Sales increased by 9.5% in the first half of 1998 at constant exchange rates and comparable group structure.
|
SALES
(in millions of FRF) |
1st half 1997
published |
1st half 1997
at comparable group structure |
1st half 1998 |
|
% variation at comparable group structure |
|
% variation at comparable group structure and constant exchange rates |
|
Healthcare |
10,530 |
10,206 |
11,162 |
|
+ 9.4 % |
|
+ 9.5 % |
|
Beauty |
1,578 |
1,559 |
1,728 |
|
+ 10.8 % |
|
+ 9.7% |
|
TOTAL |
12,108 |
11,765 |
12,890 |
|
+ 9.6 % |
|
+ 9.5 % |
Sales generated by the Pharmaceuticals business rose by 10.5 % during the first half of 1998.
During the first half of 1998, the two new therapeutic agents, from Sanofi Research, APROVEL® (irbesartan) and PLAVIX® (clopidogrel) generated worldwide sales of more than FRF 500 million, of which FRF 170 million were consolidated by Sanofi.
The marketing by Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb of the antihypertensive agent Aprovel® (irbesartan) was gradually expanded in Europe, Canada, and Latin America during the first half of the year. During this period, Aprovel® generated worldwide sales of FRF 352 million, of which FRF 170 million were consolidated by Sanofi.
Plavix® (clopidogrel) was launched in the United States in March 1998 and generated sales of FRF 173 million during the first half of the year, consolidated by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Plavix obtained marketing approval for the European Union on July 15, 1998.
Consolidated sales for the ten leading established products (excluding new drugs) rose by 13%.
|
Drug |
Indication |
First half 1998 Sales in millions of FRF |
Growth over 1997 |
|
Fraxiparine ® |
Low molecular weight heparin |
711 |
+ 10 % |
|
Ticlid ® |
Platelet aggregation inhibitor |
690 |
+ 13 % |
|
Depakine® |
Antiepileptic |
554 |
+ 17 % |
|
Cordarone® |
Antiarrhythmic |
398 |
+ 10 % |
|
Corotrope® |
Acute cardiac insufficiency |
288 |
+ 42 % |
|
Myolastan® |
Muscle relaxant |
181 |
( 3 %) |
|
Lipanor® |
Anticholesterol agent |
180 |
( 1 %) |
|
Lodales ® |
Hypolipedimic agent |
163 |
+ 14 % |
|
Plaquenil ® |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
160 |
+ 18 % |
|
Tranxene ® |
Anxiolytic |
157 |
+ 5 % |
In terms of trading areas, sales evolution was as follows: France : + 3 %; Western Europe (excluding France) : + 15 %; Central and Eastern Europe : + 36 %; North America : + 18 %; Latin America : + 8 %; Asia (excluding Japan) : - 5 %.
Sales by the Diagnostics and Animal Health businesses were stable.
The Beauty business posted sales growth of 10.8 %.
The success of the launch of "In Love Again" and the strong performance of women's fragrances enabled Yves Saint Laurent to post sales growth of 7%. The internationalization of the new women's fragrance "So de la Renta" and the solid position of the Oscar de la Renta "signature" line are responsible for a very strong growth of the brand in the first half of the year.
Geographically, sales in France experienced a solid recovery (+15%). The rest of Europe as well as the Americas posted growth rates of more than 10%, whilst sales in South-East Asia were down by 12%; however, this region accounts for less than 10 % of the Beauty business. |
