Fresenius announces decision on biotechnology business
December 14, 2012
Bad Homburg v.d.H.
Fresenius has decided to focus on its four established business segments Fresenius Medical Care, Fresenius Kabi, Fresenius Helios and Fresenius Vamed, which offer significant growth opportunities. The Fresenius Biotech subsidiary will be discontinued.
The company is in talks with several parties about a sale of Fresenius Biotech, while simultaneously assessing the equally viable option of continuing the immunosuppressive drug ATG-Fresenius S within the Fresenius group. ATG-Fresenius S has been well established in the hospital market for decades, and is consistently profitable. Fresenius will divest the trifunctional antibody Removab (catumaxomab) business. The final decision on how to proceed will be made in the first quarter of 2013.
In the first nine months of 2012, Fresenius Biotech's sales increased by 15% to €26 million. ATG-Fresenius S sales grew by 14% to €22.5 million. Removab sales rose by 22% to €3.3 million. Fresenius Biotech's EBIT was -€15 million (Q1-3 2011: -€19 million). For the full year 2012, an EBIT of about -€25 million is expected. Withdrawing from Removab will have a positive effect on Group earnings starting in 2013.
Fresenius Biotech received the only Europe-wide approval to date for a monoclonal antibody developed in Germany when the European Commission approved Removab in 2009 for treating malignant ascites. The company subsequently obtained reimbursement approvals for Removab from the national health care systems of several European countries, providing the opportunity to expand marketing of the drug.
With ATG-Fresenius S, Fresenius Biotech offers a polyclonal antibody that has been used since 1981, for both organ and stem-cell transplantation.
Fresenius will focus on the attractive growth opportunities of its four core business segments, which have grown strongly over the last years and offer outstanding prospects. Between 2001 and 2011, Group sales increased from €7.3 billion to €16.5 billion, and Group net income from €93 million to €770 million. For the full year 2012, Fresenius expects sales1 of more than €19 billion, corresponding to an increase of 12% to 14% in constant currency. Net income2 is forecast to exceed €900 million, an increase of 14% to 16% in constant currency.
1 Previous year's sales were adjusted according to a U.S. GAAP accounting change. The sales adjustment of -€119 million in the first three quarters of 2011 and of -€161 million for the full year 2011 solely relates to Fresenius Medical Care North America.
2 Net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA – adjusted for a non-taxable investment gain (€34 million) and potential special charges (up to €17 million) at Fresenius Medical Care as well as for one-time costs (€31 million) related to the offer to the shareholders of RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG. 2011 adjusted for the effects of mark-to-market accounting of the Mandatory Exchangeable Bonds and the Contingent Value Rights.
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About malignant ascites
Malignant ascites can be caused by various kinds of tumors. The peritoneal spread of tumor cells leads to an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis for the patient. The most common method of treatment is paracentesis, which generally must be repeated at intervals of one to two weeks and can lead to complications such as infections or elevated losses of fluids and proteins. Removab® destroys the peritoneal cancer cells and thus directly attacks the cause of malignant ascites.
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Fresenius is a health care group with international operations, providing products and services for dialysis, hospital and outpatient medical care. In 2011, Group sales were €16.5 billion. On September 30, 2012, the Fresenius Group had 163,463 employees worldwide.
For more information visit the Company's website at www.fresenius.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, e.g. changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, results of clinical trials, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. Fresenius does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA
Registered Office: Bad Homburg, Germany
Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Bad Homburg, HRB 11852
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dr. Gerd Krick
General Partner: Fresenius Management SE
Registered Office: Bad Homburg, Germany
Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Bad Homburg, HRB 11673
Management Board: Dr. Ulf M. Schneider (Chairman), Rainer Baule, Dr. Francesco De Meo,
Dr. Jürgen Götz, Dr. Ben Lipps, Stephan Sturm, Dr. Ernst Wastler
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dr. Gerd Krick