Alexion Pharmaceuticals, a major bioscience player in New Haven, announced positive financial results on Wednesday, including strong sales for its medications.
Third-quarter earnings for the Boston-based company rose to $330.9 million, or $1.47 per share, from $78 million (or 35 cents per share) for the same quarter of last year. Revenue in the third quarter rose to $1.03 billion, a 20-percent jump over same period in 2017.
Sales of Alexion’s Soliris (eculizumab), Strensiq and Kanuma all increased compared to the same period last year. In September, the company announced positive results in a trial of Soliris in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder [NMOSD], a devastating neurological ailment.
Soliris is currently used to treat rare diseases including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MG).
Alexion also announced a collaboration with Dicerna Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge, Mass., to develop GalXC RNA interference (RNAi) candidates.
“We continued to execute on our key objectives this quarter, further strengthening our core business and again delivering strong top and bottom-line growth,” said Alexion CEO Ludwig Hantson. “Following the groundbreaking Phase 3 results of eculizumab in NMOSD, we are moving quickly to prepare global regulatory submissions, which could make it the first approved therapy for patients with this devastating disease.
“In addition, we made significant progress diversifying our portfolio with the anticipated acquisition of Syntimmune and our collaboration with Dicerna,” Hantson said. “We continue to look for additional opportunities while advancing internal programs to position us for further long-term growth.”
Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com
