BioMerieux reports continued growth in first half of 2014

BioMerieux has announced its financial results for the first half of 2014, during which it was able to achieve a sales total of 781 million euros (626.1 million pounds).

This represented a year-on-year increase when including data from BioFire – which it acquired midway through January 2014 – at constant exchange rates, or up 4.2 percent when factoring in the scope of consolidation.

Although the firm confronted a number of challenges during the period, including currency fluctuations and the need for major investments in production, marketing and innovation, it was nevertheless able to achieve a number of key milestones.

These included the expansion of its molecular biology portfolio with the successful integration of BioFire and the receipt of CE Mark approval for the next-generation blood culture system Virtuo. It was also able to implement an operating cost control plan that will pay dividends in the long term.

Alexandre Merieux, chief executive officer of BioMerieux, said: "Thanks to our sales momentum and greater financial discipline, we are maintaining our objectives for the full year."

Mr Merieux was appointed to his current role in April 2014, succeeding Jean-Luc Belingard. This followed on from the hiring of Claire Giraut as chief financial officer earlier in the year.