Dong-A ST, Q2 Operating Profit of 7.9 Billion KRW... Successful 'Turnaround to Profit'

Q2 Sales of 147.4 Billion KRW... 32.1% Increase Year-on-Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Dong-A ST announced on the 10th that its operating profit for the second quarter of this year turned positive to 7.9 billion KRW compared to the same period last year. During the same period, sales increased by 32.1% to 147.4 billion KRW, and net profit also turned positive to 6.2 billion KRW.

Dong-A ST explained, "Operating profit and net profit turned positive despite increased research and development (R&D) costs for clinical trials and increased selling and administrative expenses for marketing and export transportation, due to increased sales in the ethical drugs (ETC) sector."

The ethical drugs sector saw sales grow by 97.9% compared to the same period last year, driven by key products such as the gastritis treatment 'Stiren', indigestion treatment 'Motilitone', diabetes treatment 'Sugannon', growth hormone 'Grotropin', peptic ulcer treatment 'Gaster', and onychomycosis treatment 'Jublia'.

The overseas export sector decreased by 6.8% due to a decline in canned Bacchus sales in Cambodia, despite growth in sales of tuberculosis treatments 'Croselin' and 'Clopazimin', and anemia treatment 'Darbepoetin Alfa BS'. The medical devices and diagnostics sector declined by 22.4% due to the termination of contracts for some medical device items in the fourth quarter of last year.

Dong-A ST plans to focus on the global development of the biosimilar 'DMB-3115' of Stelara in the R&D sector this year. DMB-3115 began Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States in the first quarter and started Phase 3 trials in Europe?including Poland, Estonia, and Latvia?in the second quarter. The trials will be conducted sequentially in a total of nine European countries.

The diabetes treatment 'DA-1241' completed Phase 1b clinical trials in the United States, confirming safety and efficacy. Global Phase 2 clinical trials are currently being prepared. 'DA-1229' (Sugannon) is undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials in South Korea by the joint venture Redenvia for the treatment of aortic valve calcification, and has received approval to prepare for Phase 2b and 3a clinical trials in the United States.

In the long term, Dong-A ST plans to develop immuno-oncology drugs and dementia treatments. It has secured lead compounds for tau protein-related dementia treatments from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and obtained lead compounds for immuno-oncology drugs through joint research with the Daegu Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.