Synthélabo looks for sales growth

26 October 1998 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Overall sales growth this year of 7% is anticipated by the l'Oréal subsidiary.

Synthélabo, L'Oréal's pharmaceuticals subsidiary, expects sales to grow by 7% overall this year, up slightly on the 6.7% recorded in the first three quarters.

On a pro forma basis, sales were FF9.17bn ($1.68bn) for the first nine months. International sales and improved margins pulled operating profits along by 16% to FF1.08bn. This does not include figures from Lorex, the joint venture with Searle in the US, which is expected to announce sales of FF285m.

Synthélabo has an option to buy Searle's 51% stake in Lorex in April 2002 and in the mean time, Synthélabo will gain an increasing level of profits to that date. This year Synthélabo's share of the profits from Lorex is 10% but will reach 19% in 1999. Lorex markets Synthélabo's Stilnox sedative under the Ambien brand in the US.

This year, sales of Ambien should be up 28% to $95m.

Ceo Hervé Guérin is determined to gain top ten positioning in the European pharma market in the next three years by external growth. He also wants to take advantage of the restructuring that EU governments' attempted pharma price caps will bring about.

Synthélabo is currently developing a thrombosis preventive, new formulations for Tildiem, a cardiovascular product, and a follow up for Stilnox.

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly