Roche Decides Against Selling Diabetes Device Unit

Swiss drugmaker Roche has decided against trying to sell its blood glucose meter business, according to two people familiar with the matter.

In the past few months, Roche was looking to sell the business as the industry faced increased competition and lower reimbursement rates from U.S. government healthcare programs,

However, the reimbursement pressure on diabetes test supplies lessened the chances of a competitive sales process, leaving Roche little choice but to hold on to the business, according to one of the people who spoke to Reuters this week.

A Roche spokesperson said in an email that the company remains committed to its Diabetes Care division.

Bayer, Germany's biggest drugmaker, had attempted to sell its blood glucose meter business for about $1.5 billion, only to pull the plug on the sale early this year after failing to attract sufficient interest.

The diabetes device market came under pressure earlier this year after the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services moved to cut the reimbursement for diabetes test supplies by up to 72 %. The change, which took effect in July, makes it more difficult for companies to be profitable in this business.