Sun Pharma Q2 Results: Profit falls 36% YoY to Rs 1,989 crore on exceptional charges

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries on Friday reported a 36% year-on-year (YoY) decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 1,989 crore for the September quarter, compared with Rs 3,118 crore in the corresponding period last year, as exceptional charges related to US litigation and its proposed Organon acquisition weighed on earnings.

Revenue from operations increased 12% to Rs 16,199 crore from Rs 14,478 crore a year earlier, supported by strong growth in its domestic formulations business and emerging markets.

Excluding exceptional items, adjusted net profit rose 1% YoY to Rs 3,162 crore from Rs 3,118 crore. On a sequential basis, reported net profit declined 31% from Rs 2,895 crore in the June quarter, while revenue increased 6% from Rs 15,300 crore.

The country's largest pharmaceutical company reported EBITDA of Rs 4,744 crore, an increase of 5% from Rs 4,527 crore a year earlier.

However, EBITDA margin contracted to 29.3% from 31.3% in the corresponding quarter last year, reflecting pressure on operating profitability despite higher sales.

Sun Pharma recognised exceptional charges of Rs 1,269 crore during the September quarter, largely related to a settlement in the US generic pharmaceuticals pricing antitrust litigation and costs associated with its proposed acquisition of Organon.

The company recorded a charge of Rs 923 crore, including legal costs, following a settlement agreement signed in September by its subsidiaries with a plaintiff in the US litigation. It also recognised Rs 346 crore in acquisition-related expenses, including diligence, legal, filing and financing arrangement costs connected with the Organon transaction.

The exceptional charges were partly offset by a tax benefit of Rs 95 crore. These items accounted for the difference between the company's reported and adjusted quarterly profits.

India Business

Sun Pharma's domestic formulations business delivered strong growth during the quarter, with sales increasing 17% YoY to Rs 5,552 crore. India accounted for 34.5% of the company's consolidated sales, remaining its largest geographical market.

The company launched 14 products in India during the quarter, taking its total launches for the first half of FY27 to 19.

MD Kirti Ganorkar said the company's quarterly performance was supported by strong momentum in India, emerging markets and the rest of the world.

US Business

Sun Pharma's US formulations business reported sales of $455 million, down 8.2% from $496 million in the year-ago period. The US market contributed 27% of consolidated sales during the quarter.

The company attributed the decline largely to the erosion of sales from lenalidomide, a cancer treatment drug. Excluding lenalidomide, US sales increased marginally during the quarter.

Emerging markets formulations sales rose 7.6% to $350 million, accounting for 20.7% of consolidated revenue.

Sales from the rest of the world increased 3.1% to $241 million, contributing 14.3% of total sales.

Sun Pharma's global innovative medicines business reported sales of $356 million, an increase of 6.9% from $333 million a year earlier. The business accounted for 21.1% of consolidated sales.

The company highlighted the US approval of Ilumya for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis as an important development during the quarter. It also said Unloxcyt had received a preferred recommendation from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, while the company strengthened its cardiovascular portfolio through licensing rights for lerodalcibep outside the US and China.

Sun Pharma incurred research and development expenditure of Rs 778 crore during the quarter, equivalent to 4.8% of sales. Of the total R&D expenditure, 32.4% was directed towards innovative medicines.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)