Actelion highlights strong Q1 2013 performance

Actelion has announced the publication of its financial report for the first quarter of 2013, during which it generated a sales total of 432.8 million Swiss francs (304.1 million pounds).

This represented a five percent year-on-year increase in local currency terms, thanks to strong demand for products including Tracleer, which accounted for the majority of the company's sales during the period.

Progress was made with the global rollout of the new drug Veletri, with European approval of the product expected soon, while Opsumit is also on course to receive the necessary go-aheads from global regulators.

Meanwhile, Actelion is also pushing ahead with phase III trials of a number of promising new therapies, including selexipag, ponesimod and cadazolid.

Dr Jean-Paul Clozel, chief executive officer of Actelion, said: "This progress, together with the strong commercial performance, clearly demonstrates that we are delivering on all three elements of our strategy."

Last month, the company announced that Hill-Rom chief executive officer John Greisch has been nominated as a new board member, a motion that will be voted upon at the company's annual general meeting this week.