Sandoz and pharma division boost Novartis sales
pharmafile | July 21, 2015 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Alcon, Novartis, Sandoz, financial performance, financial results, income, profits, sales
Sales at Novartis reached $12.7 billion in the second quarter of 2015, while its operating income was $2.3 billion, the firm’s latest financial results show.
The company’s sales were down 5% compared to the same period last year, and its operating income fell by 25% – although when these figures were adjusted to reflect a constant currency, sales were 6% higher and operating income was down 14% year on year.
Novartis says that strong performances by its generics arm Sandoz, where net sales rose by 11% when adjusted for currency changes, and its pharmaceuticals division – which saw net sales increase by 6% – offset a weak second quarter performance by its eye disease division, Alcon. Net sales at Alcon were flat compared to the second quarter of 2014.
In the pharmaceuticals division, net sales reached $7.8 billion, which Novartis attributed to the new oncology assets acquired from GSK, which registered $0.5 billion in sales in the second quarter of 2014.
The company’s ‘growth products’ – which include Gilenya (fingolimod), Lucentis (ranibizumab), Afinitor (everolimus), Xolair (omalizumab), its COPD treatments, and Jakavi (ruxolitinib) – grew by 38% year on year to $3.5 billion, or 44%, of the division’s net sales. Novartis say the success of the firm’s growth products “are an indicator of the rejuvenation of the portfolio”.
Net sales in emerging growth markets – all countries except the US, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand – grew by 8% in the second quarter, led by Brazil (up 16%) and China (up 7%).
Novartis says it is still on track to grow by ‘mid-single digit’ figures across the company by the end of 2015. This includes mid, low and high single digit growth in the pharmaceuticals division, Alcon and Sandoz, respectively.
Commenting on the results, Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis, says: “Novartis had a strong quarter for innovation, with US approval and launch of both Entresto and Glatopa being key highlights. Additionally, we reported a broad range of positive clinical data across franchises, including Tafinlar/Mekinist in metastatic melanoma and Cosentyx in ankylosing spondylitis. We are confident we will deliver on our priorities for the year, and confirm our full-year guidance.”
Lilian Anekwe
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