Xarelto lift for Bayer
pharmafile | March 3, 2014 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | Bayer, Eylea, Stivarga, Xarelto, blood thinner, xofigo
Bayer Group says sales of its blood thinner Xarelto will be higher than it had predicted, with peak annual sales now expected to reach €3.5 billion – which is €2 billion more than had been previously thought.
Likewise, the German firm says eye treatment Eylea should now make €1.5 billion a year, rather than the €1 billion which had been mooted.
However, the company accepts it will have to spend money in order to realise these gains.
“Further investments in marketing, distribution and life-cycle management will be required to exploit these opportunities and actually achieve the aforementioned sales potential,” Bayer chairman Marijn Dekkers acknowledged.
The predictions came as the group revealed overall sales in 2013 were up 1% year-on-year to €40.1 billion, with Bayer HealthCare contributing nearly half of that – its sales rising 1.7% to €18.9 billion.
The pharma segment did particularly well, with revenue climbing 9.4% to €11.2 billion over 2013. “This was largely attributable to gains posted by the recently launched pharmaceutical products,” Dekkers explained. “Consumer care also saw positive sales development.”
Cancer drugs Stivarga and Xofigo posted combined sales of €1.5 billion last year, up from €368 million in 2012. These four brands, plus newly-launched pulmonary hypertension treatment Adempas, had been forecast to make €5.5 billion together.
“In light of this very positive performance, we have now significantly increased our estimate of the combined peak annual sales potential of these five products to at least €7.5 billion,” said Dekkers.
Pharma’s performance is particularly welcome as the group’s materials science chemicals business declined year-on-year.
New manufacturing sites
Meanwhile, Bayer is moving further into China with the purchase of Dihon Pharmaceutical Group Co, a private company based in Kunming Yunnan, and specialising in OTC and herbal traditional Chinese medicines.
The firm had sales of €123 million last year, and employs 2,400 people in R&D, manufacturing, sales and marketing, with several manufacturing sites throughout China. No details of the deal were released.
The company’s products include Kang Wang for the treatment of dandruff and other scalp disorders and Pi Kang Wang, an antifungal cream.
“We aim to strengthen our life sciences portfolio with strategic bolt-on acquisitions globally,” Dekkers explained. “This acquisition moves us into a leading position amongst multinationals in the OTC industry in China. It also brings a portfolio of well-known consumer brands.”
Adam Hill
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