With biosimilar threat under control (for now), Roche savors demand for its new drugs

Roche $RHBBY unveiled a cheerful update on its performance in the first nine months of this year, with demand for its newer drugs — primarily in oncology/immunology — driving sales, particularly in China where cancer is on the rise. In its press release, the Swiss drugmaker mentioned its pending $4.3 billion acquisition of Spark Therapeutics $ONCE, promising the deal — which has seen delay after delay due to unrelenting scrutiny by competition regulators — will be consummated by the end of the year.