COPENHAGEN (Thomson Financial) - Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck AS posted first-quarter EBIT of 924 million Danish crowns, up 40 percent from a year earlier on the back of stronger sales and margins, and significantly ahead of consensus estimates according to RB Boersen for 699 million crowns.

The group reiterated its previous full-year guidance for sales of 11 billion to 11.5 billion crowns and EBIT of 2.8 billion to 2.9 billion.

First-quarter sales increased 12 percent to 2.882 billion crowns, ahead of market estimates for 2.705 billion.

Big-selling depression treatment Lexapro generated sales of 661 million crowns, up 5 percent from a year earlier, and ahead of consensus expectations for 632 million.

The EBIT margin improved to 32.1 percent from 25.5 percent a year earlier. gustav.sandstrom@thomsonreuters.com gs/slj

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