Lundbeck reports pharmaceuticals growth

Global pharmaceutical company Lundbeck posted a growth of two per cent in total revenue last year.

The Danish firm revealed that its revenue reached DKK 9.2 billion (842.6 million pounds) in 2006, which represents an increase of two per cent from the previous year’s trading.

In addition, the enterprise noted that all of its new healthcare products experienced underlying rises in sales although its performance in the US suffered as a consequence of a shortage of escitalopram.

However, in Europe the company recorded sales-generated revenue of DKK 5.5 billion, which represents an increase of nine per cent in comparison to figures posted in 2005.

Lundbeck also saw impressive results from its global markets with a rise of 21 per cent in earnings from the previous year.

The Copenhagen-based firm stated: “Net profit for the year amounted to DKK 1.1 billion, down 30 per cent compared with 2005.”

It added: “The decline was due to Forest’s reduction of escitalopram inventories.”

Lundbeck also announced that in the wake of positive phase I trials on its antipsychotic treatment, its Lu 31-130 programme is to commence clinical phase II research with 210 volunteers with schizophrenia.

The research-based enterprise works on treatments for a range of central nervous system disorders in addition to schizophrenia, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.