Octapharma releases financial update

Octapharma, the global biopharmaceutical firm, has announced its second-quarter financial results, which reveal a record turnover for the company.

In the quarter ending June 2009, Octapharma achieved a turnover of 536 million euros (496 million pounds), compared to the 422 million euros recorded in June 2008.

This represents a rise of 27 per cent over the year.

It generated an operating income of 173 million euros compared to 141 million during the same time in 2008.

Sales costs also increased to higher levels than the company’s turnover throughout the quarter, which Octapharma attributes to the higher price of plasma.

The firm currently employs over 3,000 people in 28 countries and operates five production facilities in countries such as Mexico, France, Sweden and Germany.

Meanwhile, Octapharam stated last month that its prion-filtered, virus inactivated FFP OctaplasLG is capable of sifting out the prions responsible for vCJD and could contribute to safer plasma transfusions.