UCB S.A. reported results for the first three months of 2016. Revenues climbed 9% at constant exchange rates (CER) to €991 million ($1.09 billion) driven by strong sales of the company’s main products – Cimzia, Vimpat, Neupro and Keppra.
All growth rates mentioned below are on a year-over-year basis and at CER.
Quarter in Detail
Cimzia sales soared 24% to €283 million driven by expanded patient access for inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-mediated diseases.
Vimpat sales surged 28% to €188 million on the back of strong demand in the epilepsy indication. Sales were further boosted by the drug’s Sep 2014 launch in the U.S as monotherapy for partial-onset seizures. Vimpat is currently under review in the EU for this indication.
Neupro, approved for the treatment for Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome, generated sales of €73 million, up 22%.
However, sales of anti-epileptic drug, Keppra, tanked 10% to €170 million due to the impact of different shipment patterns.
Pipeline Update
UCB continues to progress with the candidates in its pipeline. Currently, the company is evaluating romosozumab in a phase III study, ARCH, in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Data from the study are expected in 2017.
In the reported quarter, a phase IIa study on UCB7665 was initiated in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. The company expects to present initial data from the study in the second half of 2017.
2016 Outlook
UCB reiterated its guidance for 2016. The company expects revenues of approximately €4.0–€4.1 billion and core earnings of €2.90–€3.20 per share.
UCB currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other favorably ranked stocks in the health care sector include Shire plc , Gilead Sciences Inc. and Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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