Novartis India has suffered minor setback during the third quarter ended December 2011 on account of depreciation of Rupee against US Dollar. Its net profit declined by 5.3 per cent to Rs.38.35 crore from Rs.40.50 crore in the same period of last year. Its net sales, however, increased by 13.9 per cent to Rs.209.59 crore from Rs.184.04 crore. The earnings per share worked out to Rs.11.99 as against Rs.12.67 in the last period.

The company's pharmaceutical sales increased to Rs.142.20 crore from Rs.124.9 crore, registering a growth of 13.9 per cent during the quarter under review. Its generic division sales increased by 6.7 per cent to Rs.12.70 crore and that of Animal Health division grew to Rs.20.70 from Rs.18.80 crore. OTC business registered sales of Rs.34.10 crore as against Rs.28.50 in the same period of last year.

For the first nine months of 2011-12, Novartis' net sales increased by 12.5 per cent to Rs.604.40 crore from Rs.537.23 crore in the similar period of last year. Its net profit increased by 5.8 per cent to Rs.119.10 crore from Rs.112.59 crore. EBDITA moved up 6 per cent to Rs.179.22 crore from Rs.169.16 crore.