Strong sales and income growth for Boehringer Ingelheim in 2016

In 2016, German family-owned pharma major Boehringer Ingelheim generated net sales of around 15.9 billion euros ($16.9 billion), representing an increase of 7.3% in currency-adjusted terms (+7.1% in euro terms). Since operating income improved by 27% to around 2.9 billion euros, the return on net sales came to 18.1%, the company noted.

Overall, net sales of prescription medicines – Boehringer Ingelheim’s largest business – increased by 7.4% in currency-adjusted terms to around 12 billion euros (+7.5% in euro terms). With net sales of just under 3 billion euros, down 14.9% year-on-year, the respiratory drug Spiriva (tiotropium) remains the best-selling medicine for the company.

The oral anticoagulant Pradaxa (dabigatran) saw sales increase 6.8% to 1.4 billion euros. Type 2 diabetes agent Trajenta/Jentadueto (linagliptin) generated sales of 1.1 billion euros, a rise of 23.1% while ofev (nintedanib), used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), posted sales of 600 million euros, leaping 106.4%