Shire has posted a strong set of third-quarter figures which show that net income jumped 22.4% to $278.2 million, while revenues rose 12% to $1.24 billion.

Turnover was driven by the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), which climbed 21% to $299.2 million. Its off-patent predecessor Adderall XR (mixed amphetamine salts) fell 20% to $81.4 million, while another ADHD drug, Intuniv (guanfacine), had sales of $80.8 million (+17%).

As for Shire's rare diseases portfolio, Replagal (agalsidase alfa) for Fabry disease fell 11% to $108.5 million due to competition in Europe from Sanofi-owned Genzyme's Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta) which has fixed its manufacturing problems. Vpriv (velaglucerase alfa) for Gaucher's disease rose 17% to $87.8 million, while the Hunter Syndrome therapy Elaprase (idursulfase) also climbed 17% to $129.1 million. Pentasa (mesalamine) was up 5% to $73.6.million and the firm’s newer ulcerative colitis drug Lialda/Mezavant soared 36% to $141.9 million.

One blot on the landscape was the performance of Dermagraft, a regenerative bio-engineered skin substitute for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, which fell 29% to $23.9 million. Earlier this week, Shire announced that it will discontinue the construction of its new manufacturing facility in San Diego and will carry on making Dermagraf in its existing plant in La Jolla.

The company is upping its full-year 2013 earnings to mid-to-high teens growth from the double-digit rise forecast in July. Chief executive Flemming Ornskov, noting that a reorganisation has resulted in "a simpler, more efficient business", said that "we're confident in our prospects for the longer term as we continue to execute on commercial delivery, progress our prioritised pipeline and focus on targeted M&A".