Roche — the world’s second-largest pharma company, with $65B in revenue in 2023 — is looking for new growth avenues amid a 7% drop in revenue YoY.
Using CB Insights data, we uncovered 4 strategic priorities highlighted by Roche’s acquisitions, investments, and partnerships since Q1’23. We then categorized companies by their relationships with Roche across these priorities.
Here are 3 key takeaways from our analysis:
- Within AI, Roche is prioritizing diagnostics while taking a more measured approach to drug discovery. Roche wants to capture immediate value from AI in diagnostics — forming 10 business relationships here since 2023 — while carefully managing risks in the complex drug development process for a longer-term ROI.
- Roche is securing a first-mover advantage in next-gen drugs while minimizing financial risks via early-stage deals. Since 2023, 5 out of its 7 drug discovery deals have targeted early-stage startups.
- The oncology leader is targeting short-term gains in obesity. While numerous pharma players are competing for GLP-1 market share, Roche is betting that its accelerated synthesis and screening capabilities and clinical expertise will fast-track its entry into the obesity market. It also continues to maintain long-term oncology leadership through external collaboration.
