TOKYO -- Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical's operating profit probably shrank 3% to 12.5 billion yen ($111 million) in the March-August period, as it faced generic versions of its products and higher-than-expected research costs.
Sales probably fell 1% to about 74 billion yen, as sales of its prescription Mohrus pain-relieving patches were hit by the rise of generic versions. The patches, which generate more than 30% of Hisamitsu's group sales, are believed to have suffered a nearly 10% drop in sales, despite recovering from the government's prescription limit on such products last year. A menopause treatment drug sold by Hisamitsu's U.S. subsidiary Noven Pharmaceuticals also struggled.
