Northern Irish drugmaker Galen Holdings today posted a 193 per cent hike in operating profit and a 105 per cent rise in first quarter revenues.
For the quarter ended December 31st, 2003, revenues before exceptionals and goodwill came in at $140.9 million against $68.6 million previously.
On the same basis, operating profit was $72.9 million against $24.9 million.
CSFB had pencilled in operating profit to come in at $63.4 million, with sales tipped to hit $135 million.
Mr Roger Boissonneault, Chief Executive, said:" During the first quarter of our 2004 financial year, the Company has generated revenues in excess of $140 million, illustrating the excellent product portfolio that we have to drive future growth. With our two sales forces now fully in place, we look forward to the rest of 2004 with confidence."
The company said total pharmaceutical product revenues increased by 105 per cent to $140.9 million, adding products which performed strongly during the quarter included Sarafem, femhrt and Ovcon.
During the quarter, the business generated cash of $47.3 million, it said, adding cash at December 31st 2003 was $167.5 million with net debt at the end of the quarter of $174.1 million.
It said the rate of growth in Doryx slowed to 14 per cent, but it expects this growth rate to pick up again during the year.
The gross margin for the quarter was 84.2 per cent compared to 77.7 per cent in the same quarter last year.