* Sees 2014 revenue growth of 5 pct
* Expects injectibles revenue to rise 20 percent this year
* Sees generics revenue of around $170 million in 2014
* FY 2013 revenue rises 23 pct to $1.37 bln
* To pay final div of $0.13/shr, special div of $0.04/share
March 12 (Reuters) - Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc's full-year profit more than doubled, helped by strong demand andhigher prices for the antibiotic doxycycline that is used in thetreatment of bacterial infections including Lyme disease.
The Jordanian company, which makes and markets branded andnon-branded generics and injectibles, said it expected a 5percent growth in revenue in the current year.
Hikma, which was founded in Amman in 1978, said itsinjectibles business is expected to see a 20 percent growth in2014, but warned that growth in its generics business would bemuted this year due to higher competition in the U.S.doxycycline market.
Hikma now expects generics revenue of about $170 million in2014.
"(The) 2014 guidance appears to us conservative and, givenongoing trading patterns for doxycycline and injectables, verylikely to be subject to upward revision," Citigroup said in anote.
Jefferies analysts said that given Hikma raised its U.S.generics estimates four times in 2013, the company might upgradeits forecast if it continued to do well despite pricingpressure.
Hikma reported an adjusted profit attributable toshareholders of $274 million compared with $120 million a yearearlier.
Revenue for the year ended Dec. 31 rose 23 percent to $1.37billion, in line with its own estimate last month.
Hikma, which has grown over the past year due to a shortageof doxycycline in the United States, said generics revenue rose158 percent to $268 million for the year.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had said that therewas a scarcity of doxycycline in the country due to domesticmanufacturing issues, adding that an acute shortage ofsubstitutes was driving demand for the antibiotic. ()
Doxycycline is used to treat bacterial infections such asurinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea and chlamydia as wellas the tick-borne illness Lyme disease. The drug is also used toprevent malaria.
The antibiotic was taken off the shortage list last Octoberwith no supply issues anticipated, according to the FDA website.()
The company said it would pay a final dividend of 13 centsper share, taking the total dividend to 20 cents per share. Italso declared a special dividend of 4 cents per share, takingthe total special dividend in 2013 to 7 cents.
Hikma paid a total dividend of 16 cents in 2012.
Shares in the company rose 2 percent to 1503 pence at 0911GMT on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The stock was thetop opercentage gainer on the FTSE-250 midcap index.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK)
