ZURICH, April 23 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis on Thursday maintained its 2015 guidance as it postedfirst-quarter core net income that beat expectations.
The group reported a 7 percent year-on-year fall infirst-quarter net sales in continuing operations to $11.9billion, while sales rose 3 percent at constant currencies.Total group net sales were $12.5 billion.
Novartis generated net income in continuing operations of$3.2 billion, down 4 percent in dollar terms on the same periodlast year but up 8 percent at constant currencies. Total groupnet income was $3.1 billion.
Analysts in a Reuters poll had forecast total group netsales of $12.6 billion and group core net income of $2.9billion.
"We are on track to deliver our full-year guidance," ChiefExecutive Joseph Jimenez said in a statement. (Reporting by Joshua Franklin; Editing by Michael Shields)