Coatings - AkzoNobel

Sales of Pharmaceuticals made substantial progress
compared to 1997, aided by incidental Norcuron®
muscle relaxant sales in the United States. Esmeron®
muscle relaxant (Zemuron® in the United States) shows
satisfactory growth both by replacing Norcuron® and by
further market penetration, demonstrating our world
leadership in muscle relaxants. To aid anesthesiologists
in monitoring muscle relaxation we have introduced
TOF-Watch®. One of the year’s highlights was the
submission to the U.S. FDA of the New Drug Application
(NDA) file for Raplon® rapid onset short duration muscle
relaxant, in June 1998. Market introduction is
anticipated in late 1999.
In Diagnostics, Microbiology performed well, continuing
to show double-digit growth for its BacT/Alert® systems
for automated blood culture. BacT/Alert® 3D, the new
generation diagnostic for the culture and detection of
bacteria (including mycobacteria) and fungi was
introduced in May 1998 at the conference of the
American Society of Microbiology in Atlanta, Georgia.
Nucleic Acid Diagnostics also registered strong sales
growth, notably for its HIV and CMV assays. We also
have high expectations for our NucliSens® Extractor
introduced at the 12th World Aids Conference in
Geneva, Switzerland. The extractor provides an
automated solution for the extraction of nucleic acids
from human body fluids, replacing labor-intensive
manual procedures.
Immunodiagnostics reported a favorable development
of sales, despite the economic situation in Southeast
Asia. The FDA approved Vironostika® HTLV I/II assay for
blood screening. Through an arrangement with Ortho
Clinical Diagnostics (Johnson & Johnson), the combined
assay for detection of types I and II Human T-cell
Lymphotrophic Virus, a causal agent of certain types of
leukemia, lymphoma, and neurological disorders, was
successfully introduced in the U.S. blood screening
market. A fourth generation HIV screening assay
Vironostika® HIV Uni-Form II Ag/Ab was launched in late
1998. This assay helps reduce the period between
infection and detection from three to two weeks.
Hemostasis improved its geographic mix by further
placements of its MDA®-180 and Coag-A-Mate® MTX
systems. Two new clotting assays (MDA® D-dimer assay
and Simplastin® HTF assay) were FDA approved and
introduced. Conventional assay sales failed to meet
expectations in the United States, but higher sales
outside the United States compensated for the
shortfall.
AKZO NOBEL ANNUAL REPORT 1998
29
PHARMA
Organon Teknika’s installed base of diagnostic systems
improved substantially in 1998, providing an attractive
platform for future growth in a highly competitive
environment.
INTERVET – VETERINARY PRODUCTS
Sales NLG 780 million (1997: NLG 720 million)
Further expansion in difficult year
Intervet’s product range comprises biologicals for use in
farm animals, fish and pets, fertility products to
enhance reproduction performance, corticosteroids,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and
antibiotics.
Although 1998 was a rather difficult year, particularly in
Asia, satisfying sales and excellent income were
achieved. Volume growth was good in Europe and the
Americas. In particular, the range of biological products
contributed to this positive development. During the
year new Intervet subsidiaries were established in
Korea and Taiwan. In Switzerland, Veterinaria AG was
acquired, while in Australia—through the acquisition of
AusVac—a foothold in the biological market was
secured.
Worldwide, a number of new products were registered
and introduced. In the United States various new
animal vaccines were launched; in Europe registration
for an NSAID for use in dogs was obtained. Several
other vaccines were introduced in the various European
markets. In Japan, eight new products were registered,
creating sufficient potential for healthy growth in that
country.
Our strategy continues to focus on achieving
substantial autonomous growth through R&D and
simultaneous improvements in the geo mix. Aside from
this, Intervet remains interested in opportunities to
acquire smaller businesses that fit this strategy.
Construction of the new R&D center in France for the
development of pharmaceutical products is on
schedule. During the year the construction of a new
NLG 50 million bacterin production plant in Boxmeer,
the Netherlands, was authorized.