Actelion reports sales growth in third quarter

Actelion has published its financial report for the third quarter of 2010, a period which saw the company experience a year-on-year increase in sales.

During the three months ending September 30th 2010, the pharmaceutical company earned 445.7 million euros (397.7 million pounds) in product sales, up by nine percent on the corresponding quarter of last year in local currency terms.

Products which saw improved sales during the quarter included Tracleer and Zavesca, with increasing patient demand cited as the reason behind the trend.

Dr Jean-Paul Clozel, managing director and chief executive officer of Actelion, said the company is confident in the strength of its marketed and developmental portfolios, adding that it wishes to focus on expanding its pulmonary arterial hypertension franchise.

He added: "Given the challenging market conditions in the pharmaceutical industry, I am satisfied with the ongoing commercial performance of our marketed products."

In July 2010, the company announced that it has agreed a deal to gain an exclusive option to acquire the French firm Trophos, based on the clinical progress of the drug olesoxime.