Schering AG shows ‘strong growth momentum’ ahead of Bayer merger

Schering AG has published its financial results for the first nine months of the year. The company reported an increase in net sales of nine per cent to 4,180 million euro (2,824.1million pounds), with an adjusted rise in operating profits of 20 per cent.

Betaferon, a multiple sclerosis drug, achieved a sales increase of 16 per cent and achieved authorisation as first-line treatment of the disease in Europe. The company’s Yasmin oral contraceptive achieved a net sales increase of 33 per cent.

Arthur J Higgins, chairman of the executive board of Schering AG, said: “We are very pleased with the performance of our key products which contributed to our overall strong growth rates during the first nine months of 2006.”

He added that these results were “particularly encouraging” in light of the company’s forthcoming merger with Bayer Schering Pharma.

In September, Schering AG announced the results of a study showing that treatment with 250mcg of Betaferon significantly reduced the risk of the development of clinical definite multiple sclerosis in all subgroups of its Benefit study.

The Benefit study investigated the effect of the administration of Betaferon on patients with typical magnetic resonance imaging findings and a first clinical demyelinating event suggestive of multiple sclerosis.