Sanofi-Aventis 2004 beats expectations
01/03/2005
French giant, Sanofi-Aventis, produced an expectation-beating set of full-year 2004 results, with an 18% rise in net income to 5.2 billion euros, and said that growth would be sustained into 2005.
For 2004 √ the first year since the merger between Sanofi-Synthelabo and Aventis √ gross profit rose 5% to 19.4 billion euros, on the back of a 5% hike in sales to 25.4 billion euros. Revenues were boosted by strong contributions from super-aspirin Plavix (clopidogrel) and the anti-hypertensive Avapro (irbesartan). The company had already revealed a strong fourth quarter performance from these drugs, in addition to the thrombosis drug, Lovenox (enoxaparin), and the anti-cancer agent, Taxotere (docetaxel) (PT News Online 26/01/05). However, future sales growth will likely be dependent on the outcome of patent litigation over Plavix (PT News Online 25/02/05). Although Sanofi-Aventis says it remains confident that the compound is protected until 2011, generics manufacturer, Dr Reddy▓s, claims that three patents covering Plavix in the USA are invalid.
For the coming year, Sanofi-Aventis expects sales growth ahead of the pharmaceutical market as a whole, with EPS in line with the rate achieved in 2004. Pre-tax savings for the twelve-months are expected to top 960 million euros, rising to 1.6 billion euros at the end of 2006.
Такое бывает. Редко, но бывает. И довольно часто.