Kalbe Farma 3Q profit rises

Kalbe Farma 3Q profit rises

JAKARTA: PT Kalbe Farma's profit rose at the fastest pace in a year in the third quarter as Indonesia's biggest drugmaker boosted sales of painkillers including Neuralgin and Procold.

Net income rose 46 percent to Rp 136.3 billion (US$15 million) from Rp 93.1 billion a year earlier. Profit, which was derived by subtracting six-month data from nine-month figures, rose at the fastest pace since the third quarter last year. Revenue jumped a third to Rp 920.1 billion.

Sales at Bekasi, West Java-based Kalbe are rising as economic growth boosts incomes in Indonesia, making drugs more affordable for the nation's 235 million people. -- Bloomberg