Global pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, headquartered in Germany, announced on the 3rd that its net sales last year rose by 6.1% from the previous year to reach €26.8 billion (approximately 42.99 trillion won).
Boehringer Ingelheim's business is largely divided into human pharmaceuticals and animal pharmaceuticals. According to the company, last year the sales growth rate for the human pharmaceuticals division and the animal pharmaceuticals division was 7.0% and 1.9%, respectively. The company noted that the number of patients treated with its drugs worldwide increased by 8% from the previous year to 66 million.
The net sales of the type 2 diabetes and chronic heart failure treatment Jardiance® increased by 14.6% from the previous year to €8.4 billion (approximately 13 trillion won), while sales of the chronic fibrosing interstitial lung disease treatment OFEV® rose by 8.9% from the previous year to €3.8 billion (approximately 6 trillion won). The best-selling product of the animal pharmaceuticals division, the animal dewormer NexGard®, also saw its sales increase by 14% from the previous year to €1.4 billion (approximately 2 trillion won).
The company invested €6.2 billion (approximately 9.95 trillion won) in research and development, which accounts for 23.2% of last year's net sales. Out of the R&D investment of €6.2 billion, €5.7 billion was invested in the human pharmaceuticals field. The human pharmaceuticals division plans to initiate more than 10 phase 2 and 3 clinical trials within the next 12 to 18 months and aims to launch significant new drugs within five years.
Frank Hübler, Chief Financial Officer of Boehringer Ingelheim, said, "Over the past five years, Boehringer Ingelheim has invested about €25 billion in research and development, and we will continue to expand R&D investments in the future."
Boehringer Ingelheim is focusing on the launch of major new drugs, including 'Zongoritinib', which is being developed as a treatment for lung cancer, and 'Nerandomilast', which is being developed as a treatment for pulmonary fibrosis. Zongoritinib is the first oral targeted therapy for patients with HER2 mutant non-small cell lung cancer. Boehringer Ingelheim has applied for product approval for Zongoritinib and Nerandomilast with major health authorities worldwide. The first launch in the United States is expected to take place in the second half of this year.
Hubertus von Baumbach, Chairman of the Management Board of Boehringer Ingelheim, said, "As the major new drug pipeline approaches the market entry stage, it is a critical time for high-intensity investment. Our top priority is to provide new drugs to patients as soon as possible, and we are considering methods for expedited launches."