Strong half-year 09/10 financial results from Australia's CSL and Biota

Australian plasma specialist firm CSL has announced a profit after tax of A$617 million ($554.1 million) for the six months ended December 31, 2009, up 23% on the like, year earlier period. Also yesterday, compatriot Biota Holdings posted a whacking 364% leap in net profits to a record $33.5 million for the half-year.

CSL said its result included an unfavorable foreign exchange impact of A$46 million, adjusting for which net profit after tax grew 32%. Total sales revenue of A$2.3 billion rose 5%, up 12% at constant currency, the firm noted.

CSL Behring total turnover of A$1.8 billion grew 10% on a constant currency basis when compared to the six months ended December 31, 2008. Sales contribution from across the product portfolio has underpinned this growth. CSL Biotherapies revenues increased 31% to A$528 million. Sales of Novel A (H1N1) Influenza (swine flu) vaccine contributed A$160 million to the total. This was partially offset by the decline in cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil sales to A$18 million for the first half of the financial year, down A$66 million when compared to the prior comparable period. This decline is consistent with immunization 'catch-up' programs in Australia drawing to a close, the firm said. Seasonal influenza vaccine revenues totaled A$91 million for the period, up 22, arising from growth in the US and German markets. Strong contributions from Intraday P (liquid immunoglobulin) in Australia and albumin in China also contributed to growth, it noted.