The French pharmacist Sanofi warned Thursday that the income of her key division of diabetes medicines would fall this year, after being forced to offer discounts from her popular drug Lantus in the United States.
Global Sales of Lantus, which represent almost a fifth of the company's revenues and will no longer be protected by patent this year in the United States, 5% under constant exchange rate types fell to 1,580 million euros in the first quarter.
The figure laid sales of the main division of Sanofi, diabetes, at 3.2 percent.
The company informed that it hoped that sales for diabetes treatments "are an indication of division performance in the year."The firm's actions lost 1.2%, pressing the French stock index CAC 40.
Lantus sales in the United States declined 13.1% in the first quarter, and the company was forced to offer sales to maintain its market share for future generations of diabetes treatments.
However, Sanofi reported a slight rise in its underlying profits in the period, exceeding expectations.
The drop in drug revenue for diabetes, together with the impact of a 10.7% rise in the cost of sales due to the busy calendar of launch and orders for approval to regulators, was counteracted by the strong growth of its divisions of its divisionsgeneric medicines and consumer -oriented units and animal health care.
The net profit of Sanofi's businesses in the first quarter rose 1.6% at constant rates to 1,730 million euros (1.9 billion dollars).
The result was above the market expectations of 1,560 million euros, according to the consensus compiled by the company.
Sales amounted to 2.4% at constant rates, or 12.3% in a reported base, at 8,810 million euros.