Shire highlights positive momentum during third quarter of 2015

Shire has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2015, during which it delivered a revenue total of $1.66 billion (1.08 billion pounds).

This represented a year-on-year increase of four percent, with strongly-performing products including Vyvanse, Cinryze and Firazyr, while the assets it acquired with the purchase of NPS Pharmaceuticals are also showing good momentum.

During the quarter, the firm expanded its capabilities further with the acquisition of Foresight Biotherapeutics, a move that will help it to build a leadership position in the field of ophthalmology.

Dr Flemming Ornskov, Shire's chief executive officer, said: "Based on the strength of our core business, we are reiterating our recently upgraded full-year non-GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance of mid-to-high single-digit growth."

Shire also confirmed that it will be furthering its efforts to acquire fellow healthcare company Baxalta, having launched a takeover bid for the business in August 2015.

It is anticipated that such a combination would create a global rare diseases leader, delivering an expected $20 billion in sales by 2020.