PHARMACEUTICALS group Novartis has reported strong growth in a second quarter update today.
Net sales during the three months rose 19%, calculated on a constant currency basis, to £9.3bn, and by 16% to £18bn for the first half.
Core operating income rose 30% to £2.6bn over the second quarter, while free cash flow grew by 39% to £2bn.
Recently launched products experienced a 46% improvement over the same quarter in the previous year, which was worth £2.37bn.
The Swiss drugs group employs more than 500 staff at its Speke plant making conventional flu vaccines and the H1N1 swine flu vaccine which boosted group vaccine sales last year due to H1N1 pandemic fears.
