Roche Shares Jump Following Successful Studies for Two Drugs

  • Tecentriq delays worsening of lung tumors in combination
  • Rivals Merck, Bristol-Myers see shares fall on study news
The company logo for Roche Holding AG is seen on a glass doorway at the company's headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. Roche Holding AG is bracing for slower earnings growth this year as its ageing cancer blockbusters face competition and the Swiss drugmaker readies a new generation of medicines.Photographer: Michele Limina/Bloomberg
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Roche Holding AG shares surged after two experimental medicines for cancer and hemophilia succeeded in much-anticipated patient trials, boding well for the Swiss drugmaker’s ability to grow as its biggest drugs face competition.

A cancer treatment called Tecentriq delayedBloomberg Terminal the worsening of lung tumors when given together with chemotherapy and an older Roche medicine, Avastin. Meanwhile, a drug known as Hemlibra succeededBloomberg Terminal in a late-stage study of the biggest group of hemophilia A patients, putting the company in a position to shake up the $10 billion global market for treating the blood disorder.