Novartis sales
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Double-digit OTC growth drove Novartis Consumer Health first-quarter sales up 4% to $1.82 bil., the firm reports in an April 24 earnings call. "Strong expansion" in OTCs due to the acquisition of Bristol-Myers Squibb's consumer business was one major factor; the purchase, completed in August 2005, brought in brands such as Excedrin and Bufferin pain relievers (1"The Tan Sheet" Sept. 5, 2005, In Brief). Novartis cited a "good" U.S. cough/cold season as a driver of first-quarter revenue; brands include Theraflu, Comtrex and Triaminic. Higher sales of the analgesic Voltaren (diclofenac) in Europe also contributed. Consumer Health operating income increased 60% to $458 mil., mainly due to a $129 mil. gain from the divestment of the Nutrition & Sante functional food business, completed in February 2006 (2"The Tan Sheet" Dec. 5, 2005 In Brief). Overall net sales were up 13% to $8.3 bil., while net income grew 32% to $1.96 bil....