MALLINCKRODT EXPECTS SALES TO MORE THAN DOUBLE OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS

MALLINCKRODT EXPECTS SALES TO MORE THAN DOUBLE OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS, to "at least $ 800 mil." by 1994, President C. R. Holman told analysts at a meeting in New York on Nov. 8. Mallinckrodt had sales of $ 343 mil. in 1989. The projected growth "is not just an objective," Holman said, "but a necessity if we are to compete successfully in our chosen markets of radiology, cardiology, nuclear medicine, anesthesiology and critical care." Much of Mallinckrodt's growth strategy turns on the company's line of contrast media products. Specifically, the company is counting on Optiray, its recently introduced nonionic agent, to fuel revenue growth. Optiray will soon be available in a prefilled syringe format, along with Mallinckrodt's other imaging products, the company announced. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 1990, Mallinckrodt will offer Ultraject, "the first prefilled plastic syringe for administering x-ray contrast media." Ten years in development, the syringe contains a single dose of contrast media and is designed to reduce dosage error and to protect medical personnel from "cuts, needle sticks and other hazards during material handling." The prefill format was approved by FDA through an NDA on Sept. 29. Among other plans for the next fiscal year, Holman said Mallinckrodt will launch a new renal imaging agent, MAG3, in 1990. A palliative rhenium agent to alleviate the pain of bone cancer is currently in Phase I clinical trials and is expected to enter Phase II in the beginning of 1990.