KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 12): Pharmaniaga Bhd (KL:PHARMA) on Thursday reported a more than three-fold jump in third quarter net profit, supported by a tax credit and lower finance costs.
The net profit for the three months ended Sept 30, 2026 (3QFY2026) rose to RM26.27 million from RM7.28 million a year earlier. Revenue edged up 0.72% to RM1.014 billion from RM1.01 billion.
The pharmaceutical group recorded a tax credit of RM16.41 million for the quarter, compared with a tax expense of RM2.57 million a year earlier, according to its bourse filing. Finance costs fell 21.75% year-on-year to RM11.46 million.
Pharmaniaga declared a third interim dividend of 0.32 sen per share, payable on Jan 20, 2027. This brings the total dividend declared so far for FY2026 to RM1.05 sen per share.
For the first nine months ended Sept 30, Pharmaniaga said its net profit grew 72.07% to RM70.23 million from RM40.82 million a year earlier.
Nine-month revenue rose 8.18% to RM3.23 billion from RM2.99 billion, mainly driven by stronger customer demand in the concession segment.
The group registered interest savings of RM17.40 million during the nine-month period following the partial repayment of borrowings using proceeds from its regularisation plan, alongside “continued operational efficiency efforts”.
On prospects, Pharmaniaga said it plans to launch nine new pharmaceutical products in 2027, focusing on cardiovascular, oncology, anti-infectives and vaccines.
The group has also commenced e-commerce sales and established a telesales team to expand its customer reach and improve sales productivity.
In its logistics and distribution business, the number of products under the approved product purchase list (APPL) is expected to increase from approximately 850 to more than 1,200 during the seven-year concession period, which runs until June 30, 2030.
In Indonesia, Pharmaniaga said its distribution subsidiary, PT MPI, had secured three new principals during the year and would continue to expand its product portfolio through additional appointments to support revenue growth.
Approval secured for anti-obesity drug
The group also secured NPRA approval for ISENDA (liraglutide), its first generic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) product targeting Type 2 diabetes and weight management in adults and adolescents aged above 12 years old, further broadening the group’s biopharmaceutical portfolio.
Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist prescribed as a once-daily subcutaneous (under the skin) injection.
Pharmaniaga said it has secured approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) for liraglutide, its first generic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) product, under the brand name ISENDA. The drug is used to treat Type 2 diabetes and support weight management in adults and adolescents aged above 12.
In an interview with The Edge in April, Pharmaniaga managing director Datuk Zulkifli Jafar said the group planned to launch liraglutide this year, subject to regulatory approval.
The group is also venturing into semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs such as Ozempic, as part of its broader push into biopharmaceuticals following its exit from Practice Note 17 (PN17) status.
Apart from this, Pharmaniaga also obtained NPRA approval for EVnyx, an Enterovirus 71 (EV71) vaccine in pre-filled syringe presentation, as it seeks to expand its vaccine portfolio. The vaccine targets EV71-associated hand, foot and mouth disease particularly among children.
Pharmaniaga shares rose 1.5 sen or 2.04% to close at 75 sen on Thursday, giving it a market capitalisation of RM983.6 million.