Reckitt Benckiser announces ‘strong financial performance’

Pharmaceutical firm Reckitt Benckiser has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2006. The company generated net revenues of 1,243 million pounds in the quarter, an increase of 17 per cent, while net income rose seven per cent to 224 million pounds.

Revenues in the company’s health and personal care division that includes its prescription drugs products, rose 99 per cent in the third quarter to 318 million pounds, while Reckitt Benckiser noted that a “small but rapidly growing” portion of this business involved the marketing of Subutex and Suboxone (Buprenorphine), used to treat opiate dependency.

Bart Becht, chief executive officer of the company, said that the company had continued its “strong performance” in the quarter.

“Based on the strength of the business we are raising our target for net revenue growth for the full year to around 17 per cent (previously 15 per cent) at constact exchange (base 4,178 million pounds).

“We are also upgrading our targeted adjusted net income growth (base 653 million pounds) to around 16 per cent (previously 14 per cent) at actual exchange.”

In February, the company announced the completion of its acquisition of Boots Healthcare International that brought the Nurofen, Strepsils and Clearasil brands to Reckitt Benckiser.