**AstraZeneca India Reports Strong Growth Amid Rising Cancer Burden**
AstraZeneca India has demonstrated impressive financial performance for the December quarter of FY25, with profits nearly doubling year-on-year to ₹30.8 crore and a significant increase in its EBITDA margin from 4.9% to 17.5%. Revenues surged by 44% to reach ₹440.3 crore. The company’s growth has been fueled by a strong product portfolio targeting cancer and non-communicable diseases. Over the past two years, its British-Swedish parent company has secured 14 product approvals and is focused on accelerating further launches to enhance its presence in India.
Sanjeev Panchal, managing director of AstraZeneca India, emphasized the company’s strategy to expedite the introduction of innovative medicines to the Indian market, which would otherwise lead patients to seek treatments abroad. The quarterly performance was bolstered by increased sales, particularly in the oncology sector, which accounted for 62% of the total revenues of ₹1,330 crore in FY24. AstraZeneca Pharma India’s stock saw a slight increase of about 1%, closing at ₹7,354.35 on the BSE.
Panchal noted the company’s strong growth trajectory, projecting continued expansion due to a robust pipeline of assets and new indications. The parent company aims to introduce 20 new assets globally by 2030, with a commitment to bringing as many of these products as possible to India.
In response to India’s growing cancer burden, AstraZeneca is prioritizing the introduction of innovative treatments. Recently, the company received regulatory approvals for several key cancer drugs, including Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (brand name Enhertu), which was launched in January 2024 and became the top-selling new drug brand last year, generating sales of ₹57.9 crore. This success underscores AstraZeneca’s dedication to scientific innovation and addressing the healthcare needs of the Indian population. Enhertu has also received breakthrough designation from the US FDA, highlighting its potential impact in the oncology field.
