Novo Nordisk A/S, the largest producer of diabetes products, reported a 20% increase in sales in the third quarter to DKK 19.85 billion (€2.66 billion). Net profit rose by 35% to DKK 5.67 billion, giving a net profit margin of 28.6%.
The Lancet has published two Phase 3 studies of the Sanofi SA multiple sclerosis drug, Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), which show that the antibody significantly reduced relapse rates of the disease compared with the standard of care – Rebif (interferon beta 1a).
Ipsen SA of France expects to sustain impairment charges of about €120 million, after tax, following a bankruptcy filing by Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals Inc, its partner in a global haemophelia alliance. Assets from the alliance will be auctioned off.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc reported an 8% drop in group turnover in the third quarter of 2012 to £6.5 billion, a result that was significantly affected by government austerity measures in Europe and the impact of reference pricing in the region.
Clavis Pharma ASA expects to report top-line results before the end of 2012 from a pivotal trial of its personalized therapy for patients with pancreatic cancer – one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers.
Shire Plc has started a programme to buy back up to £500 million of its shares from the market in an apparent bid to woo investors following weak revenue growth in the third quarter. It has nevertheless confirmed its forecast for strong earnings growth in 2012.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug to treat chronic myelogenous leukaemia – the second therapy to be approved for CML in about two months. The drug, Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate), comes from Teva.
Novartis reported a 7% decline net sales in the third quarter of 2012 as the loss of exclusivity on the antihypertensive, Diovan, began to have an effect on revenue. But sales of products launched since 2007 continued to perform strongly.
Sanofi SA reported net sales of €9 billion in the 2012 third quarter, up by 3.3% on a reported basis, but down 3.1% at constant exchange rates. The expiry of a patent on a chemotherapy drug was a drag on revenue. But new products were 70% of sales.
AstraZeneca Plc’s new chief executive, Pascal Soriot, said that increasing sales of Brilinta and newly in-licensed diabetes products are among several objectives going forward as the UK multinational seeks to reverse recent declines in both profit and revenue.