Pharma shares in focus; Divis Lab, Ajanta, Natco, Torrent Pharma hit record highs

Sequent Scientific, Torrent Pharma, Hikal, Ipca Lab and Aurobindo Pharma were up between 5%-20% on the BSE.

Shares of pharmaceutical companies are in focus with Divis Laboratories, Ajanta Pharma, Natco Pharma and Torrent Pharmaceuticals from the BSE500 index hitting their respective lifetime highs in an otherwise range bound market on the BSE.

Bajaj Healthcare, Medicamen Biotech, Neuland Laboratories, NGL Fine Chem and Vinati Organics too, are trading at their multi-year highs on the bourses.

At 11:51 am, the S&P BSE Healthcare index was up 1.1% or 177 points at 16,195, as compared to 0.11% or 30 points gain in the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex at 28,021.

Sequent Scientific has locked in upper circuit of 20% at Rs 146, while Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Hikal, Ipca Laboratories and Aurobindo Pharma up between 5%-7% on the BSE. Lupin, however, was down 2% at Rs 1,517 on the BSE.

Aurobindo Pharma has rallied 6% to Rs 778 on the BSE in early morning trade after the company reported 24% year on year  (YoY)jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 585 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 (Q1FY17). Net operational income of the company grew 12.9% at Rs 3,726 crore on YoY basis.

Divis Laboratories was up 2% to Rs 1,340, extending its 10% rally in seven trading sessions, post Q1FY17 results. The company reported 23% YoY jump in standalone net profit at Rs 302 crore for Q1FY17, on back of 25% growth in operational revenue at Rs 1,008 crore.

Ajanta Pharma rallied 25% in past one-month from Rs 1,605 to Rs 2,006. The company had posted 39% YoY rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 120 crore for Q1FY17 mainly on robust sales.

On July 29, the company announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted final approval to Ajanta Pharma’s omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate powder for oral suspension - a heartburn drug, which helps reduce the amount of acid produced by the cells in the stomach.

This new approval is part of an ever growing portfolio of products that Ajanta has developed for the US market, it added.

COMPANY	LATEST	ALL TIME HIGH	PREV HIGH	PREV DATE
AJANTA PHARMA	1997.90	2006.05	1997.00	22-Aug-16
BAJAJ HEALTHCARE	219.00	219.00	218.00	05-Aug-16
DIVI'S LAB.	1337.10	1342.00	1325.50	22-Aug-16
LAUREL ORGANICS	7.71	7.71	7.35	23-Aug-16
MEDICAMEN BIOTEC	176.50	176.50	176.50	23-Aug-16
NATCO PHARMA	654.60	662.25	660.00	22-Aug-16
NEULAND LABS.	1033.75	1057.55	1042.00	23-Aug-16
NGL FINE CHEM	368.60	373.10	364.45	23-Aug-16
TORRENT PHARMA.	1691.25	1720.00	1720.00	01-Sep-15