Biogen lifts 2024 profit forecast on hopes of new product launches
Aug 1 (Reuters) -Biogen BIIB.O lifted its full-year earnings forecast on Thursday, as the launch of new treatments such as rare disease drug Skyclarys is expected to make up for a market-share loss of its older multiple sclerosis medicines.
The drugmaker has cut jobs, bolstered its pipeline for rare disease medicines through takeover deals and unveiled new products, such as Alzheimer's disease drug Leqembi as part of its plan to return to growth
Sales of Leqembi, which it sells with Eisai 4523.T, came in at $40 million for the second quarter ended June 30. Wall Street consensus was at $30-$33 million, according to brokerage Jefferies.
Leqembi sales in the United States have been slow to take off due to requirements such as additional diagnostic tests, twice-monthly infusions and regular brain scans.
In a fresh blow to the companies, the drug's application was rejected in the EU last week.
Revenue for the quarter came in at $2.47billion, compared with LSEG estimates of $2.38billion.
Sales of spinal muscular atrophy drug Spinraza, which is competing with rival drugs made by Roche ROG.S and Novartis NOVN.S, fell 1.8%to $429.1million, but beat estimates of $405.24 million.
Skyclarys, which is used to treat a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive damage to the nervous system, brought in sales of $100million for the quarter. Analysts had expected $92.06 million.
Sales of multiple sclerosis drugs such as Tecfidera fell 4.9% to $1.15 billion.
Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva
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