Bristol-Myers Squibb reports “strong performance” during final quarter

Bristol-Myers Squibb has published its financial results for the final quarter of 2009, revealing that its net sales from continuing operations reached $5 billion (three billion pounds).

This represents a rise of 11 per cent – or seven per cent excluding the foreign exchange impact – when compared to the correlating time of 2008.

Additionally, the firm’s international net sales increased by 11 per cent to $1.9 billion.

Its products ORENCIA and SPRYCEL grew on a worldwide scale by 30 per cent and 38 per cent respectively compared to the corresponding period of last year.

“In 2009, we completed strategic initiatives such as splitting off Mead Johnson, acquiring Medarex and extending our Abilify commercialisation agreement with Otsuka – all of which significantly address present and future challenges,” stated James Cornelius, chairman and chief executive officer.

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced earlier this week that its moderate to severe Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis treatment ORENCIA (abatacept) was granted approval for use in combination with methotrexate.