Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. reported record earnings for 2024, driven by robust overseas sales of its flagship drugs despite declining domestic revenue.
The Tokyo-based drugmaker’s core operating profit jumped 23% to ¥556.1 billion ($3.7 billion), marking the first time it exceeded ¥500 billion. Sales rose 5.3% to ¥1.17 trillion, according to a statement Thursday.
Overseas revenue surged 29% to ¥536.8 billion, powered by exports of hemophilia drug Hemlibra to Roche Holding AG. This helped offset a 17% drop in domestic sales to ¥461.1 billion after Covid-19 antibody Ronapreve deliveries to the Japanese government ended.
The Roche subsidiary forecast core operating profit will increase 2.5% to ¥570 billion in 2025. To mark its 100th anniversary, Chugai plans to pay a special dividend of ¥150 per share on top of its regular ¥100 annual payout.
Research efforts advanced with several new drug candidates entering clinical trials. The company obtained global approvals for multiple treatments including Piersky for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and expanded indications for lung cancer drug Alecensa.
