Boehringer Ingelheim ‘still one of the fastest growing’

Boehringer Ingelheim has claimed it is still one of the world’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies.

Attributing its “markedly” increased sales during the first half of 2006 to the “strong therapeutic potential” of recent drugs, the company revealed that it had received 5.3 billion euros in sales during the period – an increase of 17 per cent.

Spiriva, the treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was Boehringer Ingleheim’s leading product, accounting for 640 million euros worth of sales, while sales in Micardis, the blood pressure drug, increased by nearly a third to 480 million euros.

Although the company expects to record a slightly lower sales growth figure over the full year due to the American introduction of generic form of Mobic, the arthritis treatment, still described as an “important” drug to Boehringer Ingelheim.

Dr Alessandro Banchi, chairman of Boehringer Ingelheim’s board of directors, commented: “Our business developed very well in the first half of 2006 and actually exceeded our expectations. We?ll make every effort to maintain this high level for the whole year too.”

“We also intend to outpace the market for the seventh successive year. Our success shows that our products help patients. That?s what we are working for,” he concluded.

Boehringer Ingelheim specialises in cardiovascular and neurological therapies. The company employs approximately 1,000 staff in the UK, where it is based in Bracknell, Berkshire. It was recently voted as 40th best place to work in the UK.

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