Merck Q2 net down 38.87% at Rs. 15.77 crore

FILE - In this file photo made April 15, 2009, the Merck logo is seen in the lobby of Merck & Company, Inc.'s world headquarters in Whitehouse Station, N.J. Federal health officials said Monday, April 25, 2011, a highly-anticipated drug to treat hepatitis C made by Merck appears to cure more patients in less time than established drugs that have been used for 20 years. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

Pharmaceutical company Merck Ltd on Wednesday reported 38.87 per cent decline in net profit at Rs. 15.77 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2013, on the account of increase in expenses.

The company has reported net profit of Rs. 25.80 crore in the same quarter a year ago.

Net sales in the quarter under review were at Rs. 201.81 crore, an increase of 11.37 per cent compared with Rs. 181.2 in the corresponding quarter in the previous year, the company said in a BSE filing.

Overall expenses during the quarter were at Rs. 188.16 crore, an increase of 21.95 per cent as against Rs. 154.29 crore in the same quarter last year.

The company’s shares were trading at Rs. 573 per scrip during the afternoon trade, down 0.39 per cent from its previous close, on the BSE.