UCB states 2008 revenue was stable

UCB’s 2008 financial results delivered stable revenue and strong underlying profitability, it has asserted.

The company had lost the major patent expiry of Zyrtec in December 2007 and the exclusivity for Keppra in November 2008, but Roch Doliveux, chief executive officer of the firm, stated it had still performed reasonably in light of this.

He continued to note, there had been seven approvals and six regulatory filings across major markets ? including Europe.

“With the launch of the Shape programme, UCB continued its transformation into a focused, specialist biopharma company,” Mr Doliveux added.

The total revenue for 2008 was 3.6 billion euros (3.2 billion pounds), an actual decrease of one per cent, or an increase of four per cent at constant exchange rates.

Its net profit decreased by 74 per cent actual – 67 per cent at steady currency rates – to 42 million euros.

Looking forward over the next 12 months, the company stated it expects revenue to reach around 3.3 billion and net profit to exceed 130 million euros.

UCB operates in over 40 countries worldwide.