Novartis posts 14 percent drop in 1Q profit

[April 23, 2009]  GENEVA (AP) -- Pharmaceuticals maker Novartis AG reported Thursday a 14 percent decline in first-quarter net profit in part due to shifts in currency values as well as the cost of financing its takeover of the Alcon eye care company.

Novartis said the profit of $1.98 billion compared with $2.3 billion in the first quarter of 2008, but that its pharmaceuticals division performed well, with recently launched products rejuvenating the portfolio.

It cited the first regulatory approval of the drug Afinitor against kidney cancer in the United States and the approval in Europe and the U.S. of the new Ixiaro vaccine against Japanese encephalitis.

"New products fueled ongoing momentum in pharmaceuticals," said Chief Executive Daniel Vasella. "The fundamentals of the business remain positive."

Profits fell because of currency losses, investments in new pharmaceuticals, reduced incomes from its Sandoz generic drugs unit and one-time gains in 2008.

"A drop in average net liquidity and financing costs for the 25 percent Alcon stake, which was acquired in 2008, further reduced non-operating income in the 2009 quarter," it said.

He said that because of "the uncertain economy and currency market volatility" the company would enhance productivity and manage costs.

"Our aim in 2009 remains to again deliver record underlying net sales and earnings excluding currency effects," Vasella said.

Novartis said it had net sales for the first three months of $9.7 billion, down 2 percent from $9.9 billion in the same period of last year.

Novartis shares on the Zurich exchange rose 3.9 percent to 43.20 Swiss francs ($47.02).

Vontobel analysts said that in general the Novartis results met expectations, with profits somewhat better than anticipated and sales somewhat less.

Analysts at the Zurich Kantonalbank gave Novartis a "slightly positive rating." They said the pharma division was showing strength again but that its sales of blood-pressure drug Diovan and its best-selling anticancer drug Glivec -- known as Gleevec in the United States -- had fallen short of their expectations.

Diovan brought in $1.4 billion, with sales growing 3 percent in the United States and 10 percent elsewhere. U.S. sales were "hampered by inventory reductions among some wholesalers," Novartis said.

It said Glivec sales for the quarter were $894 million, a slight increase over the fourth quarter of last year, but a 13 percent growth in local currencies. The drug is targeted for certain forms of chronic myeloid leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

[Associated Press; By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.