RPG Life Sciences is betting on strengthening its active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) business to power its next phase of growth, managing director Ashok Nair told ET in an interview.
The company is also looking to enter the popular GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) weight-loss therapies segment by August-September, even as it navigates geopolitical uncertainties.
The company is exploring inorganic expansion with Rs 600–1,000 crore acquisition to scale up its API business, which will be its strongest growth driver, said Nair.
RPG Life Sciences is targeting API portfolios in areas such as immunosuppressants, antipsychotic drugs and pain management with emphasis on “difficult to make, niche molecules”.
“API is going to be one of our strongest growth drivers,” Nair said, underlining a renewed strategic focus on the segment after a disruption-hit year.
The business staged a sharp recovery in the March quarter, with 144% year-on-year growth, following the restoration of operations after a fire at one of its plants last year.
The company has since strengthened its API capabilities, including leadership hiring and pipeline visibility.
“We are poised to deliver five products every year… we have visibility for the next three years and we also have visibility of which markets we should be entering,” Nair said.
RPG Life Sciences is focusing on niche, complex chemistries where competition is lower, he said, adding, “We want to get into… difficult to make molecules… niche molecules.”
The ongoing West Asia conflict has not yet materially disrupted operations, he said, even as he acknowledged increasing risks. “As of now there is no material impact on our business… we do not foresee any significant disruption at this stage, given our current inventory level, for the next three to four months,” he said.
However, the company is preparing for multiple scenarios including “if current situation continues… if the situation turns volatile… if the whole situation escalates”.
“We are undergoing discussions with our key global customers for price pass-through and… a few of the customers have already obliged,” Nair said.
Supply chain adjustments, inventory management and fuel optimisation are among the measures being considered to mitigate cost pressures, he said.
The company is also closely tracking opportunities in GLP-1 therapies. “GLP-1 is a significant development in the pharma industry,” Nair said, adding that while multiple Indian players have already entered the segment, RPG Life Sciences is adopting a measured approach. It is planning to launch its generic semaglutide injectables by August-September.
“We will be in the first wave… the first wave is August and September… we will evaluate our entry into the space,” he said.
Late on Wednesday, the company reported revenue from operations rose 23.6% year-on-year to Rs 176.90 crore in the quarter to March, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation margin improved to 25.6%. However, net profit fell 74.5% year-on-year to Rs 29.90 crore during the quarter owing to an exceptional gain made in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. For the full year, revenue increased 8.3% to Rs 707.50 crore.
Nair said that the company is expanding into new therapy areas such as cardiology and urology, even as its domestic formulations continued to outperform the market, growing 18.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025-26, nearly double the industry growth rate, driven by strong traction in key therapies such as nephrology, oncology and pain management.
The company’s board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 24 per equity share of face value Rs 8 each, or 300% of face value, for 2025-26, subject to shareholder approval.
RPG Life Sciences shares closed 13% up on the BSE on Thursday, when the benchmark index closed in the red.
The company is also looking to enter the popular GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) weight-loss therapies segment by August-September, even as it navigates geopolitical uncertainties.
The company is exploring inorganic expansion with Rs 600–1,000 crore acquisition to scale up its API business, which will be its strongest growth driver, said Nair.
RPG Life Sciences is targeting API portfolios in areas such as immunosuppressants, antipsychotic drugs and pain management with emphasis on “difficult to make, niche molecules”.
“API is going to be one of our strongest growth drivers,” Nair said, underlining a renewed strategic focus on the segment after a disruption-hit year.
The business staged a sharp recovery in the March quarter, with 144% year-on-year growth, following the restoration of operations after a fire at one of its plants last year.
The company has since strengthened its API capabilities, including leadership hiring and pipeline visibility.
“We are poised to deliver five products every year… we have visibility for the next three years and we also have visibility of which markets we should be entering,” Nair said.
RPG Life Sciences is focusing on niche, complex chemistries where competition is lower, he said, adding, “We want to get into… difficult to make molecules… niche molecules.”
The ongoing West Asia conflict has not yet materially disrupted operations, he said, even as he acknowledged increasing risks. “As of now there is no material impact on our business… we do not foresee any significant disruption at this stage, given our current inventory level, for the next three to four months,” he said.
However, the company is preparing for multiple scenarios including “if current situation continues… if the situation turns volatile… if the whole situation escalates”.
“We are undergoing discussions with our key global customers for price pass-through and… a few of the customers have already obliged,” Nair said.
Supply chain adjustments, inventory management and fuel optimisation are among the measures being considered to mitigate cost pressures, he said.
The company is also closely tracking opportunities in GLP-1 therapies. “GLP-1 is a significant development in the pharma industry,” Nair said, adding that while multiple Indian players have already entered the segment, RPG Life Sciences is adopting a measured approach. It is planning to launch its generic semaglutide injectables by August-September.
“We will be in the first wave… the first wave is August and September… we will evaluate our entry into the space,” he said.
Late on Wednesday, the company reported revenue from operations rose 23.6% year-on-year to Rs 176.90 crore in the quarter to March, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation margin improved to 25.6%. However, net profit fell 74.5% year-on-year to Rs 29.90 crore during the quarter owing to an exceptional gain made in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. For the full year, revenue increased 8.3% to Rs 707.50 crore.
Nair said that the company is expanding into new therapy areas such as cardiology and urology, even as its domestic formulations continued to outperform the market, growing 18.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025-26, nearly double the industry growth rate, driven by strong traction in key therapies such as nephrology, oncology and pain management.
The company’s board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 24 per equity share of face value Rs 8 each, or 300% of face value, for 2025-26, subject to shareholder approval.
RPG Life Sciences shares closed 13% up on the BSE on Thursday, when the benchmark index closed in the red.
