LONDON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Roche forecast a pick up in sales growth this year as it overcomes a slump in demand for its COVID-19 products and a decline in sales of a trio of established cancer drugs abates. Sales in 2023 rose 1% to 58.7 billion Swiss francs ($68 billion), slightly below analysts' average estimate of closer to 60 billion francs, according to LSEG data. CEO Thomas Schinecker told reporters it was a "significant achievement" that the company increased sales despite the sharp drop in demand for its COVID therapy and diagnostics kits.