Merck 2008 Annual Report Download - page 3

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Despite a rapidly deteriorating economic situation, total revenues of the Merck
Group increased by 7.1% to € 7,558 million in 2008. On a currency-adjusted basis,
we achieved growth of 11%.
The operating result rose by 16% to € 1,131 million. Return on sales (ROS) improved
to 15.0%. Profit after tax from continuing operations increased from € –88 million to
€ 379 million owing to good business performance, the sharp decline in excep tional
items as well as the nearly full repayment of debt.
The pharmaceutical business achieved double-digit growth rates. Our oncology drug
Erbitux® was approved in mid-2008 in the European Union for the first-line treat-
ment of metastatic colorectal cancer, as well as in Japan for second- and third-line
treatment in this indication. In November, the EU drug regulatory authorities granted
approval for the first-line treatment of head and neck tumors. Sales of Erbitux®
increased 20% to € 565 million. Rebif®, our drug to treat multiple sclerosis, further
expanded its leading position with sales of € 1,331 million, 9.3% more than in 2007.
Merck
www.merck.de
Staying the courseAnnual Report 2008
Major achievements of 2008
Annual Report 2008
Staying the course
Publication contributors
Published on February 18, 2009 by Merck KGaA,
Corporate Communications, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
Fax: +49 (0) 6151-72 5577, e-mail: corpcom@merck.de, Web site: www.merck.de
Concept, design, and typesetting: XEO GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany
Photographs: Pages 4, 8 and 9: Catrin Moritz, Essen; other images: Marco Moog, Hamburg
Printing: Frotscher Druck GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany
Paper: FSC-certified FocusArt natural by Classen Papier
W 840 525
070209
More information inside the cover:
Business Development 1999 – 2008
More information inside the cover:
Business sectors and divisions
Merck 2008 at a glance