Boehringer Ingelheim hails business growth in 2009

Boehringer Ingelheim has published its annual financial report for 2009, during which the company was able to outpace the growth rate of the wider pharmaceutical sector.

The firm’s net sales for the 12-month period came to a total of 12.7 billion euros (11 billion pounds), a 9.7 per cent increase on the 11.6 billion euro figure from 2008.

According to the company, this marked the tenth consecutive year that Boehringer Ingelheim has exceeded overall market growth, with the strong performance of drugs such as Spiriva, Alna/Flomax and Micardis cited as key factors.

It also expressed confidence that this trend will continue thanks to its increased research and development activities during 2009, as well as its planned launch of five innovative new medicines.

Professor Andreas Barner, chairman of the board of managing directors at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “In view of the difficult economic environment, we believe that the success of 2009 confirms that our entrepreneurial approach was right.”

Earlier this month, the company also revealed that it will be increasing its global production capacity once expansion work at its Ingelheim manufacturing site is completed.