2007 PERFORMANCE
Reported performance
Reported CV sales rose by 9% from $6,118 million in 2006 to $6,686 million in 2007. Continued strong growth from Crestor more than offset the significant declines in Seloken/Toprol-XL.
Underlying performance
Excluding exchange effects, CV sales grew by 5%. Crestor sales increased by 33% to $2,796 million. In the US, Crestor sales for the full year were $1,424 million, a 24% increase over 2006. Total prescriptions in the US statin market increased 8% for the year; Crestor prescriptions were up 22%. Crestor share of total prescriptions in the US was 8.6% in December 2007, marginally down from the 8.7% recorded in December 2006. Sales outside the US for the full year increased 45% to $1,372 million, nearly half the total worldwide sales for the product. Sales were up 26% in Western Europe with good growth in France and Italy. Sales in Canada increased 43%. The launch in Japan continues to progress well, with Crestor achieving an 8.8% volume share in November 2007.
Global sales of Seloken/Toprol-XL fell by 22% to $1,438 million. US sales of the Toprol-XL product range, which includes sales of the authorised generic were down 30% for the full year, as the full range of dosage strengths were subject to generic competition from August 2007. Generic products accounted for 85% of dispensed prescriptions in the fourth quarter and the Toprol-XL product range declined by 69% in that period compared with 2006. Sales of Seloken in other markets were up 5% for the full year as a result of growth in Emerging Markets.
Atacand sales in the US were unchanged for the full year whilst sales in other markets increased 12%.
Continued small declines were seen in Zestril (down 10% to $295 million) and Plendil (down 7% to $271 million), with general global falls compensated by increases in discrete markets.
2006 PERFORMANCE
Reported performance
CV sales were up by 15% on a reported basis, rising from $5,332 million in 2005 to $6,118 million in 2006. The strong performance of Crestor was the principal driver of growth.
Underlying performance
Excluding exchange effects, CV sales grew by 15%. Annual sales for Crestor exceeded $2 billion for the first time in 2006 and, since launch in early 2003, more than 70 million prescriptions have been written. Crestor sales in the US were up 57% to $1,148 million for the year. New prescriptions for statins in the US were up 18%; Crestor new prescriptions were up 58%. Crestor new prescription market share in December 2006 was 9.6%. In other markets Crestor sales increased by 61% on good growth in Europe (up 56%) and in Asia Pacific following launch in Australia and Japan in the second half of 2006.
Sales of Toprol-XL in the US were up 7% for the full year to $1,382 million. Total prescriptions in the US increased by 10% versus 2005. The November 2006 launch of Sandoz’s generic 25mg metoprolol succinate product in the US was followed by an announcement that we had entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. to distribute an authorised generic version of the same 25mg dosage strength in the US market. As a consequence, adjustments were taken in respect of pipeline inventory in the marketplace with the effect that sales are now being recognised as prescriptions are written. Sales of Seloken in other markets were down 7% for the full year to $413 million.
Atacand sales in the US were up 12% to $260 million with new prescriptions up 7%. In other markets, Atacand sales were up 14% to $850 million.
Plendil sales were down 24% as a result of generic competition in the US market, where Plendil sales declined by 71% to $24 million.
