The Galenica group, which is active in the healthcare market, has reported sales of SFr2.143 billion ($1.25 billion) for last year, driving up revenues by 4.5 per cent.

Galenica, which is based in Bern, said in a statement on Monday that it had again enjoyed a "highly successful" year. It added that it had succeeded in expanding services and production, enlarging its global network and building up its chain of pharmacies.

Among other things, the company manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products, manages pharmacies, provides logistical services and databases, and sets up networks.

Galenica said that business sectors created over the past two years, as well as the international business sectors, grew at rates varying between 15 per cent and 100 per cent last year.

It commented that virtually all business sectors contributed to the favourable results by gaining a bigger share of their respective markets.

Despite higher investment costs for forward-looking projects, the Galenica group was able to increase consolidated annual profits - for the sixth successive year - by slightly more than 10 per cent, the statement said. The precise figures will be announced on April 23.

Galenica also commented that it had enjoyed a "good start" to the 2002 financial year.

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