23.05.2024 06:46:19 - dpa-AFX: EQS-Adhoc: Galenica on track with sales growth (english)

Galenica on track with sales growth


   Galenica AG / Key word(s): Sales Result
   Galenica on track with sales growth
   23-May-2024 / 06:45 CET/CEST
   Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
   The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
   announcement.
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   Press release
   Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR


   The Galenica Group made a good start to the new year with sales
   growth of 4.8% to CHF 1,255.5 million in the first four months of
   2024. All Service Units performed well and contributed to the
   good sales performance.


   The sales growth is based on a positive development of the
   pharmaceutical market with growth of 4.0% (IQVIA, Pharmaceutical
   Market Switzerland, YTD April 2024). Compared to the prior-year
   period, the first four months of 2024 included an additional day
   of sales, with an estimated positive impact of around 1% on sales
   growth. Significantly increased sales of generics and biosimilars
   dampened growth. This development was driven by the measures for
   the promotion of generics and biosimilars that entered into force
   on 1 January 2024, including an increase in the deductible if
   patients prefer a more expensive original medicine. Galenica
   pharmacies increased the generic substitution rate from 75.2% at
   the end of 2023 to 80.5% in the first four months of 2024, thus
   making a significant contribution to curbing rising healthcare
   costs.


2024 outlook confirmed

   Galenica confirms its outlook for the 2024 financial year with
   sales growth of between 3% and 5%, EBIT^1 growth of between 8%
   and 11% and a dividend at least equal to the previous year's
   level.



Net sales of the Galenica Group January-April 2024:


(in million CHF)

Apr 2024

Apr 2023

Change

Products & Care segment

542.6

519.1

+4.5%

Retail (B2C)

455.9

437.8

+4.2%

Local Pharmacies

430.2

412.5

+4.3%

Pharmacies at Home

25.8

25.3

+2.1%

Professionals (B2B)

91.2

85.2

+7.1%

Products & Brands

63.8

60.7

+5.2%

Services for Professionals

27.4

24.5

+11.7%

Logistics & IT segment

1,036.1

981.1

+5.6%

Wholesale

991.6

940.5

+5.4%

Logistics & IT Services

52.2

46.8

+11.6%

Corporate and eliminations

-323.2

-302.2


Galenica Group

1,255.5

1,198.0

+4.8%


1 Adjusted, excluding the effects of IFRS 16 and IAS 19



"PRODUCTS & CARE" SEGMENT


   The "Products & Care" segment generated net sales of CHF 542.6
   million (+4.5%) in the first four months of the 2024 financial
   year. Of this, CHF 455.9 million (+4.2%) was attributable to the
   "Retail" business area (B2C), with the "Local Pharmacies" sector
   contributing CHF 430.2 million (+4.3%, excluding Coop Vitality)
   and the "Pharmacies at Home" sector contributing CHF 25.8 million
   (+2.1%, excluding Mediservice).


   The "Professionals" (B2B) business area increased net sales to
   CHF 91.2 million (+7.1%), with the "Products & Brands" sector
   contributing CHF 63.8 million (+5.2%) and the "Services for
   Professionals" sector contributing CHF 27.4 million (+11.7%).



   "Retail" business area (B2C)
     * The pharmacy network (excluding Coop Vitality) continued to
       develop dynamically since the beginning of the year: five new
       pharmacies were acquired, one new pharmacy was opened and one
       pharmacy was closed. The expansion effect on sales growth in
       the "Local Pharmacies" sector therefore amounted to +1.0%.
     * Adjusted for this expansion effect, the Galenica pharmacies
       grew organically by +3.3%, thanks to high demand for
       medication sales and slightly higher demand for the rest of
       the range.
     * The "Pharmacies at Home" sector grew by a pleasing 2.1%
       despite various adjustments of the offerings. The growth
       drivers were Bichsel Homecare in the clinical nutrition at
       home business and the Amavita and Sun Store web shops.
       Compared to the same period last year, demand for
       vaccinations in Galenica pharmacies increased by 43%
       (excluding COVID-19 vaccinations).
     * Around 62,000 customers made use of the healthcare services
       and advice offered by Galenica pharmacies in the first four
       months of 2024, an increase of 31% compared to the prior-year
       period.


   By way of comparison:
     * Drug sales from bricks-and-mortar pharmacies in Switzerland
       (prescription (Rx) and OTC products) grew by 3.7% in the
       reporting period (IQVIA, Pharmaceutical Market Switzerland,
       YTD April 2024).
     * Sales of medications from mail-order pharmacies in
       Switzerland (prescription (Rx) and OTC products) increased
       slightly year on year by +0.4% (IQVIA, Pharmaceutical Market
       Switzerland, YTD April 2024).
     * The non-medications segment of the consumer healthcare market
       developed in the reporting period slightly positive with
       +1.1% (IQVIA, Consumer Health Market Switzerland, YTD April
       2024, Nutrition, Personal Care, Patient Care, excluding
       COVID-19 self-tests, excluding OTC).


   "Professionals" business area (B2B)
     * Verfora continued to grow in the first four months and was
       able to expand its market position. Organic growth in the
       "Products & Brands" sector, excluding the expansion effect
       (+1.8%) due to the acquisition of Padma in 2023, amounted to
       a pleasing 3.4%.
     * Verfora's export business developed very positively with
       growth of 19.5%. This pleasing result was driven by higher
       demand for Verfora products, such as Perskindol® in Asia, as
       well as earlier product deliveries abroad compared to the
       previous year.
     * Due to destocking in the market, Verfora's Swiss business
       declined slightly in organic terms by -0.5%. By contrast,
       market sales of Verfora products in pharmacies and drugstores
       grew faster than the market as a whole at 6.9% (IQVIA,
       Consumer Health Market Switzerland, YTD April 2024), enabling
       further market share gains.
     * Growth drivers in the "Services for Professionals" sector
       (+11.7%) were once again Lifestage Solutions and Medifilm in
       the business with nursing homes and home care organisations.


   By way of comparison:
     * The consumer healthcare market grew by 1.9% year on year
       (IQVIA, Consumer Health Market Switzerland, YTD April 2024,
       excluding COVID-19 self-tests).


"LOGISTICS & IT" SEGMENT


   The "Logistics & IT" segment achieved net sales of CHF 1,036.1
   million (+5.6%) in the first four months of the 2024 financial
   year. Of this, CHF 991.6 million (+5.4%) was attributable to the
   "Wholesale" sector and CHF 52.2 million (+11.6%) to the
   "Logistics & IT Services" sector.



   "Wholesale" sector
     * The pharmacy customer segment recorded growth of 4.5% and was
       thus above market growth.
     * At 9.4%, the highest growth was achieved in the physicians
       segment, which enabled market shares to be gained.


   By way of comparison:
     * The overall pharmaceutical market grew by 4.0% (IQVIA,
       Pharmaceutical Market Switzerland, YTD April 2024).
     * The physicians segment grew by 7.0% (IQVIA, Pharmaceutical
       Market Switzerland, YTD April 2024).
     * The pharmacy segment grew by 3.4% (IQVIA, Pharmaceutical
       Market Switzerland, YTD April 2024).


   "Logistics & IT Services" sector
     * Alloga further expanded its business in the first quarter. In
       addition, all customers were migrated to the new ERP
       solution, thus completing the project.
     * HCI Solutions also performed well. As of the end of April,
       around114 million CDS checks had been performed (+23%), an
       important contribution to patient safety.



   Additional information on sales figures and further information
   can be found in the sales presentation.


   Dates for the diary
   6 August 2024     Galenica Group half-year results 2024
   24 October 2024   Galenica Group sales update
   23 January 2025   2024 sales of the Galenica Group



For further information, please contact:


   Media Relations:
   E-Mail: media@galenica.com
   Tel. +41 58 852 85 17 Investor Relations:
   E-Mail: investors@galenica.com
   Tel. +41 58 852 85 31


   Welcome to the Galenica network!
   Our ambition is to meet the needs of patients and customers in
   the Swiss healthcare market in a seamless, efficient and
   personalised way. To achieve this, we operate the Galenica
   network with over 20 Business Units, the strongest partners in
   the Swiss healthcare market. We offer fully integrated solutions
   both for customers and patients as well as for pharmacies,
   drugstores, medical practices, hospitals, retirement and nursing
   homes, home care providers, wholesalers, pharmaceutical
   companies, health insurance funds and other partners.
   Galenica is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss
   Exchange, GALE, security number 36,067,446). Additional
   information concerning Galenica can be found at www.galenica.com.


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   End of Inside Information
     ____________________________________________________________


   Language:    English
   Company:     Galenica AG
                Untermattweg 8
                3027 Bern
                Switzerland
   Phone:       +41 058 852 81 11
   E-mail:      info@galenica.com
   Internet:    https://www.galenica.com
   ISIN:        CH0360674466
   Listed:      SIX Swiss Exchange
   EQS News ID: 1908731



   End of Announcement EQS News Service
     ____________________________________________________________


1908731 23-May-2024 CET/CEST

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