Actelion pleases with 2015 results and 2016 guidance

Switzerland-based Actelion (SIX: ATLN) saw its share rise 2.7% to 125.80 Swiss francs, after the company posted financial results for 2015, which just beat analysts’ forecasts, and gave positive guidance for 2016.

For the fourth-quarter of 2015, core earnings rose 9% to 814 million Swiss francs ($827.24 million), the company said, compared to analyst forecasts of 813 million francs. Product sales for the quarter rose 4% to 2.042 billion francs, marginally under analysts’ forecasts for 2.044 billion francs. While revenues from its established pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Tracleer (bosentan) are being eroded by generic competition, newer PAH drug Opsumit (macitentan) is doing well and Uptravi (selexipag) just launched in the USA in January.

For full-year 2015, net revenue came in at 2.05 billion francs, up 7% at constant exchange rates, with operating income rising 21% to 656 million francs but net income down 3% at 552 million francs