New pharma products drive growth in Q1 for Bayer
Led by Xarelto, Eylea and Stivarga
New pharmaceutical products have spurred growth at Bayer’s HealthCare division in the first quarter of 2013.
Sales increased by 2.3% to €4.4bn (Q1 2012: €4.3m), driven primarily by new products. Emerging markets, particularly those of Asia and Eastern Europe, maintained their momentum, posting double-digit growth.
Business in the pharmaceuticals segment of the Healthcare division moved ahead by 1.9% to €2.6bn, driven by ‘a particularly strong contribution’ from new products Xarelto, Eylea and Stivarga. Combined sales of these three products were €244m (Q1 2012: €42m).
The anticoagulant Xarelto saw increased sales in Germany and France, while Eylea, a medicine to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, was successful in the early launch phase in Japan and Australia. The cancer drug Stivarga contributed significantly to sales growth following its successful launch in the US.
Among the segment’s best-selling products were the diabetes treatment Glucobay, the hormone-releasing intrauterine device Mirena and the blood-clotting drug Kogenate.
By contrast, sales of the YAZ/Yasmin/ Yasminelle oral contraceptives fell by 12.5% owing to generic competition in Western Europe. Business with the multiple sclerosis drug Betaferon/Betaseron was down by 6.9% as expected due to lower volumes, particularly in the US and Brazil.
EBITDA before special items in the HealthCare division improved by 8.1% to €1.3bn.