<div><strong>By CH Unnikrishnan</strong></div><div> </div><div>India's second largest drug maker by domestic sales Cipla said on Thursday (5 November) that it posted 45 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 431 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 as compared to Rs 299 crore in the year-ago quarter. The growth was mainly on the back of the record rise in export sales. Its total revenue for this quarter grew about 25 per cent to Rs 3452 crore.<br> </div><div>Cipla, which has significantly expanded in the international markets through a series international acquisitions and partnerships in the last couple of years as part of strategy to increase its global footprint, recorded a 51 per cent growth in exports revenue in the July-September quarter.<br><br>During the quarter the company also had a one-off revenue from the US market on account of a merger of subsidiary company. But, its sales in India at Rs. 1262 crore grew by only 0.9 per cent during the quarter.</div><div><br>The Indian drug maker led by Yusuf Hamied is also currently focusing seriously on the most futuristic healthcare area of biological drugs. The company had said that its biological business will be consolidated under its new biotechnology arm Cipla BioTec, which will focus on research, development, manufacturing and marketing of biosimilars in the field of cancer, auto-immune diseases, respiratory diseases and diabetes. </div><div><br>As part of this, it had divested its entire 25 per cent stake in a Hong Kong based joint venture — Biomab Holding Limited to Biomab Brilliant Ltd of British Virgin Islands, which holds the remaining 75 per cent stake. Biomab Holdings was focused on developing Biosimilars for the Chinese market. Cipla sold this stake for a total consideration of $25.77 million. </div><div><br>Cipla Biotec aims to create a transformational impact in the way these medicines are used, through innovative technology and go to market solutions.</div><div><br>Cipla New Ventures' head Chandru Chawla had earlier said that it is seeing some very good momentum in its biotechnology programmes.<br> </div><div>"Through Cipla BioTec we will focus on global product development with the aim of making biological therapies accessible and affordable to patients in need," he said.<br> </div><div>One of the large global generic drug makers, Cipla is currently present across more than 150 countries. Its portfolio includes 1500 plus products across therapeutic categories.</div><div><br>Cipla shares closed at Rs 658.50 a unit were down 1.85 per cent on BSE on Thursday, while the benchmark Sensex was down 0.96 per cent to 26304.20 points.</div>
