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Biotest AG:Good start to 2006 – a year of growth: Group sales up by 21%, overproportional growth recorded in earnings

Biotest AG / Quarter Results



Corporate-announcement transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Good start to 2006 – a year of growth: Group sales up by 21%,
overproportional growth recorded in earnings

Strong increases in immunoglobulins and coagulative agents – sales and
earnings target for financial year 2006 as a whole confirmed

  
Dreieich/Frankfurt/Main, 11 May 2006. Biotest AG, Dreieich, achieved Group
sales of € 67.5 million in the first quarter of 2006, which represents a
year-on-year increase of 20.9%. EBIT rose 30.7% to stand at € 6.9 million,
while pre-tax profit improved by 79.9% to total € 5.0 million.

The increase in sales is mainly attributable to the Pharmaceutical segment,
which grew 29.2% to € 47.4 million. Growth was driven, in particular, by a
sharp upturn in sales of immunoglobulins Pentaglobin ® and Intratect ® in
Germany and the rest of Europe, and also in sales of the coagulative agent
Haemoctin ® in Russia. Sales in the Diagnostic segment were up 5.0% to €
20.1 million. Over half the growth in this segment was attributable to the
US market.

The overproportional earnings increase was achieved, despite higher
research and development expenses, which amounted to € 5.6 million
(previous year: € 3.6 million) due to investment in the development of the
Biotherapeutic segment. The marked improvement in the financial result had
a positive impact following the significant reduction in financial
liabilities. Cash flow from operating activities stood at € 4.6 million
compared to € -4.2 million for the same period in the previous year.
Investment was fully covered by internal funds. Following a small increase
in total assets, at 48.2%, the equity ratio deviated only marginally from
the figure at year-end 2005 (48.5%). The number of employees rose slightly
in the first quarter of 2006 by 15 to 1,089 in line with the growth
strategy of Biotest.

After a successful first quarter, Biotest is anticipating sales growth of
more than 10% and a rise in earnings for financial year 2006 as a whole. In
the second quarter, the first sales of Intratect ® have already been
carried out in the UK and Austria. This premium product only remains to be
launched in five other EU countries, which are to be opened up by the end
of 2006.

The complete quarterly report can be viewed at www.biotest.com under
Investor Relations/Publications.

About Biotest
Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany, is a company that researches and
manufactures pharmaceutical, biotherapeutic and diagnostic products and has
specialised in immunology and haematology. In its Pharmaceutical segment,
Biotest develops immunoglobulines, clotting factors and albumins based on
human blood plasma. These are used for diseases of the immune system or
haematopoietic system. In addition, Biotest also researches into the
clinical development of monoclonal antibodies, including in the indications
of rheumatoid arthritis and blood cancer. The Diagnostic segment spans
reagents and serology and microbiology systems which are used, for example,
in blood transfusions. Biotest has around 1,100 employees worldwide and its
shares are listed in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Prime Standard.

Biotest AG: Dr. Michael Ramroth, Tel. +49 (0)6103 801-338
Fax: +49 (0)6103 801-347, e-mail: michael.ramroth @biotest.de
Biotest AG, Landsteinerstr. 5, D-63303 Dreieich, www.biotest.de

German Securities Code Number, ISIN ordinary shares: 522720, DE0005227201
German Securities Code Number, ISIN preferred shares: 522723, DE0005227235
Listed: Prime Standard/Official market
Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart





DGAP 11.05.2006 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       Biotest AG
              Landsteinerstr. 5
              63303 Dreieich Deutschland
Phone:        +49 - 6103 / 801 - 0
Fax:          +49 - 6103 / 801 - 150
email:        mail@biotest.de
WWW:          www.biotest.de
ISIN:         DE0005227201, DE0005227235
WKN:          522720, 522723
indices:      
Listed:       Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in
              Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart
 
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
 
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