Boehringer Ingelheim's operating income up 48% in first half; Spiriva prospects strong

Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim has posted turnover of 3.7 billion euros($3.62 billion) for first-half 2002, a 21% increase over the like, year-earlier period. Operating income totaled 495 million euros, up 48%, while the company said that it anticipates full-year 2002 sales growth of 20% compared with 2001.

Increased sales were powered by the performance of the company's lead, patent-protected, products, turnover of which grew to 1.3 billion euros to account for 38.3% of the total portfolio, said the company.

The antihypertensive product MicardisPlus (telmisartan plus hydrochlorothiazide) enjoyed a successful launch during the reporting period, while the strongest-performing drug was the benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment Flomax (tamsulosin HCI), sales of which rose 34% to 35 million euros. Income was also boosted by the launch of generic drug pamidronate via BI's US arm Ben Venue.