Revenue during the quarter grew 24.11 percent to $870 million from $701 million in the previous year period. Total expenses were 75.63 percent of quarterly revenues, down from 76.32 percent for the same period last year. This has led to an improvement of 69 basis points in operating margin to 24.37 percent.

Operating income for the quarter was $212 million, compared with $166 million in the previous year period.

"We delivered continued double-digit revenue growth in the quarter from our complement and metabolic portfolios and achieved important regulatory milestones towards the potential approval of Soliris as a treatment for patients with refractory gMG in the U.S., Europe and Japan. We also demonstrated strong commercial execution for Soliris while simultaneously enrolling patients with PNH and aHUS into the ALXN1210 Phase 3 trials," said Ludwig Hantson, Chief Executive Officer of Alexion. "Alexion’s strong performance in the first quarter positions us well for continued success in 2017 and beyond.

For fiscal year 2017, Alexion Pharmaceuticals projects revenue to be in the range of $3,400 million to $3,500 million and projects adjusted revenue to be in the range of $3,400 million to $3,500 million.  The company expects net income to be in the range of $635 million to $726 million and forecasts adjusted net income to be in the range of $1,168 million to $1,214 million. It projects operating income to grow in the range of 25 percent to 28 percent. For fiscal year 2017, the company projects adjusted operating income to grow in the range of 43 percent to 44 percent. The company forecasts diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.80 to $3.20 and  forecasts diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $5.10 to $5.30 on adjusted basis.