Boehringer Ingelheim sees growth during first half of 2013

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced its financial results for the first half of 2013, during which it generated a six-month net sales total of 7.1 billion euros (6.05 billion pounds).

This represented a year-on-year increase of 3.1 percent on a currency-adjusted basis, with its products Pradaxa, Trajenta and Spiriva acting as the main drivers of growth.

In light of difficult overall trading conditions, the company has been making efforts to increase its flexibility and adaptability, while also investing heavily in research and development, with oncology becoming the firm's second main focus area after diabetes.

Boehringer Ingelheim is expecting further growth as the year progresses and will launch afatinib, a new therapy for lung cancer, later in 2013.

Professor Andreas Barner, chairman of the board of managing directors at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "In order to continually heighten our competitiveness, we continue to invest in areas that will determine the future of our group of companies."

This comes after Dr Sanjay Patel – global clinical development leader for diabetes at the company – recently told PMLiVE that the organisation will also be expanding its metabolic disease therapy portfolio to address the needs of obesity patients.