Merck Serono achieves organic sales growth in Q2 2014

Merck Serono was able to maintain organic growth during the second quarter of 2014, despite challenging market conditions.

Data from parent company Merck KGaA's latest fiscal report showed that Merck Serono achieved a three-month sales total of 1.4 billion euros (1.12 billion pounds). This was down by 1.4 percent year-on-year due to unfavourable exchange rate trends, but organic sales were up by three percent, with nearly all of its business franchises contributing positively.

The continued growth of the cancer drug Erbitux helped to offset a drop in sales of the multiple sclerosis therapy Rebif, while a particularly strong performance was seen in emerging markets, where organic sales rose by 16.7 percent.

Meanwhile, the firm's consumer health division also performed well, with organic sales growth of 8.5 percent for the quarter.

Karl-Ludwig Kley, chairman of the executive board of Merck KGaA, said: "We want to further expand our business with existing medicines this year … [and] are focusing on emerging markets with a high number of underserved patients. The past quarters have already confirmed the success of this approach."

Merck Serono sells products to more than 150 countries worldwide and is the largest division of the Merck KGaA group.