Dong-A Socio Holdings announced on the 29th that its consolidated operating profit for the first quarter of this year reached 20.4 billion won, a 30.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, sales during the same period rose by 7.7% to 328.4 billion won.
The company stated that sales increased due to the growth of major subsidiaries, and the profits of Yongma Logistics and Estigen Bio improved, leading to an increase in operating profit.
By subsidiary, Dong-A Pharmaceutical, a healthcare specialist, saw increased sales due to growth in the over-the-counter (OTC) drug sector; however, operating profit decreased due to one-time costs and selling and administrative expenses from the replacement of aging factory equipment.
Sales in the division of 'Bakuchan,' Dong-A Pharmaceutical's representative product, amounted to 54.6 billion won, a decrease of 3.1% compared to the same period last year. Sales in the OTC drug sector rose by 29.4% to 56 billion won. The health and wellness sector reported sales of 50.3 billion won, declining by 3.7%.
Yongma Logistics, a logistics specialist, increased its sales through the acquisition of new clients and growth in logistics for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and operating profit also increased as cost efficiency improved.
Estigen Bio, a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) specializing in biopharmaceuticals, boosted its sales due to the commercialization of 'Imuldoza,' a biosimilar of Stelara (ingredient ustekinumab) from Johnson & Johnson, and operating profit increased due to stabilization and efficiency improvements in production.
Dong-A ST, a core affiliate of Dong-A Socio Holdings, recorded an operating profit of 7 billion won in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 853.8% compared to the same period last year. Sales amounted to 169 billion won, up 20.7% from the previous year.
Sales in the institutional sector for prescription drugs (ETC) reached 117.3 billion won, driven by growth in growth hormone 'Grotropin' and the functional dyspepsia treatment 'Morititon.' Additionally, new item sales like reflux disease treatment 'Jaquvo' and peripheral circulation improvement agent 'Tanamin' contributed to sales growth.
Sales in the institutional sector for overseas operations amounted to 42.4 billion won, a 51.2% increase compared to the same period last year. The sales of canned 'Bakuchan' rose by 13.4% to 22.4 billion won compared to the previous year. The anemia treatment 'Darbepoetin Alpha BS' recorded sales of 4.4 billion won, an increase of 283.0% from the same period last year.
This year, the U.S. market sales are expected to intensify. 'Imuldoza,' which received product approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last October, is scheduled to be released in the United States next month. In Europe, sales began in January in Germany, followed by March in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other regions. It is also expected to be sold in Spain and Italy.