1 May 2018 - Deborah Wilkes
Worldwide sales at Sanofi Consumer Healthcare increased by 2.0% at constant exchange rates to EUR1.24 billion (USD1.48 billion) in the first quarter of 2018. Double-digit growth in Emerging Markets more than offset a fall in Developed Markets.
Sales in Emerging Markets were up by 14.4% to EUR409 million at constant exchange rates in the first quarter of 2018.
Sanofi's chief executive officer Olivier Brandicourt said the performance in Latin America had been "especially strong", with Brazil and Argentina doing particularly well.
By contrast, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare's sales in Developed Markets were down by 3.5% at constant exchange rates to EUR829 million. Brandicourt pointed out that sales had declined by around 5% in both Europe and the US.
Sales in Europe were down by 5.0% to EUR382 million in the first quarter of 2018. Brandicourt said the strong cough and cold season in the same period a year earlier had not been replicated.
Sanofi reports lower sales of Xyzal
US sales dropped by 4.9% to EUR287 million. Brandicourt pointed out that in the same period a year earlier the business had benefited from trade stocking for the launch of Xyzal Allergy 24HR (levocetirizine dihydrochloride).
Sales of Xyzal were EUR14 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with EUR43 million in the first quarter of 2017.
Xyzal was switched from prescription-to-OTC status in the US in February 2017. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised two formulations – tablets and an oral solution – for relieving the symptoms of seasonal and year-round allergies.
Sanofi noted there had been increased competition from private-label products, especially for intranasal spray allergy products.
In March 2018, Dr Reddy's said it had launched a generic version of Xyzal Allergy 24HR tablets in the US. The Indian generics company said the "first-to-market launch" was a "testament to the deep capabilities of its store-brand OTC business" (click here to read the News story).
Sanofi Consumer Healthcare's sales in the Rest of World region grew by 2.9% to EUR160 million.
Allegra was biggest-selling brand
Allegra was Sanofi Consumer Healthcare's largest brand in the first quarter of 2018, with worldwide sales up by 2.1% to EUR130 million.
Consumer Healthcare accounted for 15.7% of Sanofi’s total worldwide sales in the quarter, which were down by 0.4% at constant exchange rates to EUR7.90 billion.
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