Novartis Q4 net profit rises to $2.0 billion

Swiss drug maker Novartis AG reported a 2 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit Wednesday, helped by delays in generic competition to its blockbuster drugs.

The Basel, Switzerland-based company said it had a net profit of $2.029 billion attributable to shareholders in the final three months of 2013, up from a restated $1.985 billion in the same period the previous year.

Chief Executive Joseph Jimenez said Novartis delivered a strong performance in 2013, growing both net sales and core operating income in constant currencies while absorbing patent expirations.

"We maintained good momentum in innovation," he said in a financial statement. "Our growth products continued to expand, rejuvenating our portfolio and reinforcing our growth prospects."

Full-year net profit fell 1 percent to $9.175 billion attributable to shareholders, down from $9.27 billion in 2012. Net sales were up 4 percent despite the generic competition and core operating income grew 3 percent, both measured in constant currencies, Novartis said.

The financial statement was delivered before trading opened on the Zurich exchange, where shares closed at 71.3 Swiss francs ($79.3) Tuesday. Shares are up 14 percent from a year ago.

The company confirmed its outlook for 2014 sales growth is in the low to mid-single digits, assuming that the launch of a generic contender to the Novartis blockbuster blood-pressure drug Diovan is delayed until the second quarter.

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.