Boehringer Ingelheim first-half 2011 sales rise 2.6%, but up 12% in emerging markets

Independent German drug major Boehringer Ingelheim has reported sales of 6.4 billion euros ($9.08 billion) for the first half of 2011, a rise of 2.6%, although up 4% in local currencies. The company does not release half-year profit figures nor product sales values.

Overall, prescription medicines’ net sales amounted to 4.9 billion euros in the first half-year, broadly in line with the previous year’s level. After currency adjustment and taking into account structural business conditions (eg, the expiry of exclusivity on drugs in the USA and Germany), business grew by 10% in local currency terms, particularly in the USA, Japan and Canada. Some 60% of the increase in net sales was borne by the new launches of the anticoagulant Pradaxa (dabigatran), antihypertensive) Twynsta (telmisartan and amlodipine) and type 2 diabetes drug Tradjenta (linagliptin). However, established prescription medicines, such as asthma/COPD drug Spiriva (tiotropium) and Micardis (telmisartan) for hypertension, also showed market increases, with growth of 10% and 11%, respectively.