Actelion reports first Uptravi sales, raises guidance

Actelion Ltd. (SIX:ATLN) reported 1Q16 earnings, including the first sales of pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Uptravi selexipag, and raised its core operating income guidance to growth in the high single digits, assuming constant exchange rates. In February, it had said it expected low-single-digit growth.

Uptravi sales were CHF35 million ($36.2 million) in the quarter. Actelion said about 650 patients have received the drug since its January launch. FDA approved the long-acting prostacyclin (IP) receptor ( PGI2; PTGIR) agonist in December (see BioCentury Extra, Dec. 22, 2015). ...