WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXN) Thursday said its third-quarter net profit increased, as sales of Soliris rose 39 percent. Both profit and revenues topped Street view. The company lifted its annual guidance for earnings and revenues.
Net profit surged to $177.73 million or $0.88 per share, from $93.79 million or $0.47 a year ago.
Excluding certain items, the company recorded a profit of $258.27 million or $1.27 per share.
On average, twenty analysts polled by Thomson-Reuters estimated earnings to be $1.16. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items.
Alexion's net sales increased to $555.15 million from $400.41 million a year earlier. Analysts expected revenues to be $541.93 million.
The company raised its annual guidance for adjusted earnings to $5.15- $5.20 per share, from previous guidance of $4.95- $5.05 per share. It now expects full year revenues of $2.220 - $2.225 billion, compared with the previously projected range of $2.18 billion - $2.2 billion.
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