Boehringer Ingelheim, with more than 46,000 employees worldwide, has received setback during the year ended December 2012 and its net profit declined by 16.2 per cent to €1,237 million from €1,476 million in the previous year due to large investments in research and development. Net sales rose by 11.5 per cent compared to the previous year, to around €14.7 billion from €13.2 billion. The company raised R&D expenditures by 11 per cent to around €2.8 billion.

In the three most important markets, the USA, Japan and Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim in 2012 achieved strong sales growth and 60 per cent of group sales. Sales grew by 8.7 per cent in Germany, by 15.3 per cent in Japan and by 15.1 per cent in the USA. The market situation in Europe remains difficult, especially in France and Southern Europe, and is not expected to change in the years ahead.

Professor Andreas Barner, chairman and managing directors, said, "2012 was a year with which we are very pleased – both with the growth in the market and with operating income, as well as with the progress with our pipeline. We have successfully faced up to numerous challenges."

Barner added at the Annual Press Conference in Ingelheim yesterday that the company's focus remains on innovations from its own research and development. "We will continue to pursue this strategy, regardless of overall increasingly difficult conditions, as we secure the company's future."

In 2013, Boehringer Ingelheim plans the market launch of a new medication for the treatment of lung cancer. Alongside diabetes, oncology shall be the company's second new medical pillar. Further launches offering great therapeutic advances are planned in additional oncological indications as well as in COPD and asthma, diabetes and hepatitis C.

Boehringer Ingelheim is intentionally not focusing solely on products with strong sales potential, but also researching medication, for example, for the treatment of the rare disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. "We have also committed ourselves to research in areas that are characterised by high unmet medical needs that are difficult to treat and for which there are few patients. Here too, we want to make a therapeutic contribution, without regard to the profit line," Professor Barner said.

Total investment in research and development and tangible assets increased strongly again last year. The company raised its R&D expenditure by 11 per cent to around €2.8 billion. The company invested €562 million in tangible assets last year, a rise of more than 23 per cent compared to 2011.

The company achieved sales of €13.08 billion with Human Pharmaceuticals in 2012, corresponding to growth of 12 per cent compared to the previous year. The business area prescription medicines continued to account for the bulk of group sales, with a share of 78 per cent. Net sales in this business area rose by 13 per cent to around €11.4 billion. "Our oral anticoagulant Pradaxa was the fastest growing medication in our portfolio, with growth of 76.2 per cent," said Von Baumbach. "In 2012, we generated sales of more than €1 billion with Pradaxa for the first time." By far the most successful medication is still Spiriva for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sales here rose from a high level by a further 13 per cent to some €3.6 billion.

Sales in over-the-counter medicines also grew a further 7.8 per cent  in 2012 to around €1.5 billion. In the meantime, this business area accounts for a ten per cent share of the company’s net sales. The international core brands are Buscopan, Dulcolax, Mucosolvan, Pharmaton and Bisolvon. Sales of Buscopan exceeded the €200 million threshold for the first time in 2012. Boehringer Ingelheim ranks seventh worldwide among the largest self-medication companies.

In the business area animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved sales of more than €1 billion for the first time, corresponding to some 7 per cent of group turnover, and a sales growth of 8.8 per cent compared to the previous year.  The main growth drivers were once again swine vaccines from the product family Ingelvac. Ingelvac CircoFLEX, with sales of €279 million, is not only the bestselling animal health brand, but remains the world’s most sold animal vaccine overall.

In 2012, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved sales of €549 million in biopharmaceuticals. This corresponds to growth of 5.8 per cent against the previous year and around 4 per cent of group turnover.

For the current financial year, Boehringer Ingelheim expects to continue its growth and anticipates a mid-single-digit increase in sales. The company also wants to constantly continue its growth phase in the coming years.