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UCB announced today its interim report for the first quarter of 2009.
“In the first three months of 2009, UCB has made further progress in focusing its resources and organisation on its core priorities in severe diseases of the central nervous system and immunology. We are preparing to launch Vimpat in adjunctive therapy for epilepsy in the US and in additional European countries, Cimzia in rheumatoid arthritis in the US and in Europe, and Neupro in Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome in Europe”, said Roch Doliveux, CEO of UCB.
In the period from January to March 2009, UCB’s revenue decreased compared to the first three months in 2008 due to a lower net sales contribution from the US market. Recurring EBITDA and net profit performance were in line with the company’s expectation.
In the US market, net sales of the Keppra (levetiracetam) franchise decreased following loss of exclusivity. Net sales of the anti-tussive, Tussionex (hydrocodone polistirex and chlorpheniramine polistirex), decreased compared to the same period last year due to a weak cough and cold season. The attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder product, Metadate(TM) CD (methylphenidate), however, continued to grow strongly in the US market.
Key products in Europe and in the rest of the world outside the US were Keppra which continued to show strong sales growth and the allergy product, Zyrtec (cetirizine), in Japan which is growing strongly because of a more severe pollen season.
New product launches
Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) roll-out in the U.S. for the treatment of Crohn’s disease continues with over 6 200 patients being prescribed the product since launch in April 2008.
Keppra XR, an extended release formulation of levetiracetam, was launched at the end of September 2008 in the US and continues to gain market share at a rate above the original launch of Keppra in the US.
The European market introduction of Vimpat (lacosamide) is ongoing with more than 5 000 patients already benefiting from the drug and the launch outperforming the two most recent anti-epileptic drug launches. Vimpat is now launched in Germany, UK, Austria, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, and more European countries will follow.
Keppra XR, an extended release formulation of levetiracetam, was launched at the end of September 2008 in the US and continues to gain market share at a rate above the original launch of Keppra in the US.
The European market introduction of Vimpat (lacosamide) is ongoing with more than 5 000 patients already benefiting from the drug and the launch outperforming the two most recent anti-epileptic drug launches. Vimpat is now launched in Germany, UK, Austria, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, and more European countries will follow.
