Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk A/S, the world's top producer of insulin, says fourth quarter profits soared 70 percent, thanks largely to a 23 percent rise in sales.
The company said Wednesday that net profit in the last three months of 2010 reached 3.95 billion kroner ($724 million), up from 2.32 million kroner in the same period of 2009.
Quarterly sales from October to December rose to 16.12 billion kroner ($2.96 billion) from 13.06 billion.
Meanwhile, sales and distribution costs rose 24 percent to 5.27 billion kroner.
