AstraZeneca Pharma India achieved an impressive performance during the year ended December 2003 on account of introduction of new products. The company’s sales, including service income, increased by 29.3 per cent to Rs.178.30 crore from Rs.137.62 crore in the previous year. The net profit, after providing Rs.13.57 crore (Rs.9.05 crore in the previous year) for taxation and Rs.4.68 crore (Rs.4.85 crore) for depreciation, has taken a quantum jump of 136 per cent to Rs.24.50 crore from Rs.10.36 crore. The sharp jump in net profits pushed the earnings per share to Rs.49.02 from Rs.20.72 in the previous year.
The company is gradually shifting emphasis on AstraZeneca brands and focusing on new products. The company launched Meronem (Infection) during 2002. It re-launched some products where distribution rights were taken back viz., Zoladex and Nolvadex (oncology). It is making new investments under the restructuring of marketing activities. As against the equity paid up capital of Rs.5 crore its reserves & surplus amounted to Rs.95.26 crore during year ended in December 2003.