Although the China business now accounts for only 2 per cent of Roche's sales, it is growing very fast. China is now Roche's second biggest market in Asia-Pacific after Japan.

"In the long term I do not look at China only as a very important market of selling our drugs and diagnostics, but an extremely important scientific market. I am convinced that China has the potential to also develop a very strong research-based pharmaceutical and diagnostic industry," Humer told China Daily over the weekend.

Roche has already started its collaboration with Chinese institutions in the areas of genetics and genomics. A project to bring young Chinese scientists to Roche's laboratories is already under way.

"I am very pleased with the progress in that area and I think, over time, as these projects evolve and grow, we'll continue to invest in our R&D (research and development) in China," Humer said.

He said he would be surprised if in 10 years Roche does not have a large research base in China.

According to Humer, Roche has developed strategies over the last few years focusing on two high-tech pillars of its business - pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.

Within that context, Roche has disposed of a number of businesses two years ago, including those of fragrance and flavouring. In addition, sale of its bulk vitamin business to the Dutch company DSM, because "it no longer fits with Roche's overall health care strategy," is ongoing.

At the same time, Roche continues to strengthen the pharmaceutical and diagnostic businesses, not only through natural growth, but also through licensing and acquisition.

Roche is now the world's leader in oncology, diagnostics, transplant medicine, virology and in the treatment of obesity.

Humer expects that with the introduction of a number of new medicines in the coming months and years, Roche will continue to strengthen that position.

Roche plans to introduce its important breast cancer medicine Herceptin to the Chinese market next year. The medicine is based on the concept of the discovery of the human genome and is linked very closely to the identification of the specific genes in the disease.

Meanwhile, Roche will also introduce Pegasys - a once-weekly, pegylated form of interferon for the treatment of Hepatitis C - in China, the United States and Europe.

Humer said Roche is eyeing the Chinese market as many diseases common in the Western world are emerging in China, such as diabetes, cancer, high cholesterol and obesity.

Regarding the 10 million HIV sufferers in China by the year 2010 predicted by the United Nations, Humer said Roche wants to develop specific solutions with the Chinese authority to fight the problem.

"We will continue to work with international organizations to make sure that we can play our part in the treatment of AIDS, but our most important role is to make sure that we continue to research and develop new AIDS drugs."

"Certainly China can count on our continued support in that area," said Humer, who is in Shanghai to attend the annual International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai and share his view on reforming Shanghai's health care system.

Roche, whose headquarters are in Basel, Switzerland, is one of the world's leading research-orientated health care groups. It now operates three joint ventures and three wholly owned companies in China, employing some 2,000 people. By the end of 2001, Roche's total investment in China topped US$203 million.

(China Daily November 5, 2002)