GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK), a leading MNC with yearly net sales of Rs.2,380 crore, has posted satisfactory performance during second quarter ended June 2012. Its net profit increased by 10.8 per cent to Rs.163.52 crore from Rs.147.54 crore in the corresponding period of last year. Its net sales also increased by 16.1 per cent to Rs.651.96 crore from Rs.561.54 crore. EBDITA moved up by 9.4 per cent to Rs.250.70 crore from Rs.229.11 crore.

Its pharmaceutical business grew by 16.3 per cent. The quarter saw a growth across all the business verticals. Dermatology and vaccines continued to grow strongly. Despite material cost escalations and adverse exchange rate movement, the EBDITA margin was 33 per cent. It launched Uricostat for gout treatment. It expanded its oncology portfolio by launching Hycamtin to fulfill unmet needs for patients with advance cancers and relapsed small cell lung cancer. Dr Hasit B Joshipura, managing director said, “Growth for the quarter was market competitive, with all the segments delivering strong growth.”

GSK also introduced Volibris (ambrisentan), a non-sulphonamide class endothelin receptor antagonist used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. It also launched a metered dose inhaler with dose counter, which will help patients keep a correct count of drug doses taken. This technology has been introduced in Seretide Evohaler.

For the first half ended June 2012, GSK's net sales improved by 9.4 per cent to Rs.1275 crore from Rs.1164 crore in the similar period of last year. Its net profit, however, went up sharply by 93.5 per cent to Rs.286.41 crore from Rs.148 crore on account of lower provision of Rs.101.98 crore for exceptional items in respect of a manufacturing site as compared to Rs.306.60 crore in the last period.