Release Date: February 14, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BOM:500660) reported an 18% revenue growth, with all business segments achieving double-digit growth.
• The company maintained strong volume growth in both general medicines and pediatric vaccines, contributing significantly to Q3 performance.
• The specialty portfolio grew by 37%, indicating successful penetration and acceptance of new products.
• The company improved its margin profile by 370 basis points, achieving a margin of 30.7%.
• GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BOM:500660) remains debt-free with a strong cash position, ensuring financial stability.

Negative Points

• The company faced volatility in quarterly revenue growth over the past two years, attributed to factors like pricing controls and market conditions.
• Employee costs were impacted by a one-off reduction due to lower incentives for some brands.
• Other expenses increased due to phased advertisement and promotional spending, as well as CSR activities.
• The company faces challenges in converting awareness campaigns into actual vaccinations in the adult vaccine segment.
• There is a risk of commoditization in certain vaccine categories, which could impact long-term profitability.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Have you taken any price hikes in the general medicine segment for the quarter and nine months? A: There is a close to 3% blended price increase in that segment. So, yes, a 3% price increase has been implemented. (Respondent: Unidentified_2)

Q: The employee cost for the quarter was lower by around 25 crores. How should we look at employee costs going forward? Is this the base, or was there any sort of one-off? A: There is a one-off in the employment cost, close to 9 crores, due to lower incentives for some brands. This is a one-off adjustment. (Respondent: Unidentified_2)

Q: What is the reason for other expenses being high for the quarter? A: The increase in other expenses is due to the phasing of advertisement and promotional spend, as well as a certain element of CSR phasing. However, the numbers are tracking the planned expenses. (Respondent: Unidentified_2)

Q: How do you see the next year in terms of growth, particularly in oncology? A: We remain focused on delivering sustained performance both in topline and EBITDA. We have momentum in traditional growth platforms and specialty areas, including oncology. We plan to launch two new assets in gynecological malignancies, which will help drive growth. (Respondent: Unidentified_1)

Q: Can you provide a medium-term path for growth, including new products and initiatives in general medicines? A: We are focused on digital acceleration and creating touchpoints beyond face-to-face interactions. Initiatives like the Indian Infection Index help improve clinical outcomes. We have 16 global clinical trials in India, and we are investing in adult vaccination and specialty areas like oncology and respiratory. (Respondent: Unidentified_1)

Q: Is there an opportunity to improve penetration in the oral pharmacy market in India? A: We cover more than 12,000 distinct towns with our sales teams and use different channels for iconic brands. We are well-penetrated in the categories we operate in, such as anti-infectives and dermatology. (Respondent: Unidentified_1)

Q: What causes the volatility in quarterly revenue growth, and how should we look at this in the future? A: Two significant events affected us: the inclusion of assets in the NLEM and the impact of COVID on pediatric vaccines. We have stabilized these areas and are focused on strong growth delivery. (Respondent: Unidentified_1)

Q: How do you see the market evolving, and what is the impact on your business? A: We have a diversified portfolio and remain relevant across life stages. We are focused on launching innovative assets and sustaining performance in our base business. We have trials in hematology and hepatology, which will help us access new assets faster. (Respondent: Unidentified_1)

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.