Actelion announces profits

Actelion has reported profits of CHF 275.2 million (154.4 million pounds) for the first nine months of the year.

The company, which has sales and marketing subsidiaries in over 25 countries, compared this to its profit level of CHF 40.4 million for the corresponding period in 2007.

Net revenues reached CHF 1.069 billion against last year’s CHF 946.4 million, while operating expenses decreased from CHF 906 million to CHF 794.4 million.

In addition, sales of Tracleer (bosentan) – Actelion’s oral treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension – totalled CHF 945.8 million, which will enable funding of a maturing pipeline.

Chief executive officer Dr Jean-Paul Clozel said the group was continuing to perform above his expectations. He also discussed upcoming developments.

“Actelion will also continue to invest in other innovative agents with the potential yet again to transform medical practice as well as provide further value creation for all stakeholders.”

The figures announced this week follow last month’s confirmation that the company’s shares started trading on the Swiss Market Index.

This is the country’s blue-chip index and is weighted via capitalisation of the 20 most liquid and largest stocks listed on the Swiss Performance Index.

It began in 1988 and is examined and updated annually.