| Annual Report Contents > Business Reports > ZLB Behring Report | |||
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Our sales of Carimune® (intravenous immunoglobulin) benefited from improved prices in the United States. Sales volumes of Helixate® grew strongly at steady prices with strong sales in Europe due to increased government funding for conversion from plasma-derived Factor VIII to recombinant Factor VIII. Sales of plasma-derived Factor VIII for the treatment of Von Willebrand Factor deficiency were strong, representing 60% of plasma-derived Factor VIII sales. The market for this product is expected to grow due to the improved awareness and diagnosis of this deficiency. The integration of the two prior companies (ZLB Bioplasma and Aventis Behring) proceeded according to plan with all but a few of 700 initiatives achieved in line with or better than expectations. Approximately 90% of planned initiatives were in place by April 2005 and the Integration Office was closed with the remaining activities transferred to regular operations. Financial targets for the year were exceeded in all cases with strong profit and excellent cash flow, the latter benefiting from a reduction in inventory through more focused management of working capital. ZLB Behring’s first liquid intravenous immunoglobulin has now been approved in eight European countries and market development is gaining momentum. Vivaglobin®, our new subcutaneously administered immunoglobulin, was approved in Europe late in the year and offers patients more opportunity for home infusion, as well as improved tolerability. Vivaglobin® is currently being evaluated for approval by the US FDA. Our critical care product portfolio of haemostatics, inhibitors and plasma substitutes save lives in surgical complications, trauma and acquired and chronic deficiencies in acute care situations. Haemocomplettan®, our fibrinogen product, is being used to stem bleeding after surgery. Beriplex®, our four coagulation factor concentrate, restores deficiencies associated with liver complications. Currently accounting for 17% of combined sales, the broader registration of these critical care therapies in Europe and through the US will provide growth opportunities in the future. In Japan, we have strengthened our surgical sealant business through a distribution agreement with Nycomed for Tachocomb, a fibrinogen based sheet for sealing tissue wounds. Tachocomb complements Beriplast®, our fibrin sealant product. ZLB Behring is now the leader in this market segment in Japan. We have continued to make progress with Zemaira®, our Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor for treatment of emphysema, with a five-fold growth in the number of patients using this product this year. Further growth is anticipated through increased efforts to detect those at risk by education and diagnostic programs for this genetic disorder. Registration of this product is currently being sought in Europe. We have commenced clinical trials for the registration of Berinert® (C-1-Esterase Inhibitor) in the US for the treatment of hereditary angeodema (HAE), a life threatening condition brought on by severe swelling of the tissues due to genetic deficiency of the protein. Berinert® is already marketed in Europe and Japan. ZLB Plasma Services, part of ZLB Behring, is one of the largest collectors of human blood plasma in the world with operations in the US and Europe. Through our own plasma collection operations and commercial purchases, we source all plasma required by ZLB Behring. We have standardised operational systems across our US plasma collection centres and we are well advanced with developing a fully integrated global plasma supply chain that will further help us to manage plasma inventory. In a stringently regulated industry, we comply with the highest international standards and continue to explore avenues for further innovation. |
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