CSL reaffirmed its full-year guidance of profits between $US2.7 billion and $2.8 billion. Total revenue leapt by 25 per cent to $US7.6 billion in constant currency terms. That includes $US923 million in revenue from iron deficiency and kidney disease treatments maker Vifor, which CSL acquired last year for $16.4 billion.

‘I think we’re in good shape. It’s just a constant, diligent effort by a whole lot of people to make this happen.’

Paul Perreault, outgoing CSL chief executive

Many of the challenges CSL faced during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic are now in the rearview mirror, allowing incoming chief executive Paul McKenzie to focus on the continued integration of Vifor into the CSL business, as well as the growth of new products including CSL’s gene therapy for haemophilia B patients, which was recently approved for use in the US.

Perreault said the gene therapy would not make billions for CSL, but could generate hundreds of millions of dollars over time. The launch of the product, which is designed to help patients by replacing regular infusions of medicine across their lifetimes with a one-off treatment, was a significant milestone for the company and a career highlight, he said.

“For little CSL, who left Australia to globalise and become the player we are today, for us to be at the forefront and in the limelight, in the spotlight for the first gene therapy for something that’s more than just an ultra, ultra-rare disease, is unbelievable,” he said.

“It’s just a phenomenal thing to see in your career.”

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S&P Global Ratings said CSL’s update indicated its path to reducing debt remained on track after its Vifor purchase last year.

“Additional earnings contributions from recently acquired CSL Vifor and solid performance from CSL’s influenza business, Seqirus, are also helping to improve credit metrics,” the group said on Tuesday.

CSL declared an interim dividend of $US1.07 a share, a 3 per cent rise on the same time last year, to be paid on April 4.