Spiriva and Micardis boost Boehringer's 2007 sales 8.8%, as profit jumps 4.8% to $2.8M

German drug major Boehringer Ingelheim has outpaced market growth for the eighth year running. At its annual press conference, the privately-held firm announced that full-year 2007 turnover rose 8.8% year-on-year, in local currency terms, to almost 11.0 billion euros ($17.29 billion), while profit grew 4.8% to 1.8 billion euros, on strong sales of its chronic obstructive pulmonary disease drug Spiriva (tiotropium).

Revenue from the world's best selling COPD product jumped 35% to 1.8 billion euros. Also, after registration in the European Union in the fall of 2007, the Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler with Spiriva was launched in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK. Market introductions in more countries are to follow in 2008.

Micardis (telmisartan), Boehringer's angiotensin receptor blocker for the treatment of essential high blood pressure achieved net sales of 1.12 billion euros, up 23%. The benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment Flomax/Alna (tamsulosin) earned 1.02 billion euros, an increase of 19%. In addition, revenues from Sifrol/Mirapex (pramipexole) for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease and moderate-to-severe cases of restless legs syndrome jumped 26% to 644.0 million euros. Aggrenox (extended-release dipyridamole/aspirin), a therapy for the prevention of secondary stroke, generated 278.0 million euros, up 32%.