Warner Chilcott Q4 Net Income Increases 37.8%
Warner Chilcott has announced that their fourth-quarter net income grew 37.8%, although pharmaceutical sales were hit by the impact of generic competition for their osteoporosis drug, Actonel.
The organisation’s net income increased to $124 million, or 49 cents per share, up from $90 million, or 36 cents per share. The company’s revenue dropped 5%, to $612 million from $646 million.
Sales of Actonel (risedronate) fell 42% to $104 million, hit by generics in Western Europe and Canada, and the overall decline in the US oral bisphosphonate market. The organisation’s ulcerative colitis treatment Asacol (mesalamine) increased 15% to $204 million.
Earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Warner Chilcott’s new mesalamine product for ulcerative colitis, which is to be launched under the brand name Delzicol next month. Asacol will lose its market exclusivity in July this year, and the Warner Chilcott confirmed that “Delzicol will become the promotional priority for our gastroenterology sales force.”
The bladder treatment Enablex (darifenacin) fell 2% to $40 million and sales of the antibiotic Doryx (doxycycline) dropped 59% to $19 million, also hit by generics in the US.
As for Warner Chicott’s contraceptives, Loestrin 24 Fe (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) grew 25% to $89 million, while sales of Lo Loestrin FE doubled from the like, year-earlier period to $42 million. Estrace (estradiol) for menopausal symptoms, brought in $51 million, an increase of 21%.
Links:
www.wcrx.com
www.pharmatimes.com
sg.finance.yahoo.com