Actelion reports strong financial results for 2014

Actelion has announced its financial results for 2014, during which it achieved a product sales total of 1.96 billion Swiss francs (1.37 billion pounds).

This represented a year-on-year increase of 12 percent at constant exchange rates, with core earnings up by 25 percent to 743 million francs. This strong performance was partly due to its new drug Opsumit, which achieved sales of 180 million francs during its successful first year on the market.

Actelion also saw encouraging sales of Veletri and continued robust demand for Tracleer in territories where Opsumit is not yet available. Moreover, the promising new therapy Uptravi was filed for US and EU regulatory approval based on positive clinical trial data.

Low-single digit core earnings growth is expected in 2015, with strong momentum from 2014 helping to cushion against the increased generic and pricing pressures facing the Tracleer, Ventavis and Zavesca brands.

Dr Jean-Paul Clozel, chief executive officer of Actelion, said: "Reflecting on the successes of 2014, as well as our promising pipeline, I am confident that we are well positioned for future success."

The company is known as a leader in the field of pulmonary arterial hypertension, with the burgeoning success of Veletri and Opsumit set to reinforce this status in the coming years.