First-half sales at Ipsen increase 18.8%

French specialty pharma group Ipsen (Euronext: IPN) today announced financial results for the first half of 2017, reporting strong operating performance.

Group sales grew 18.8% to 919.5 million euros ($978 million) and core operating income margin improvement by 1.2 points to 26.2% of sales. Core operating income was up 25.7% at 240.5 million euros and core consolidate net profit was 169.2 million, a rise of 16.2%, resulting in core earnings per share of 2.04 euros, up 15.7%.

·         Specialty Care sales growth of 23.1% to 764.6 million euros reflects continued Somatuline (lanreotide) momentum and includes contribution of key new products Cabometyx (cabozantinib) and Onivyde (irinotecan).