Boehringer achieves further growth in first half of 2012

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

Boehringer Ingelheim has grown again in the current financial year, with a 6.8% increase in currency-adjusted sales in the first half of 2012. The increased sales were driven by double-digit growth of the established respiratory tract medications, Spiriva (Tiotropium Bromide Inhalation Powder) and Combivent (Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate), as well as the newly introduced Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) and diabetes medication, Trajenta (linagliptin).

A large portion of the sales were from prescription-only drugs, which amounted to around EU €5.6 billion in the first half of 2012, 8.7% up on the previous year.

Although Boehringer achieved a strong sales growth, particularly in the US and emerging markets, the pharma company expects the second half of 2012 to be a challenge, due to the difficult economic environment at the moment. Boehringer is aiming for single-digit growth for the year as a whole.

"In addition to the complicated budget situation in many countries, it is becoming increasingly difficult to access markets and establish new innovative treatments such as those that our company develops and offers. Research-driven pharmaceutical companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim are particularly affected by this development. Moreover, the economic and financial crisis has left some countries wondering whether they can introduce new medications under their reduced healthcare and national budgets, even if these medications are clearly superior to standard treatments".

Prof. Andreas Barner, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim.

Boehringer plans to introduce further new developments, over the coming years, from its extensive research pipeline, including new medications for diabetes, oncology and hepatitis C.