AbbVie reports strong growth in Q2 2013

AbbVie exceeded its financial forecasts during the second quarter of 2013, according to the firm's latest fiscal report.

The pharmaceutical company's worldwide sales for the period came to $4.69 billion (3.05 billion pounds), up by 4.4 percent year-on-year, with growth driven primarily by the continued strength of the Humira brand.

Global Humira sales rose by 12.1 percent, while key products such as Synthroid, Creon, Zemplar and Duodopa also delivered double-digit increases.

Additionally, the company was able to make progress with the pipeline development of several key therapies, particularly with regard to its mid and late-stage development programmes.

Richard Gonzalez, chairman and chief executive officer of AbbVie, said: "Our first-half performance, including better-than-expected sales growth, has allowed us to increase our earnings-per-share guidance for the year."

These results cap a successful first six months for AbbVie as an independent company, following its separation from former parent company Abbott at the start of 2013.