First-half profit climbed 24% to 4.9 billion Swiss francs ($4.1 billion) on the back of strong sales of Herceptin, Avastin, and MabThera. On average, analysts had predicted net profit of 4.7 billion francs.
The company's total revenue during the first half also increased 15% to 22.8 billion francs.
Meanwhile, Franz Humer will step down as CEO next year to make way for Schwan, who currently heads the diagnostics unit. Humer will stay on as chairman of the board.