Actelion drugs ‘performing above market expectations’

Actelion has claimed that its marketed drugs have been performing above expectations as it released the details of a “strong” first-half report for 2006.

Operating profit for the Swiss company rose by 53 per cent, up to 120.3 million Swiss francs (52.2 million pounds), highlighted by sales of Tracleer, which is now sold in 22 countries across the world and is responsible for increasing Actelion’s share in the pulmonary arterial hypertension market.

Actelion has also submitted further indications for Tracleer to regulatory bodies in the EU and US for the treatment of digital ulcers in patients with systemic scleroderma.

Additionally, Zavesca sales helped the company’s top-line sales, with increased revenues of 15 per cent on a quarter-to-quarter basis.

Jean-Paul Clozel, Actelion’s chief executive officer, stated: “I am very pleased with Actelion’s performance. Our marketable products, especially Tracleer, are performing above our expectations, driving profitability higher.

“This is especially noteworthy given that we continue to invest substantially in marketed products and expand our clinical and pre-clinical pipeline.”

“With partnerships in place with Merck and Roche, we are very well positioned to successfully execute our innovation-driven strategy of growing the company multiple-fold over the coming years,” he added.

Andrew J Oakley, the company’s chief financial officer, also noted that the company demonstrated retained earnings for the first time in the company’s nine-year history.

Earlier this week, Actelion announced a collaboration with Swiss pharmaceutical counterpart Roche for the development of Actelion’s selective S1P1 agonist, used in autoimmune disorders.

The terms of the deal includes an upfront payment from Roche of $75 million, with the potential to increase to $555 million.

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