Glenmark Pharma has announced its fourth quarter results. The company's Q4 consolidated PAT was Rs 219 crore versus Rs 63 crore. Its consolidated revenues were up at Rs 582 crore versus Rs 339.1 crore. Its generic arm's net sales were at Rs 260 crore versus Rs 120 crore.

Glen Saldanha, MD & CEO of Glenmark Pharma said, one of the key factors for the outstanding numbers was a strong US business, which was driving growth and performance. He added that out-licensing of some of their NCE pipeline had also contributed significantly to the profits and topline sales.

He said that despite the company not being able to enjoy the complete benefit of the sole 180-day exclusivity on Trileptal, it still was a significant contributor to the whole US sales.

Commenting on biologics, he said, "Biologics as a space is a huge opportunity given the fact that a lot of discovery aspects are now moving to monoclonals. For Glenmark, we have two candidates, GBR 500 and 600, both entering clinical trials in FY09. GBR 500 should be an out-licensing candidate this year."

Excerpts from CNBC-TV18's exclusive interview with Glen Saldanha:

Q: Explain to us, what have been the key factors for this kind of an outstanding number?

A: I think Glenmark as a whole; we have had a fabulous year between our US business really driving growth and performance and the out-licensing of some of our NCE pipeline, which has really given us the big numbers in terms of profits and topline sales.

Q: Can you quantify the actual figures that have come from Trileptal also?

A: Trileptal, some time in October or November there were about six companies who had launched just after we got the 180-day exclusivity. So, we have not enjoyed the complete benefit of being the sole 180-day exclusivity on Trileptal. However, it still remains a significant contributor to the whole US sales.

Q: The much-awaited Oglemilast milestone finally came. How do you see this particular product going forward?

A: Well Oglemilast is clearly a star in our NCE pipeline with phase-II starting up now with Forest doing the COPD trial and we are starting up asthma towards the middle of the year. So, next year we believe Oglemilast should go into phase-III. We are pretty excited about the whole opportunity.

Q: Gliptin wise, JANUVIA is also doing very well for Merck and you have got a molecule licensed out to Lily in that particular category. Can you give us a low-down on what actually is happening on that particular front?

A: The Melogliptin 8200 was with Merck, and now the molecule is back with us. We are currently in phase-II testing and now we should partner it out in the next 6-12 months. We are seeing some very exciting data, which makes us believe that it could be a pretty large deal and has large potential.

Q: Have talks already been initiated on that particular front?

A: We have a lot of interest on Melogliptin given the fact that the molecule is in phase-IIb and given the fact that JANUVIA has over USD 1 billion of sales in a very short time. So, it’s a very exciting space. We are pretty confident that we’ll be able to partner it out pretty quickly.

Q: Some kind of a deal talk was also on for European licensing for your asthma molecule Oglemilast, when do we get to hear something on that?

A: I know we have been commenting this for a long time in terms of licensing for Oglemilast, we have held it back before we started the phase-II. Now that phase-II is on, we should be able to conclude something in the next 6-12 months.

Q: Can you give us some kind of a guidance for ’08-’09?

A: We have our analyst meet this evening. So, we’d put out our new guidance numbers. But clearly it’s going to be positive in terms of what we are guiding for both ’08-’09 as well as ’09-’10, the next two years.

Q: GBR 500, do you really look at it as a huge potential molecule and do out-licensing sooner than later?

A: Biologics as a space is a huge opportunity given the fact that a lot of discovery aspects are now moving to monoclonals. For Glenmark, we have two candidates, GBR 500 and 600, both entering clinical trials in FY09. Clearly, GBR 500 should be an out-licensing candidate this year.