By Joshua Kirby


Lonza Group AG on Friday backed its financial outlook for this year as sales and earnings rose strongly in the first half of 2022 thanks to good consumer demand.

Sales totalled 2.98 billion Swiss francs ($3.08 billion) in the six months, rising 17% from CHF2.54 billion in the same period last year, the Swiss life-sciences company said. Core earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization meanwhile rose 16.5% to CHF987 million, with a slight contraction in the margin to 33.1%.

Good demand in divisions including biologics and the cell & gene business helped drive sales growth in the half-year, Lonza said.

Looking ahead, Lonza said it expects to meet its full-year outlook of sales growth in the low-to-mid teens and an improvement in the core Ebitda margin, in line with mid-term guidance.

The biologics division will be boosted ahead by investment in a new commercial fill-and-finish facility in the municipality of Stein, as previously announced, said Chief Executive Pierre-Alain Ruffieux.

"This will help us to meet customer demand for an integrated offering and deliver long-term value to our business," he said.


Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-22-22 0135ET