Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (SUNPHARMA) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary
January 31, 2025
Earnings Call Speaker Segments
Operator
operatorLadies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to Sun Pharma's Q3 FY '25 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Dr. Abhishek Sharma, Vice President and Head of Investor Relations and Strategic Projects. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Abhishek Sharma
executiveThank you. Good evening, and a warm welcome to our third quarter FY '25 earnings call. I'm Abhishek from the Sun Pharma Investor Relations team. We hope you've received the Q3 financials and the press release that was sent out earlier in the day. These are also available on our website. We have with us Mr. Dilip Shanghvi, Chairman and Managing Director; Mr. C.S. Muralidharan, CFO; Mr. Abhay Gandhi, CEO, North America; and Mr. Kirti Ganorkar, CEO India Business. Today, the team will provide an update on financial performance and business highlights for the quarter, pipeline updates and respond to any questions that you may have. We will refer to the consolidated financials for management comments. The call recording and call transcript will also be put up on our website shortly. The discussion today might include certain forward-looking statements, and these must be viewed in conjunction with the risks that our business faces. You are requested to ask 2 questions in the initial round. I also request all of you to kindly send in your questions that may remain unanswered today. I will now hand over our call to our CFO, Mr. C.S. Muralidharan.
C. Muralidharan
executiveWelcome, and thank you for joining us for this earnings call after the announcement of financial results for the third quarter FY '25. Our Q3 financials are already with you. As usual, we will look at key consolidated financials. Q3 FY '25 sales were at INR 134,369 million, an increase of 10.5% versus Q3 FY '24. Besides the underlying business growth, we also had milestone income in ROW in Q3. Ex milestones overall sales growth was 8.9%. Material cost stands at 20.4% of sales, lower than the same period last year on account of milestone income as well as better product mix, including higher specialty sales. Staff cost stands at 19% of sales. Other expenses were at 31.2% of sales, lower year-on-year on account of lower R&D and lower selling and distribution expenses. Other expenses were also lower quarter-on-quarter in absolute terms on account of lower selling and distribution expenses. ForEx loss for the quarter was INR 1,834 million compared to a gain of INR 1,246 million same period last year. EBITDA, including other operating revenues was at INR 40,090 million for Q3, an increase of 15.3% over Q3 last year, with EBITDA margins for the quarter at 29.3% against 28.1% for Q3 FY '24 and 29.6% for Q2 FY '25. We had an exceptional item in Q3 FY '25 amounting to INR 3,162 million, this relates to in principle agreement of a settlement with certain plaintiffs in the U.S. in the opioid litigation. Adjusted net profit, excluding exceptional items for Q3 FY '25 was INR 32,196 million, representing a growth of 24.1% over Q3 FY '24. Reported net profit for Q3 FY '25 stands at INR 29,034 million as against reported net profit of INR 25,238 million in Q3 FY '24. The effective tax rate for Q3 FY '25 was 14.7%. EPS for the quarter was INR 13.4 per share. As of 31st December 2024, net cash was USD 3 billion at the consolidated level. Now we will discuss the 9 months performance. For the 9 months, gross sales were at INR 392,257 million, a growth of 9.1% over last year. Material cost for 9 months was at 20.7% of sales lower than 9 months last year, mainly due to product mix, including higher specialty sales. Staff cost stands at 19.1% of sales. Other expenses were at [indiscernible] of sales higher than 9 months last year on account of higher selling and distribution expenses. ForEx loss for 9 months was INR 1,057 million compared to a gain of INR 925 million for the same period last year. EBITDA for 9 months was at INR 115,556 million, a growth of 15.7% over the 9 months last year, with resultant EBITDA margins of 29.2%. Adjusted net profit for the 9-month period was at INR 90,953 million, up 24.3%. Reported net profit for 9 months was at INR 87,792 million compared to INR 69,218 million in the same period last year. The Board has declared an interim dividend of INR 10.50 per share for the year FY '25 against INR 8.50 per share interim dividend for the previous year. I now hand over to Mr. Kirti who will share the performance of our India business.
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveThank you, Murali. I shall take you through the performance of our India business. For Q3, the sales of formulation in India were INR 43,004 million, recording a growth of 13.8% over Q3 last year. India formulation sales accounted for 32% of total consolidated sales for the quarter. Sun Pharma is ranked #1 and holds 8.2% market share in the over INR 2,214 billion Indian pharmaceutical market as per AIOCD AWACS MAT December 2024. Corresponding market share for the previous period was 7.8%. For the quarter ending December '24, we grew higher than IPM, and we have done well across all major represented therapy areas. A majority of Sun's growth continues to be led by volumes and new product launches versus IPM growth, which is predominantly price led. As per SMSRC July-October '24 report, we continue to be #1 ranked company based on the prescription volume. Sun Pharma is also ranked #1 by prescription with 12 different doctor categories. For Q3 FY '25, the company launched 12 new products in India. Now I will hand over the call to Abhay.
Abhay Gandhi
executiveThank you, Kirti. I will update on the performance highlights of our U.S. businesses. For Q3, our overall sales in the U.S. business were down by about 1% over Q3 last year, at USD 474 million. The U.S. accounted for over 30% of consolidated sales for the quarter. The growth in the specialty business offset the decline in the generics business. We had lower sales of [indiscernible] in Q3 versus Q2, contributing to the Q-o-Q drop. The U.S. Specialty business has continued to do well. The underlying business and the prescription trend for our key growth brands, including ILUMYA, CEQUA, ODOMZO and WINLEVI remain strong. For Q3, we launched 4 generic products in the U.S. I will now hand over the call to Mr. Shanghvi.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveThank you, Abhay. I will now provide an update on the performance highlights of our other businesses as well as give you an update on our R&D initiatives. Our revenue in emerging markets were at USD 277 million, up by 10.1% over Q3 last year. The underlying growth in constant currency terms was 14% year-on-year for Q3. All our major markets have done well in local currency terms. Emerging markets accounted for 17% of total consolidated revenue for Q3. Formulation revenues in rest of the world were USD 259 million, higher by 21% over Q3 '24 and ROW markets accounted for approximately 16.3% of consolidated Q3 revenues. We continue to invest in building an R&D pipeline for both our generics business as well as specialty business. The consolidated investment towards R&D for Q3 '25 stands at INR 8,450 million, 6.3% of sales. Specialty R&D accounted for 41% of our total R&D spend for the quarter. Because of delay in our clinical spends, our R&D expenditure is trending below our guidance and for the full year. We now expect FY '25 R&D spend to be less than 7% of our sales. Moving on to update on Global Specialty. Q3 FY '25, our Global Specialty sales were up by 24.8% to reach USD 370 million. With this, I would like to leave the floor open for questions. Thank you.
Operator
operator[Operator Instructions] The first question is from Kunal Dhamesha from Macquarie.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystCongratulations on a good set of numbers. The first question, if I look at our recent Specialty deals, these are basically emerging in new therapeutic areas, diverging from our current focus on derma, derma-onco and opthal. So could you clarify whether this shift represents a strategic change? Or these are more opportunistic in nature? How should we think about?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo. I think in our view, there are adjacencies, but at the same point of time have linkage with derma-onc and the specialty even though a little bit different from the 1 which we'll need to focus on will not require a large field force for us to create as a new team. So we will remain opportunistic, but the focus on dermatology and ophthalmology will continue.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystSure, sir. And the second question is on the specialty growth, which has been quite strong for us. And we have highlighted that ILUMYA, CEQUA, WINLEVI, and ODOMZO have been drivers. But apart from that, would you say some seasonal products like LEVULAN also helped us in this quarter? And if yes, how are the trends panning out in the ongoing quarter?
C. Muralidharan
executiveSo the growth in specialty, whether I look at quarter-on-quarter, year-on-year has come from both from U.S. and ex U.S. markets with similar dollar contribution in both the markets. In ex U.S., some inventory buildup were with the partner this quarter. I'll now request Abhay to give more color on the U.S.
Abhay Gandhi
executiveI think you said it rightly, there is a seasonal impact in Q3, which is typically our strongest quarter. I think if you look at it on an annual basis, the underlying business will continue to do well.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Shashank Krishnakumar from Emkay Global.
Shashank Krishnakumar
analystMy first 1 was on the Antibe acquisition. I just wanted to check. I think the company's lead drug was placed under a clinical hold sometime in March last year. So has that hold been subsequently been lifted by the FDA?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think FDA is expecting us to do some further studies and submit to them for them to evaluate the lift of clinical wood. So we believe that this is an interesting asset, which then can help us not only in the U.S., but also in the current global environment where for treatment of pain opiates are avoided. So it's a good opportunity.
Shashank Krishnakumar
analystGot it. My second question was on the ex Taro ex REVLIMID generic business. So while I think you alluded to the REVLIMID decline Q-o-Q, but has there also been a meaningful decline sequentially in the ex Taro ex REVLIMID piece as well?
C. Muralidharan
executiveWhile Abhay will answer this question, we don't talk about Taro separately Shashank.
Shashank Krishnakumar
analystYes. Sir, just looking for some qualitative comments.
C. Muralidharan
executiveYes, sure, sure, sure. Let Abhay answer the question.
Abhay Gandhi
executiveEx REVLIMID the decline is very, very marginal.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Bino Pathiparampil from Elara Capital. Please go ahead. Bino Pathiparampil, you may go ahead with your question.
Abhishek Sharma
executiveLet's move on. Bino can rejoin.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystYes. My first question is on LEQSELVI. Any update on the litigation, what's happening and what is our expected launch time line?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveSo I think we expect the, what you call, overall arguments by sometimes -- to begin sometimes in April. And then post that, we'll await the judgment.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystOkay. And even if the judgment is against us, the December launch timeline stays intact. Is it?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think it all depends on what judgment is because we -- if the -- let's say, the judgment is to validate the existing judgment, and we can't launch till the time we get a more favorable judgment.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystNo, I asked because in an earlier call, you had mentioned that December that patent under question is expiring, so you could launch after that.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think that is the what you call validity of the patent. So in case of my understanding is that this patent is valid till December of '26. So in case if the judgment is what you call not in our favor. And if we can't get a final judgment earlier than that, then we have to wait till December '26. That's what was my statement.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystUnderstood. Understood. Second question on your depreciation and amortization amount. The amount has not grown much year last year also and this year also for 9 months, it's actually a little below last year's run rate. And if I look at your stand-alone depreciation amortization, which has actually substantially come down Y-o-Y as well. So could you let us -- could you make us understand what's happening with that?
C. Muralidharan
executiveSo as far as consol depreciation is concerned, there are some assets getting capitalized. Some assets are fully already depreciated. That's 1 of the reasons you see the fluctuation in the depreciation.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystOkay. So the consol is likely to stay like this, not increase significantly unless we add some major assets in the coming years?
C. Muralidharan
executiveYes. Unless we -- as capitalization progresses, depreciation will also increase.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystOkay. And the stand-alone depreciation and amortization has come down significantly Q-o-Q, as well as for 9 months. It's from almost INR 400 crores to INR 300 crores.
C. Muralidharan
executiveI think there are many entities which comes into the consolidated numbers. It will be [indiscernible] look at the consolidated depreciation rather than standalone.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Neha Manpuria from Bank of America.
Neha Manpuria
analystMy first question is on the India business. We continue to see higher than industry growth for quite some time for Sun Pharma. One, where are we on MR productivity to sustain this rate of growth, do we need to add more MRs to maintain this growth. And is this all from the branded business or some of this is also because [indiscernible] trade generics or OTC expansion? Just wanted to get some color on the 14% growth.
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveI think as we have said in the past, a majority of our business is a branded generic business. The trade business contribution is almost negligible to our business. So all the growth, what you are seeing, is coming from a branded generic business. And in terms of second question, if I understand correctly, you are asking about the field force. So we have already told in March '24, our total field force was 14,000 people on the ground. Yes.
Neha Manpuria
analystAnd any plans to expand that, sir?
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveSo at the end of the year, that is -- after quarter 4, we will let you know about our expansion plans, yes.
Neha Manpuria
analystOkay. Got it. My second question is on R&D. Mr. Shanghvi, you mentioned that there's been delay in clinical trials because of which we are lowering our guidance. And that's been through the year, we've seen that guidance being lower. What are the key reasons for the delay in the trials? And does this delay -- because I don't see any delay in the data readouts for the pipeline that we -- the milestone that we usually give out. So just wondering as to is there some churn in the pipeline, what is this delay which is leading to lower R&D spend?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think it's taken us a little bit longer to finalize the protocols. And then we are waiting for the final bids as well as approval so that the studies can start.
Neha Manpuria
analystIn that case, would there be a risk to some of these milestones that we have mentioned, given there have been a few quarters of delay?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveThe milestones are if we have to pay out. No, I think what we are now talking to the CRO is that how do we find a way to accelerate the study by both increasing the number of study sites as well as the number of countries in which we will do the study.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Anubhav Agarwal from UBS. Please go ahead.
Anubhav Agarwal
analystFirst, a clarity on what Murali sir talked about. One, on the specialty side, when you said that sequentially, half has come from ex U.S. and half has come from U.S. Is that excluding licensing income, milestone income, so let's say, is that current on $286 million going to $325 million that has come half in the U.S., non-U.S. Or you're talking about $286 million going to $370 million?
C. Muralidharan
executiveIt's roughly half ex of milestone income, roughly.
Anubhav Agarwal
analystOkay. So we had a $40 million increase. So it's $20 million, $20 million, roughly. That's what you mean, right?
C. Muralidharan
executiveThat's right.
Anubhav Agarwal
analystOkay. Second question for Dilip bhai is you made a comment that on the Canada asset, which is in the pain and inflammation space, you may look at it because it doesn't require a large field force. Is this because it's a hospital product? And would that mean that you will be looking at -- willing to look at more hospital products or is this an exception?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo. We believe that if approved, this is a product that we can market not only in the U.S. but also in emerging markets where pain continues to be an important component of business, and we have field force which can handle these kind of products.
Anubhav Agarwal
analystYou mean you already have existing field force in EMs for this?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveCorrect. We have -- this field force already visits the doctors. So I think it's both attractiveness of the product for the regulated as well as in emerging markets.
Anubhav Agarwal
analystBut for this product, largely the like what will be rough split? Is it like hospital usage will be like 70%? Or is it 50%, 50%? What would be split?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveYes. No, I think what we are doing is we are trying to focus on, first of all, removing the clinical hold and then identify the set of studies that will help us get to market the fastest. Most likely, what you're saying is what's going to happen is that the initial developed indication will be hospital indications.
Anubhav Agarwal
analystOkay. And just if I can ask 1 more question or if I can join. One comment I wanted, Dilip bhai, from you is that biosimilars now in the U.S. is increasingly moving towards interchangeability now, would you be interested now in looking at the space or it's still a no, no for you?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveEvery quarter, we come back to this question. Hopefully, at some point, we'll take a decision internally. I'm not talking about investor calls, but internally. I think for us, the question is where do we allocate the R&D spend because we have a finite amount of money that we can invest in R&D. So specialty, generics, and then we can also invest in creating a biosimilar pipeline.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Bino Pathiparampil from Elara Capital.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystThanks for taking my second question. It's about this milestone income in specialty. So last quarter -- last year also in 3Q, you had this income. So is this something that we can expect every year going forward depending on the extent of sales?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think these are all achievement of certain sales milestones. So linked with the achievement of sales milestones. So I think it's all a function of how well the product continues to do well and whether it touches the next milestone or not.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystOkay. So nothing seasonal like in 3Q, it comes? .
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, no, no.
Bino Pathiparampil
analystOkay. Okay. And Dilip bhai, 1 request if you may consider. Since you have become a very large specialty company now, all the large global specialty companies do give out the sales of individual products, at least the big ones. So it would be great if you can consider that.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think thank you for, first of all, considering us to be large specialty company, because that's something which we don't consider. But because a large part of our business currently still continues to be the branded generic and generic business. But I think we will -- our focus is to help investors understand both company's current performance and expected future performance in such a way that it also does not create unnecessary pressure on the company and the management. At the same time, investors have a visibility of our future trajectory. So if there is a need for us to relook at something, we will clearly relook at. So thank you.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Surya Narayan Patra from PhillipCapital.
Surya Patra
analystSir, in the opening remarks about the India business, you have talked about the lower distribution cost during this quarter or kind of a lowest distribution cost during the quarter. What is the reason for that? And also extended point on the India, you mentioned that the outperformance in the domestic growth against the IPM has been consistent, and that is largely driven by the new launches rather than the price-led rise in the IPM. So given that, is it fair to believe that this outperformance likely to continue for next few quarters since it is like new launch date?
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveI think what I said is the growth is coming from volume and new products, both are contributing into the growth compared to IPM where the growth is mostly price-led that is what is -- I said. So for future, it's difficult to predict, but our endeavor is always to grow higher than the market and try to gain market share, yes.
Surya Patra
analystOkay. And regards the lower distribution cost angle if can address sir?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveAbhay, you want to take that one.
Abhay Gandhi
executiveI think the question was on distribution costs for [indiscernible].
Surya Patra
analystThis opening commentary was indicating about lower distribution costs in this current quarter. So it would be a kind of a combined cost?
Abhay Gandhi
executiveNo, it's primarily on account of lower S&D expenses in the U.S. Last quarter, if you recall, we had incurred some prelaunch expenses on LEQSELVI which have kind of minimized now.
Surya Patra
analystOkay, okay. My second question was about the change in the U.S. government and the kind of initiatives that has been talked about, whether restricting about the direct-to-market initiatives or spends by specialty companies. That is one. And also the tariffs for what it has been loosely talked about against anything that is imported into India -- into U.S. So on those 2 aspects, what would be the stance of us? And how should we think those impacting us?
Abhay Gandhi
executiveMr. Patra, you have characterized this far better than I could have, it has been vaguely talked about as of now. So we do not know what will be the final shape. You would also be aware that right now, there are confirmatory hearings on certain key appointees, which hasn't really fructified. The new appointees have not yet taken over their respective functions. So till we actually know certainly what are the actions being taken, difficult for us to plan in advance.
Surya Patra
analystSure. Okay. Just 1 more point, Dilip bhai, about the consumer health business. See in fact having created branded business across the geographies is strongly the consumer business, which has been a kind of old initiatives first. But it has been kind of a 1 not been highlighted the way it has been highlighted by other peers. So what is the current size? And what is the outlook that you are having? And how progressively or at what growth rate it is kind of moving on. If you can give some sense? And can it be a kind of a contributor to the overall growth of Sun Pharma going ahead.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveSo I think you have a visibility of our India consumer business. What I think you don't have visibility for and we don't also highlight is almost $200 million worth of consumer business that we have in our emerging market business, which is also OTC kind of products. So it continues to be an important component of our company and growth. Only thing is that since we handle this business more or less the same way like we handle the prescription business, we are not differentiating and sharing the numbers separately. But it continues to be an important component of our growth.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from Kunal Dhamesha from Macquarie.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystCan you please show some more light on the inventory buildout that we had suggested for the 1 of the specialty products at our partner end? I am under the impression that whatever we do ex U.S. are generally through partner and we just received royalty in our revenue.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveWe also capture the product sales and the product sales are lumpy.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystThis is the inventory buildout that we talked about.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveAs a partner. Yes. So if partner buys something then before he -- so every time he buys a reasonably large amount, so he may not buy in the next quarter. That's why we are saying it's lumpy.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystSo basically when he buys, it triggers royalty payment.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveRoyalty has to be paid independent when he sells.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystSo let's say when Almirall buys, basically, does it...
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveKunal, I will get top line and they will give us monthly statement based on which the royalty is paid. So there may be a different arrangement with different partners.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystSure. And the second question, if I look at our specialty R&D now as a percentage of specialty revenue, excluding milestones, it's coming out to be roughly around 12% of the specialty revenue, right? So generally, what you're seeing with the large innovator company is typically around 16%, 17% range. So how should we think about this going forward? Not just 1 quarter, but let's say, over the next 2, 3 years, how are we thinking about it?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveI mean that's the focus. And if we would have achieved our guidance, then that is what it would have reached.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystOkay, sure. And sir, last 1 on the capital deployment, which we have a strong cash balance now. And I'm sure that we have been evaluating a lot of deals. But has there been any let's say, change in the end market valuations that you see it has become more attractive, less attractive, the number of deals that we churn or we look at per year, has that increased, decreased? How should we think that?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think we are open for looking at. I mean, we constantly look at any value-add options. Anything which is strategic and we think we can it will add value to our existing business and is accretive is something that we seriously consider.
Kunal Dhamesha
analystBut would it be more like specialty or you would also look at India business as well if you find that attractive or something in emerging markets?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think we generally priority is to focus on specialty products.
Operator
operator[Operator Instructions] The next question is from Krish Mehta from Enam Holdings. Please go ahead.
Krish Mehta
analystCongratulations on a great set of numbers. Dilip bhai, I just wanted to check with you on the Japanese portfolio and how we're doing, seeing that the mix of specialty has become almost 50-50 with U.S. and non-U.S. If you could just give some color on the specialty business in Japan as well as on the Novartis portfolio that we acquired almost over a decade ago now. How has that progressed in Japan?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, first of all, we don't split the specialty in terms of giving numbers. But our focus is on growing the specialty business in Japan because the generic business has become very challenging in terms of pricing and overall attractiveness. So maybe, Kirti, you can respond.
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveYes. Generic business, what you are referring to, Novartis, long-listed brands, there is a price pressure. Every year, there is a price decrease ranging from 5% to 7%, depending on the product. So our focus is to continue to grow ILUMYA business. ILUMYA [indiscernible] the future pipeline also.
Krish Mehta
analystThat's very helpful. And my second question was on the tax rate. If you could just provide some color on how you see this stabilizing as we also kind of the sunset benefits in some geographies. So how do you see a stable tax rate going forward?
C. Muralidharan
executiveSo we have said in the past that the tax rate should be seen on annualized basis. In the last call, we also said that on our facility, the sunset clause was there, and it will inch up as we move a couple of quarters ahead.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Vivek Agarwal from Citigroup.
Vivek Agrawal
analystAbhay, my question is related to compliance issues. So how we should look at this year 2025 as we have few facilities down with the FDA. So what is preparedness of the company? And are you expecting any facility going for the reinspection? So I'm just trying to assess that what is the way forward to revise this business, which is, I think, down at historical lows at this point of time?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveYes, the idea is to, what we call, bring these facilities back in compliance, because we will require new products to strengthen our ability to grow the business.
Vivek Agrawal
analystOkay. But are we expecting any of the facility to undergo inspection this year? Or have you missed any kind of material changes that can improve the company's confidence level that we maybe able to clear these facilities from hereon?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveI mean, that's the hope, and that's what we are all working for. Just that we will -- we've invited the agency to inspect Halol, but then when to inspect is a decision that they take. So...
Vivek Agrawal
analystUnderstood. And what about the other facilities in Mohali, Dadra? Have we invited or are we in the process of inviting the FDA?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I think we have to first fulfill our CAPAs and whatever commitments we have given so that they can -- when they reinspect, they can assess that whether we've met all guidance or not.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Damayanti Kerai from HSBC. Please go ahead.
Damayanti Kerai
analystMy question is regarding your R&D spend. So you have trimmed R&D outlook for this fiscal due to the reasons discussed. But how should we look at R&D number as you expedite some of the clinical trials and go for more sites?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveYes. No, I think now this will get covered in the next year's R&D guidance.
Damayanti Kerai
analystOkay. So whatever didn't get covered this fiscal, that will move to coming years?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveI mean we will guide for whatever that you should estimate.
Damayanti Kerai
analystOkay. My second question is actually a clarification. So again, split of specialty sales between U.S., non-U.S., you mentioned roughly half, half. So can you clarify this bit because I assume that U.S. used to be the larger contributor for specialty sales. So any like other markets which have seen significant pickup, that's why now we are seeing equal numbers coming?
C. Muralidharan
executiveNo, no. It's only growth that we have said Damayanti for this quarter, specifically, that the growth came from -- the dollar contribution of growth came from both U.S. and ex U.S.
Damayanti Kerai
analystOkay, but...
Abhishek Sharma
executiveNothing to do with base business. Base business where it is...
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveI think this point, Abhishek, glad you clarified because 2, 3 others had the same, I think, confusion.
Damayanti Kerai
analystOkay. So -- but should we assume that U.S. is the largest contributor in terms of absolute dollar number?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveYes.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Anubhav Agarwal from UBS. Please go ahead.
Anubhav Agarwal
analystYes. A couple of questions. One is on India business. The 14% growth we have for the quarter and for 9 months also, so just trying to understand this 14% number. When we look at the largest therapies for us like cardiac, diabetes, CNS, et cetera, IQVIA shows about 10%, 11%. I'm just trying to understand your numbers that is it higher growth for us, 14% coming from some of the newer therapies which are growing very fast or this 14% is very similar number across the spaces, like IQVIA is really behind and we are like cardiac, everywhere we are around 13%, 14%.
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveAs I said, all therapies are doing well for us. So this growth is not coming specific from specific therapy areas. Being said that, there are therapy areas, which will grow faster than the other. But overall, if I look at from April to December 9 months sales is across the therapy areas. And in the IQVIA, we are understated. Our internal growth versus the IQVIA growth what you see there is a delta of a couple of percentage.
Anubhav Agarwal
analystOkay. That's helpful. The second question is on the specialty data only. So the ex U.S. portion that you're talking about, you guys mentioned that there could be element of one-off there. Just trying to understand a feel there on 2 points. One, is this largely one-off, the data that you've seen here, let's say, on that number of, let's say, 40 is the delta, 20 is ex U.S. increase. So let's say 20, large part of 20 is one-off? That's 1 part of the question. Second is, which geography are we talking about? Are we talking about this in Europe, in China, in Japan, roughly -- rough idea will be useful.
C. Muralidharan
executiveSo Anubhav, it's very difficult to such a very detailed breakup in terms of that. However, I'd like to say that there are many factors and some have bunched up in this quarter. However, I would say that including specialty, our annual revenue growth guidance reflects all this.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Akash Dobhada from Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Please go ahead.
Unknown Analyst
analystI have just 1 question. Can I get some color on other operating income, why it has increased so much sequentially?
C. Muralidharan
executiveSo in the Q3, there was some recognition of certain grants as compared to the previous quarter. .
Operator
operatorNext question is from Vishal from Systematix.
Vishal Manchanda
analystI have a question on semaglutide. We can see that you have a para IV in Canada for Ozempic and Wegovy. So just wanted to understand whether you also have filed an A&D in Canada market because that's opening up earlier around 2026.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveI mean we don't give product-specific future information. But what you're saying is correct in public information, people can see that we filed para IV to semaglutide in the U.S.
Vishal Manchanda
analystAll right. So whether you would have also filed for Canada, would that make sense to assume that?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, don't assume anything. We will give you guidance about whatever that we are likely to grow by in next year because we will factor everything, including potential approvals and potential price erosion and everything and give you overall guidance.
Vishal Manchanda
analystAnd second 1 on in Nidlegy in melanoma. So it's being filed for adjuvant -- neoadjuvant setting. I just wanted to understand whether there is an -- whether there is any approved asset in the same setting? Or would this be the first 1 in that?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveI think you are asking a question which is beyond my capability. I'll need to come back with proper information. Only thing which I know is that when we did the assessment, and we looked at the data, we saw that our data essentially reflects a product which is likely to be significantly differentiated over the currently marketed product.
Vishal Manchanda
analystSir, since we don't have a presence in Europe. So how do we kind of go about this? Will we kind of...
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, no, no. We have significant business for ODOMZO in Europe and the same customers will potentially prescribe this.
Vishal Manchanda
analystOkay. And any way you can quantify the PLI benefits that we get annually?
C. Muralidharan
executiveNo, we do not give any specific amount on any grants or incentives.
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveYes. But I think there is a, what you call, maximum what you can get is INR 200 crores.
C. Muralidharan
executiveMaximum is INR 200 crores as per the scheme?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveAs per the scheme, correct.
Vishal Manchanda
analystFor a single product or...
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, no, for the company.
C. Muralidharan
executiveFor the company. I hope it was a single product.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Madhav from Fidelity. Please go ahead.
Madhav Marda
analystJust a basic one, did you split the India growth into volume, price and new launches? If you could just help with that. And I think it's a volume-led growth. If you could just give us some sense, what's helping us grow sort of ahead of market and volumes, which is quite positive given a lot of the peers have been struggling.
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveSure. As I said, we are growing both by volume and new products, yes, that's...
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveAnd also, there would be a price component.
Kirti Ganorkar
executivePrice component, yes.
Madhav Marda
analystOkay. Could you give us how much of that 14% is volume-led growth?
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveSo roughly 50% to 55% is the new product and volume growth and rest will be price related. Just to give you some idea about the growth here.
Madhav Marda
analystOkay. Got it. And even I think the EM market has grown quite well in dollar terms. So just any sense sir? I mean, is it any specific tenders which have helped us? Or are we adding new markets? If you could give us some sense in terms of what's driving very good scale up there as well?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveI mean, generally, we don't focus on tender business. And if there is a specific tender business, then we clearly state because we don't want people to start kind of modeling continued business for a business which is onetime. So no, I think generally, markets have done well.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Saion from Nomura.
Saion Mukherjee
analystDilip bhai, just on EM. Typically, in the previous quarter, you had talked about specific markets. So is there any specific market or markets you would like to call, which is supporting growth or is this across all your major markets?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveYes. I think we've, in the past also indicated that the large markets that we are present in are Brazil, Romania, New Mexico, Russia.
Saion Mukherjee
analystOkay, okay. And just 1 more on the domestic business. Over the last few years, particularly post the pandemic, the field force, almost 40% expansion has happened. So if you can give some color in terms of how a geography or doctor coverage has improved? And is that something which is aiding the growth? And how should we think about because at 1 level, you have to scale and the base is very large. So is that an advantage for you to grow ahead of the market? Or it kind of puts more pressure, how should we think about it?
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveSo broadly, what I said in the past also is like expansion as well as decluttering of portfolio has helped us to grow the business. So for future, maybe we will guide you at the end of the next quarter, what are our plans.
Saion Mukherjee
analystBut can you suggest if there is a significant geographic footprint expansion like going more deeper into Tier 2, Tier 3 cities or which is this 40-odd percent expansion in field force, is that something which has contributed meaningfully to growth?
Kirti Ganorkar
executiveThese are all expansion based on the need and the potential of the market. It's not like significantly we're going into different tiers.
Operator
operatorNext question is from Vivek Agrawal from Citigroup.
Vivek Agrawal
analystSir, if you look at the ROW business, so the last 4 quarters, the business is not growing. So earlier, you have alluded that there are some pricing-related issues, et cetera. So are these over or when do you expect this business to start growing?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, I don't think we give specific guidance to markets. What we do is we give you an overall guidance as a company that what we wish to achieve.
Vivek Agrawal
analystYes, understood. But in one of the quarters, actually, you highlighted that in 1 market, especially in Japan, right, because of the pricing, there is some kind of slowdown. So are these issues are over? Or is it there in the base? So [indiscernible].
Abhishek Sharma
executiveYes, we were not yet fully in the base. I think we had said in last quarter that it will take a couple of quarters for it to flow through the base in time.
Vivek Agrawal
analystAnd just last -- 1 last question. You highlighted that in this quarter, there is some kind of inventory build out, right? So is it fair to assume that the next quarter sales of specialty should be lower from the current quarter, excluding milestone? .
Abhishek Sharma
executiveYes, yes, you can assume that.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from Surya Narayan Patra from PhillipCapital.
Surya Patra
analystJust a clarification about the same ROW. This quarter, we have seen a kind of mark hit from the previous trend. Is it comprising of the -- what is this driving, whether it is the milestone is hitting here in this line item or what? And also if you can give some update about ILUMYA in the China market, how is progressing?
C. Muralidharan
executiveSo in the ROW for the quarter, you are right, the milestone is baked in that ROW number.
Surya Patra
analystOkay. And regards the ILUMYA tree in China, any update there, sir?
Dilip Shanghvi
executiveNo, the product is doing quite well is what I was told. I have no specific further update.
Operator
operatorThat was the last question in queue. I would now like to hand the conference back to Dr. Abhishek Sharma for closing comments.
Abhishek Sharma
executiveThanks, everyone, for dialing in at this late hour and listening to the management. If you have any remaining questions, you can reach out to the Investor Relations team. We are happy to take your questions. Thank you, and have a good weekend.
Operator
operatorThank you very much. On behalf of Sun Pharma, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen, you may now disconnect your lines.
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