MS drug Tysabri boosts Elan’s revenue by 11%

Elan has reported an 11.2% year-on-year rise in first-half revenue, to $576.4 million (€474m); but came up short of market estimates in the second quarter of the year.

Revenues for the three months to the end of June were up over 6% to $288m, but missed analysts’ $299m forecasts. The Dublin-headquartered biotechnology company also reported a lowering in its second quarter net loss from $47.1m to $28.5m, with first-half net losses lowering from $74.7m to $60.3m.

Progress made was again driven by the continued “very solid” growth of multiple sclerosis treatment Tysabri which had global half year like-for-like sales growth of 8%, to $794.5m. In the second quarter the drug added 2,400 people to its user roster — its highest quarterly increase for three years — bringing its patient numbers to 69,000.