Allergan third quarter sales up 23%

IRVINE, Calif. — Allergan Inc. reports a 23% increase in the company’s net sales for the third quarter ending September 27, 2002.

Net sales totaled $350.6 million, including $10.5 million of nonpharmaceutical product sales from Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (AMO). Net sales from 9-month continuing operations equaled $1,006.8 million, which is a 22% increase from the same 9-month period in 2001.

Third quarter eye care pharmaceutical sales increased by 11% over the same quarter last year. According to Allergan, the growth rate of the eye care pharmaceutical products was hurt by the company’s decision to discontinue Alphagan (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.2%) in the third quarter of this year and focus energies on Alphagan P (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.15%).

Excluding the negative sales impact of the discontinuation of Alphagan, sales of Allergan’s glaucoma products increased by 30.3% in the third quarter of 2002 compared to the same quarter of 2001.

Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%) worldwide sales added greatly to this increase, with a total of $35.0 million and an increase of 230.2% compared with last year’s third quarter net sales.

In total, net sales from Allergan’s eye care pharmaceutical sales amounted to $202.5 million, up from $186.5 million from third quarter last year.

Additionally, significant sale increases were reported for Botox (botulinum toxin type A) therapy. Botox increased in sales by 43.8% over third quarter 2001. Excluding the effects of currency rates, Botox sales were recorded at $110.7 million for this quarter, up from last year’s $77.2 million.

Allergan officials remain in discussions with the Food and Drug Administration concerning promotional materials for Botox Cosmetic after receiving a letter from the FDA in September 2002.