Pfizer ophthalmics unit posts $1.37 billion in revenue during 2005

NEW YORK — Pfizer reported revenue of $13.6 billion for the full year 2005, a slight decrease from its year-end 2004 figure, the company said in a press release. In the ophthalmics portion of the company's business, however, sales increased 16% outside the United States, contributing to an overall growth of 12% in the division, to $1.37 billion.

Leading the company's ophthalmic sales were glaucoma drugs Xalatan (latanoprost) and Xalacom (timolol and latanoprost).

"In the ophthalmology portfolio, the 9% worldwide growth … of Xalatan/Xalacom outpaced market growth," the company said in its release. "These medicines continue to lead the worldwide glaucoma market with a 35.7% share of revenues during the same period. Pfizer recently launched the first fully validated glaucoma risk calculator, which will help physicians identify patients with ocular hypertension who are most likely to progress to glaucoma and determine whether to initiate earlier therapy."

Alliance revenue, which includes sales of the age-related macular degeneration drug Macugen (pegaptanib sodium, OSI/Pfizer), was $1 billion for the year.

"Macugen has become an important treatment in the U.S. for AMD," the company said. "While new competitors are expected to enter the market, Macugen has a strong foothold with more than 40,000 patients treated to date. Macugen's favorable safety profile has been maintained for more than 2 years of clinical testing and marketing."