Lupin Q3 net plunges 65% to Rs 2.2 bn on lower sales in North America

Lupin said its profit was hit by a foreign exchange loss of 821 million rupees compared to a gain of Rs 276 mllion a year earlier

Lupin Ltd, India's second-largest drugmaker by revenue, on Tuesday reported lower-than-expected third-quarter net profit, hurt by lower sales in North America and foreign exchange losses.

Indian pharmaceutical companies have struggled with weak sales in the United States on account of regulatory bans and warnings over quality control violations at production plants.

Sales have also been hit by pricing pressures on account of rising competition in the generics market in the US.

Lupin said its sales in North America, which accounts for more than a third of its total sales, fell 34 per cent to 14.32 billion rupees ($223.29 million). Net sales slipped 11.5 per cent to Rs 39 billion.

 

"The quarterly performance was muted on the back of business mix as well as forex losses," said Nilesh Gupta, managing director.

Profit fell 65 percent to Rs 2.22 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31, well below an average analysts' estimate of Rs 4.21 billion, Thomson Reuters data showed. 

Lupin said its profit was hit by a foreign exchange loss of Rs 821 million compared to a gain of Rs 276 mllion a year earlier.

The company also incurred a charge of Rs 361 million as a result of recalculating deferred tax assets related to its United States operations due to the introduction of a new tax regime.