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Biogen announces favourable first quarter results

17 Apr 2009

Biogen''s first quarter revenues for 2009 show a sales growth that is mainly down to three of its products, it has said.

The company recorded a ten per cent year-on-year increase, with sales totalling $1,036 million (£699 million).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment Tysabri drove its share of the revenue with 44 per cent growth in sales across the European Union.

It contributed $165 million to the coffers in the first three months of the year.

Avonex - also used for MS - grew four per cent, drawing in $555 million, while Rituxan increased 13 per cent to $279 million.

The latter is used to medicate B-cell non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma and contributed to the expansion of the company''s global footprint, according to president and chief executive James C Mullen.

"One-third of our sales currently come from outside the United States - a clear illustration of our success in capturing the greatest amount of value for our products worldwide," he said.

The company recently received permission from the US Food and Drug Administration to use a higher-yield process when manufacturing Tysabri.