Celgene's 3rd-qtr profit triples on drug sales

US drugmaker Celgene's net income for the third quarter of 2008 more than tripled over the comparable period the year before to $136.8 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.29, on higher sales of its cancer drugs.

During the period, revenue jumped 69% to $592.5 million as sales of multiple myeloma drug Revlimid (lenalidomide) soared 72% to $342.6 million.

Global net sales of recently-launched MM agent Thalomid (thalidomide) reached $132.4 million. Another new offering, myelodysplastic syndrome drug Vidaza (azacitidine for injection), acquired via last year's $2.9-billion takeover of USA-based Pharmion (Marketletter August 13, 2007), reached $63.5 million.