Dong-A Socio Holdings said on the 9th that operating profit under consolidation last year came to 97.8 billion won, up 19.1% from a year earlier. Sales for the same period rose 7.2% to 1.4298 trillion won.
Core subsidiary Dong-A ST saw profitability soften despite sales growth. On a separate basis last year, sales rose 16.3% from a year earlier to 745.1 billion won, the highest annual figure, but operating profit fell 16.1% to 27.2 billion won.
The company said a fourth-quarter swing to a loss was driven by a higher cost ratio, expanded research and development (R&D) expense, and some one-off expenses. Even so, the prescription drug (ETC) and overseas institutional sector continued steady growth.
Healthcare operating company Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. posted operating profit of 86.9 billion won, up 7% from a year earlier, helped by growth in the over-the-counter institutional sector led by Bacchus. Sales also rose 2% to 726.3 billion won.
Active pharmaceutical ingredient subsidiary ST Pharm saw performance improve on the back of expansion in the oligo new drug contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business. Last year, operating profit jumped 98.9% to 55.1 billion won, and sales rose 21.1% to 331.6 billion won.
A company official said, "Demand for raw materials is expanding as sales of oligo medicines that have entered the commercialization stage increase," and noted, "Clinical programs for the chronic disease pipeline are also progressing smoothly." The official added, "From this year, with the full-scale operation of the second oligo building, we expect continued growth in related sales."
In addition, STgen Bio, a biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing organization (CMO), saw sales and operating profit increase 76.2% and 323.4%, respectively, driven by the global commercialization of the Stelara biosimilar "IMULDOSA" and new orders.
Logistics operating company Yongma Logis also posted stable growth, with sales and operating profit up 5.8% and 10.6%, respectively, thanks to winning new shippers and expanding logistics scope.