Ankur Drugs and Pharma has notched up strong bottmline growth during the third quarter ended December 2009 mainly on account of foreign exchange gains. Its net profit surged by 256.7 per cent to Rs 28.14 crore from Rs 7.89 crore in the corresponding period of last year on account of lower provision for overall interest burden. The company gained Rs 4.20 crore from exchange difference on foreign currency loans as against loss of Rs 16.71 crore. Further, it gained Rs 2.36 crore from the provision for premium on redemption of FCCBs as compared to nil in the last period. The EBDITA improved by 14.2 per cent to Rs 54.82 crore from Rs 48 crore.

The net sales improved only by 8.5 per cent to Rs 260.40 crore from Rs 240 crore. The earning per share touched to Rs 14.55 from Rs 4.23 in the last period. The company has commenced production in its injectable sections in Baddi facility and are already approached by its existing partners, thereby targeting a good capacity utilisation of these facilities. It is through with all pre-requisites of Fentanyl Patch manufacture, & the trial production runs are commencing during the quarter, enabling the launch of the product in May/June 2010.

Further, rapid film trial runs are successfully done at its Baddi plant. The first product targeted, i.e. Ondansetron oral strip's stability data is satisfactory and the product will be made available in the market in April/May 2010. Co-marketing opportunities for the said product with companies of international repute are also at a very progressive stage. Other two product i.e. Doneppezil and Olanzepine in the similar category are also in the active state of technology transfer, which is expected to be completed by the end of coming month.

For the nine months ended December 2009, Ankur's sales increased by 13.6 per cent to Rs 806.10 crore from s 722.26 crore. Its net profit moved up by 48.8 per cent to Rs 77.78 crore from Rs 52.28 crore. With this earning per share improved to Rs 40.21 as compared to s 28.08 in the last period.