AstraZeneca Pharma India recorded a net profit growth of 17.4 per cent during the third quarter ended September 2006 to Rs 12.36 crore from Rs 10.53 crore in the corresponding period of last year. Its net sales moved up by 20.8 per cent to Rs 68.59 crore from Rs 56.78 crore. It's earning per share with face value of share of Rs 2 each worked out to Rs 4.95 as against Rs 4.21 in the last period.

For the first nine months of the year 2006, AstraZeneca registered a net profit of Rs 33.50 crore as compared to Rs 30.10 crore in the similar period of last year. The net sales increased to Rs 193.05 crore from RS 161.71 core.

The company is now issuing secured fully paid-up redeemable non-convertible bonus debentures from its general reserve after receiving necessary approvals. It has sub-divided its equity share of face value of Rs 10 each into 5 shares of face value of Rs 2 each during June 2006.