Drug maker Celgene Corp. said Thursday its fourth-quarter profit rose nearly sixfold as sales jumped.

Net income grew to $22.9 million, or 6 cents per share, from $3.9 million, or 1 cent per share, a year ago. Excluding stock option expenses, the company reported adjusted earnings of 18 cents per share, which matched expectations of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.

Revenue rose 84 percent to $275 million from $149.3 million last year, driven by sales of the cancer drugs Thalomid and Revlimid. Analysts expected revenue of $268.4 million.

For the full year, the company posted net income of $69 million, or 18 cents per share, up from $63.7 million, or 18 cents per share, in 2005. Revenue rose to $898.9 million from $536.9 million.