Pharmaceutical Firm Altana Posts Record Sales

The German pharmaceutical company Altana posted record sales in 2002, surpassing even its own estimates, officials announced on Monday. Sales climbed 13 percent to 2.6 billion euros ($2.81 billion). "2002 was an exciting and successful year for Altana," the company said in a release. "We were able to go against the trend in a difficult market." The company expects further growth in 2003, despite a general slowdown in the economy. "Whether growth willl be in the single or double digits depends to a great extent on the dollar-euro exchange," said Chief Executive Nikolaus Schweickart.