Astellas' revenue up 2% in first half of year

Japanese drug major Astellas reported minor increases in sales and profit for the first half of the fiscal year to March 2009, compared to the like, year-earlier period, yet its forecast for the full year is down from last year.

Revenue was up 2% to 493.26 billion yen ($5.12 billion), due to continued growth in existing products Vesicare (solifenacin), for the treatment of overactive bladder, up 32.1% to 36.2 billion yen, and the immunosuppressant Prograf (tacrolimus), 6.9% higher at 104.4 billion yen. New product Celecox (celecoxib), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, also drove the increase. Benign prostatic hyperplasia product Harnal (tamsulosin), on the other hand, fell 8% to 60.5 billion yen.

Sales were up 0.6% to 250.6 billion yen in Japan and rose 5% to 14.5 billion yen in the rest of Asia, but were down 2% to 95.8 billion yen in North America. European turnover increased 7.5% to 132.2 billion yen.