Reckitt Benckiser comfortably surpassed first quarter expectations as the maker of Cillit Bang and Clearasil reported solid sales growth, helped along by the strong performance of Soboxone, a drug that treats opiate dependency, in the US.

The household and personal goods maker, which earlier this year promised to expand sales at twice the rate of the market just as rival Unilever said the outlook was too uncertain to even provide guidance on profits, grew sales by 8 per cent to £1.9bn in the quarter to March 31. Adjusted operating profits rose 10 per cent at constant exchange rates to to £405m.