Abbott announces sales growth

Pharmaceutical firm Abbott has seen global sales increase by 13.8 per cent in the first quarter of the year.

Its total worldwide sales amounted to $6.8 billion (3.45 billion pounds), with exchange rates having a “favourable” impact on this total.

Pharmaceutical sales were driven by significant growth in Niaspan, Kaletra, TriCor and Humira. Abbott projects $4 billion worth of Humira sales for this year.

Humira, a treatment for psoriasis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, received regulatory approval in the first quarter.

Abbott chairman and chief executive Miles D White said the first quarter of 2008 was “strong”.

“The continued productivity of our late-stage pipeline, combined with the underlying strength of our broad mix of businesses, gives us a high level of confidence in our future growth outlook,” he added.

Abbott employs some 68,000 staff in more than 60 countries. In the UK, Abbott is headquartered in Maidenhead, Berkshire, where it has various operations including nutritionals and pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and animal health.