Dechra confident on future

VETERINARY services and drug development company Dechra Pharmaceuticals today said trading over its first half had been in line with management expectations and that it was looking to the future “with optimism”.

Dechra, which employs more than 200 people at its Dales operation in Skipton, North Yorkshire, said group revenue for the six months to December 31 had been 6.5% ahead of the same period in 2008.

Its pharmaceuticals division has seen revenues increase by 12.6%, with its Vetoryl product making $2.5m of sales in the US.

Its Dales Pharmaceuticals manufacturing business made “good progress” over the period increasing its revenue from third party customers.

Revenue in the group’s services division was up 4.6% on 2008.

In a statement, Dechra said: “Despite continuing economic uncertainty, there are indications of volume growth starting to return to the market.

“This growth, together with the continued penetration of our own branded products, impending new product launches in the EU and a robust development pipeline, enables the Board to look to the future with optimism.”

Dechra will announce its interim results on February 23.