostic sales in the Asia-Pacific region were down 15% in the first three quarters of the year, while sales in all other geographic regions were up.
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Pathology lab services was a standout division for the unit, with its sales up 13% at constant exchange rates in the first nine months of the year. Roche’s molecular lab group grew sales by 4% as well.
On the flip side, Roche’s near patient care and core lab units reported sales declines of 4% and 1% for the nine-month period, respectively.
Overall, Roche saw sales growth of 7%—45.9 billion Swiss francs—across all its businesses for the first nine months of the year, with its pharmaceuticals division the biggest growth driver, up 9%.
