Nycomed 2010 sales dip and 22.5% EBITDA declines 22.5%

Independent Swiss drugmaker Nycomed says that its 2010 performance continued to show above industry average growth in emerging markets, as well as strong growth of key products (excluding pantoprazole), regional and local prescription drugs.

However, group net turnover slipped 1.8% to 3.17 billion euros ($4.36 billion) but was up 0.4%, excluding one-time payment from Forest Laboratories in 2009. The decrease was primarily driven by declining sales of pantoprazole due to the loss of patent exclusivity in several markets, including Australia and Switzerland, and the full-year impact of the expiry of the pantoprazole patent in other key European markets. However, the fourth quarter of the year saw a slight up-tick, with turnover rising 1.5% to 792.9 million.