Recently, Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (CRTX) forecasted net revenues exceeding $112 million for the year ending December 31, 2010. The guidance for fiscal 2010 assumes that its branded products will contribute more than 75% of net revenues in 2010 compared to the 2009 contribution of 40%. The company expects to report net revenues greater than or equal to $104 million in fiscal 2009. Cornerstone expects to earn more than $10.2 million or 38 cents per share in 2010.
 
Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. is the merger product of the privately held Cornerstone BioPharma with the publicly traded Critical Therapeutics in 2008. The merger brought Zyflo CR − the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved product for the prevention and chronic treatment of asthma in adults and children aged 12 and above − into Cornerstone’s portfolio. The acquisition of the U.S. rights to Curosurf, treating respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature babies, besides the antibiotic Factive have also boosted its product portfolio.
 
The revenue growth forecasted in 2010 mainly takes into account strong sales from Spectracef (a third-generation cephalosporin for the treatment of pathogens commonly associated with respiratory diseases in adults and adolescents aged 12 and above), Zyflo CR and the acquired products in 2009 − Curosurf and the antibiotic Factive. However, contributions from the existing products in its portfolio indicated the temporary relief of symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis and the HyoMAX product line which consists of antispasmodic medications are expected to decline to less than 25% in 2010 as against approximately 60% in 2009. Consequently, the company intends to make further acquisitions in future to sustain growth.
 
Based in Cary, North Carolina, Cornerstone Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing prescription products for the respiratory market. The company’s commercial strategy is to grow market share for its current products, acquire non-promoted or underperforming branded pharmaceutical products and implement life cycle management techniques to maximize the value of its currently marketed products, newly acquired products and pipeline candidates.
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