Zydus Lifesciences beats Q3 profit estimates; approves shares buyback

Indian generic drugmaker Zydus Lifesciences reported a bigger-than-expected rise in third-quarter profit on Friday, driven by strong sales in its domestic and overseas markets.

Consolidated net profit for the company rose 27 per cent to Rs 7.90 billion about $95 million) for the three months ended Dec. 31, beating analysts' average estimate of Rs 6.83 billion, as per LSEG data.

Separately, Zydus Lifesciences approved the buyback of shares worth six billion rupees via tender offer route at a price of Rs 1,005, a 25 per cent premium to its closing price on Thursday.

Shares of the company rose 2.4 per cent after the results before erasing gains to trade 4.2 per cent lower.

Total revenue from operations rose 6 per cent to 45.05 billion rupees, led by a 16 per cent rise in the drugmaker's India formulations business and a 30 per cent climb in its European and emerging markets business, which includes Mexico and African markets.

However, its US formulations business fell 4.3 per cent from last year.

India's generic drugmakers, which draw a significant share of revenue from the crucial US market, are recovering from the effects of eroding prices in the largest drug market in the world.

Zydus Lifesciences competes with Cipla and Dr Reddy's for selling the generic version of Bristol-Myers Squibb's popular cancer drug Revlimid in the United States.

India and the US make up almost 85 per cent of Zydus Life's total revenue.

Cipla, Dr Reddy's and Sun Pharma also beat their third-quarter profit estimates on strong domestic and US sales.

On Thursday, its unit Zydus Wellness reported a slump in December-quarter profit on higher tax expenses.

($1 = 83.0030 Indian rupees)