UCB exceeds expectations with half-year results

UCB has posted better-than-expected financial results for the first half of 2011, with total revenues increasing by two percent to 1.679 million euros (1.464 million pounds).

The Belgian pharmaceutical company's core profit for the period was 443 million euros, comfortably beating the 399 million euros forecast on average in a poll by Reuters.

Many of UCB's established successes are now facing competition from the generic market, but the company has responded with the launch of new treatments Vimpat, Neupro and Cimzia.

The three products posted combined sales of 285 million euros during the first half of the year, representing growth of 61 percent.

In addition, sales of anti-epileptic drug Keppra were ten percent higher than the previous year at 507 million euros.

UCB chief executive Roch Doliveux commented: "The intense growth of Cimzia, Vimpat and Neupro has touched more than 248,000 patients already.

"From 2012 onward, we will have a decade without impacts from major patent expirations."