Recordati's pharmaceutical sales increased over the 2008 financial year by 10.8 per cent.

The figure, which included the figures from the Orphan Europe group of companies it acquired at the end of 2007, totalled 658.4 million euros (587.8 million pounds).

However, sales in Italy decreased by 2.8 per cent due to a negative price effect.

Its net income grew by 18.3 per cent to 100.4 million euros, while its operating income increased 10.1 per cent to 144.7 million euros.

The main highlight for last year was the recognition process of the company's brand Zanipress ? a new antihypertensive specialty based on a fixed combination of lercanidipine and enalapril ? being completed throughout the European Union.

A further event it landmarked was the semi-exclusive licensing agreement in February 2008 with the Italian pharmaceutical group Menarini for the sales and marketing of frovatriptan in France and Greece.

Established in 1926, Recordati researches, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals ? focusing primarily on the cardiovascular and urogenital therapeutic areas.

Its headquarters is in Milan, Italy and it employs over 2,900 staff.