New medicines stimulate Bristol-Myers invoicing

The releasing of medicines as Abilify - for schizophrenia treatment - and the Baraclude – hepatitis B – made the incoming of the north-american Bristol-Myers Squibb increase 10% in Brazil until the end of this year. It's about R$ 500 milions greater than the 2005 results.

In dolars, that is a step of US$ 194 milions (2005) for US$ 227 milions (2006). The incoming of new products by itself, goes from US$ 61,4 milion up to US$ 89,3 milions in 2006, it is the best increase of the area. For the next year, the president Mário Grieco (brazilian subsidiary) expects a growth of 15%, in local money, considering all the sellings.

The new medicines will also be ones of the main responsables for the estimated 2007 growth. Coming soon, there is the Splycel (dasatinib), for treatment of myeloid leucemy, and Orencia, against rheumatoid arthritis. The company intented to release these new products on this year, however, they will be sell only in 2007 for they are “hold” at Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa), waiting for approval status. “Six months has passed since our petition.”

According to Grieco, Anvisa has took too long on it's processes and approvals may take over 3 years. “But yesterday (monday) I visited Anvisa and they said they are emploing 200 more technicians to hurry up their processes. They also promissed focus on the more important medicines.” In this case, Splycel is in the list, because it is for those patients that did not respond to other leucemy therapies.

Bristol expects to earn about US$ 50 milion per year with Orencia in Brazil, that would be for three years. Grieco estimates that medicines for rheumatoid arthritis have a market of US$ 200 milion/year in Brazil. Splycel has a smaller market, and a low income is foreseen by the CEO. “We are investing on good. It saves lifes.”

Grieco leads in Brazil the global portfolio reestrutuction plan of the company, where the investments are focused on 10 therapeutical areas – says that the reorganization is working. The products that belong to focused areas holds 40 % of the income expected for 2006.

The consume division sets medicines as Luftal and Naldecon together. It will be responsable for the other 40 % of sellings. Next year Bristol shall increase in 25 % the investments on the marketing of that area, that goes for R$ 30 milions. Totally, the investments shall be on US$ 35 milions up to 40 milions next year, a 15% increase from 2006.



Source: Gazeta Mercantil - Iolanda Nascimento - Dec 20th, 06