Novo Nordisk reports worldwide sales increase

Novo Nordisk has reported a 23 per cent increase in sales, largely due to the performance of its insulin analogues, which went up by 60 per cent. It also said that sales in North America went up by 32 per cent, while those of international operations increased by 56 per cent.

Net profit decreased by two per cent to DKK 1,880 million (174 million pounds), although the company says that when adjusted for non-recurring gains, the net profit actually increased by 15 per cent.

Lars Rebien Sorensen, Novo Nordisk’s chief executive officer and president, said: “Novo Nordisk had a strong first quarter of 2006 with continuing sales growth globally. We expect an 11 to 13 per cent sales growth for the full year supported by the recent launch of Levemir in the US, where Novo Nordisk is now the only company with a full portfolio of insulin analogues.”

The company also said phase III trials for liraglutide, a once-daily insulin analogue, have started on 3,800 patients with type-2 diabetes and has announced plans for phase III trials involving its inhaled insulin product, targeted at either type-1 or type-2 diabetes patients.

Novo Nordisk received a not-approvable letter from the FDA for two insulin analogues, NovoLog Mix 30/70 and NovoLog Mix 50/50 after it was filed in June 2005. The FDA says more needs to be done to provide additional information and address “certain clinical issues”.

© Adfero Ltd