Three months interim report: what are the highlights?
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25-Apr-2018
UCB is a company that is driven by science. As our three months interim financial report for 2018 confirms, R&D is an important part of UCB. Later in the year, we expect more news to flow from currently ongoing clinical development projects.
First, let’s look at the financial headlines in our latest report. UCB is tracking well towards its full year financial outlook with revenues of € 1.07 billion in the first three months of 2018. Foreign exchange rates cause headwind in 2018, as expected. This keeps us on course for annual revenue of between € 4.5 - 4.6 billion.
Our five main products recorded net sales of € 839 million – driven by a continuous growth at constant currency exchange rates. This is very important for all of us interested in UCB’s present and future. One of our key immunology products, for example, is now available to women with chronic inflammatory disease throughout the pregnancy journey.
R&D update
Also significant is the R&D update we feature in every report. This is a window on our next generation of potential medicines currently in clinical development. For example, in February, a phase 2b study was initiated to test a potential new compound for drug-resistant epilepsy patients. First results are expected in 2020.
In March, a new antibody-based treatment for a currently incurable group of neurodegenerative diseases entered the first phase of clinical studies. There is huge unmet need in this area, making it one to watch for patients, health professionals, investors and analysts.
In the second half of this year, I look forward to seeing results from phase 2b clinical studies of a new lupus compound, and two phase 2a studies for a compound tested in patients with immune thrombocytopenia or myasthenia gravis.
Collaborations
We are pleased to have acquired Element Genomics in the U.S. to strengthen our genomics and epigenomics research platform to identify novel drug targets. We are also pleased to have the agreement to expand our epilepsy portfolio with a nasal spray. This nasally administered investigational formulation is intended as a rescue treatment of acute repetitive seizures in patients with epilepsy. It has completed Phase 3 clinical development and is ready to be filed as a New Drug Application in the U.S. in the course of 2018.
Taken together, these developments make it clear that UCB is investing in its future – both internally and externally - and following through on our commitment to deliver value to patients and other stakeholders including shareholders.
First, let’s look at the financial headlines in our latest report. UCB is tracking well towards its full year financial outlook with revenues of € 1.07 billion in the first three months of 2018. Foreign exchange rates cause headwind in 2018, as expected. This keeps us on course for annual revenue of between € 4.5 - 4.6 billion.
Our five main products recorded net sales of € 839 million – driven by a continuous growth at constant currency exchange rates. This is very important for all of us interested in UCB’s present and future. One of our key immunology products, for example, is now available to women with chronic inflammatory disease throughout the pregnancy journey.
R&D update
Also significant is the R&D update we feature in every report. This is a window on our next generation of potential medicines currently in clinical development. For example, in February, a phase 2b study was initiated to test a potential new compound for drug-resistant epilepsy patients. First results are expected in 2020.
In March, a new antibody-based treatment for a currently incurable group of neurodegenerative diseases entered the first phase of clinical studies. There is huge unmet need in this area, making it one to watch for patients, health professionals, investors and analysts.
In the second half of this year, I look forward to seeing results from phase 2b clinical studies of a new lupus compound, and two phase 2a studies for a compound tested in patients with immune thrombocytopenia or myasthenia gravis.
Collaborations
We are pleased to have acquired Element Genomics in the U.S. to strengthen our genomics and epigenomics research platform to identify novel drug targets. We are also pleased to have the agreement to expand our epilepsy portfolio with a nasal spray. This nasally administered investigational formulation is intended as a rescue treatment of acute repetitive seizures in patients with epilepsy. It has completed Phase 3 clinical development and is ready to be filed as a New Drug Application in the U.S. in the course of 2018.
Taken together, these developments make it clear that UCB is investing in its future – both internally and externally - and following through on our commitment to deliver value to patients and other stakeholders including shareholders.
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