Sanofi-aventis highlights positive performance in second quarter

Sanofi-aventis has affirmed its confidence in meeting its medium and long-term growth targets on the back of a strong second quarter performance.

The firm achieved an increase of 4.5 per cent in its business earnings-per-share figure on a constant exchange rate basis compared with the second quarter of 2009, while sales figures were described as “resilient”.

During the quarter, Sanofi-aventis was able to improve the financial stability of the business by reducing research and development costs while maintaining innovation, with results from studies of products such as Temusi and lixisenatide set to be announced soon.

The company also reported double-digit growth for its diabetes drug portfolio, including therapies such as Lantus and Apidra, as well as continued success for the heart disease treatment Multaq.

Sanofi-aventis chief executive officer Christopher Viehbacher said: “I’m pleased with the group’s quarterly performance in an environment impacted by the US healthcare reform, price cuts in Europe and continued competition from generics.”

Earlier this month, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence gave a preliminary recommendation to Sanofi-aventis’ Multaq as a second-line treatment among certain atrial fibrillation sufferers.