Merck Serono maintains strong growth in Q1 2013

Merck Serono has achieved strong growth during the first quarter of 2013, contributing to a better-than-expected performance for the Merck KGaA group as a whole.

The healthcare division of the multinational group generated a revenue total of 1.55 billion euros (1.32 billion pounds), up by 3.5 percent year over year, with all four geographic regions contributing to this organic sales improvement.

Its single most successful product was the multiple sclerosis therapy Rebif, followed by the targeted cancer treatment Erbitux, while Merck KGaA noted that its consumer health and Merck Millipore divisions also achieved growth.

As a result, Merck KGaA now expects that it will be able to meet its financial targets for 2014 this year, 12 months ahead of schedule.

Karl-Ludwig Kley, chairman of the executive board of Merck KGaA, said: "Merck got off to a solid and profitable start in 2013 with all four divisions contributing to our organic sales growth."

Last year, the group generated 11.2 billion euros in total annual revenues, with Merck Serono contributing 6.41 billion euros towards this result.