BRUSSELS: Belgium’s largest pharma company UCB (Euronext Brussels: UCB) this morning reported that revenue for the first three months of 2017 increased to 1.12 billion euros ($1.22 billion, a rise of 15% at actual and 14% at constant exchange rates (CER).
This was supported by the one-time other revenue of 56 million euros recognized in February 2017 for out-licensing of the OTC-allergy drug Xyzal (levocetirizine).
The company did not provide earnings figures. However, UCB’s shares were down 3.16% at 69.32 euros in mid-morning trading today.
Core driver of the continued sales growth are UCB’s main products. Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), for the treatment of inflammatory TNF mediated diseases, generated sales of 317 million euros, up 13% on an actual basis. Among epilepsy drugs, Vimpat (lacosamide) sales reached 239 million euros, up 27%, Keppra (levetiracetam) came in at 210 million euros, a rise of 25%%, and the newer Briviact (brivaracetam) brought in net sales of 14 million euros since its launch last year. Parkinson’s disease drug Neupro (rotigotine) sales rose 3% to 73 million euros.
UCB confirmed its financial outlook for the current year, saying expects 2017 revenue to reach 4.25-4.35 billion euros and recurring earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) should increase to 1.15–1.20 billion euros. Core earnings per share are expected in the range of 3.70–4.00 euros based on an expected average of 188 million shares outstanding.
