In the blood ecosystem, few players are as deeply embedded in diagnostics and safety innovation as Roche
From cutting-edge donor screening solutions to revolutionary haemostasis testing, Roche has built a portfolio that serves both blood banks and patients. Their molecular and serological testing platforms—powered by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) respectively—have set global standards in detecting blood-borne infections. Beyond that, their haemostasis portfolio supports clinicians in diagnosing and managing clotting disorders with precision and speed.
But Roche’s commitment does not stop at infrastructure. They are playing a critical role in strengthening disease-specific interventions especially in sickle cell disease (SCD).
To mark World Sickle Cell Day, we asked Roche, how they are contributing to the fight against this disease and what actions the broader health community must take to make progress real and permanent.
The WHO framework calls for the integration of treatment into existing healthcare programmes to achieve universal health coverage equitably and cost-effectively. This demands collective accountability and structural change, with a focus on preventative care and early diagnostics.
Governments, private sector players and development partners must come together to embed early diagnosis and consistent care into national health strategies – not as add-ons but as priorities. Based on innovative domestic funding models, this includes ensuring access to newborn screening, diagnostics at the primary level, and decentralised treatment pathways.
Investing in the health workforce, including training, integrated diagnostic tools, and sustainable lab infrastructure that make routine monitoring possible even in remote settings.
The private sector has a key role to play in innovating accessible solutions and strengthening supply chains, while governments must take the lead in policy alignment and funding.
Ultimately, accountability sits with all of us because delays cost lives.
At Roche, we believe that diagnosis is the critical entry point to care. Our focus is on enabling access to the right diagnostic tools — including PCR and haematology solutions — that support early detection, newborn screening and ongoing disease monitoring.
We are working with partners to expand laboratory networks, adapt platforms to local needs and provide training to help integrate diagnostics into care pathways from the start, for example, with applications using Roche’s SBX sequencing technology, with an initial focus on critically ill newborns and their parents.
Whole genome sequencing can help diagnose babies with suspected genetic disorders, including (among others) sickle cell disease. One of Roche’s current projects is exploring how this technology could become part of routine clinical practice for newborns, as well as its use in other research applications.
By supporting countries in transitioning from reactive testing to proactive screening, we aim to help make early intervention the standard, rather than the exception. Every child deserves the chance to live a full life, and that begins with knowing their status.
At COBA, we are proud to see our partners driving forward solutions that can help end preventable sickle cell deaths while strengthening the broader blood ecosystem. Real progress requires strong collaboration across governments, the private sector, development partners, and civil society. Together, we must work to integrate these innovations into national health systems shifting sickle cell care from a reactive, crisis-driven approach to one that is proactive, accessible, and embedded in standard healthcare delivery.
Citations:
1. WHO SICKLE package of interventions for sickle-cell disease management: strategic guidance framework: Module 1. Brazzaville: WHO African Region, 2024. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
2. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/roche-announces-collaboration-broad-clinical-051000328.html
