This corresponds to a currency-adjusted increase of 9.5 per cent and 5.9 per cent on a euro-basis.

The Animal Health sector exceeded its strong growth once more in 2008.

With currency-adjusted increase in net sales of +19.5 per cent and +14.4 per cent on a euro-basis to €467 million, Boehringer Ingelheim said it is the fastest growing company of the 10 largest companies in the field of veterinary medicine.

The main growth driver was the swine vaccine Ingelvac Circoflex®, with a further increase in net sales by more than 140 per cent to some €90 million.

Hubertus von Baumbach said: "Boehringer Ingelheim is running a successfully expanding and competitive business in the field of Animal Health. Through high investment in productive research we also see here further potential for success in the future."

Prof. Dr Barner, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors and responsible for the Corporate Board Division Pharma Research, Development and Medicine, expressed his satisfaction with the 2008 business year.

"We have achieved our goals through growth in all our business areas," he said.

Operating income, comparable to EBIT, was as the company planned despite the poor exchange rates and higher investment in research and development.

At almost €2 billion, the company produced financially sound profitability comparable to the previous year.

Operating income as a percentage of sales was 17.1 per cent in 2008. At €1.4 billion, income after taxes at a similar level to the previous year, excluding one-off effects in 2007.