Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. said its core profit for the first quarter ended June 30 grew 35.5% year over year to ¥70.35 billion.
Basic core EPS was ¥35.70, compared with ¥25.14 per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.
Meanwhile, core operating profit for the April-June period totaled ¥84.04 billion, a rise of 29.0% from ¥65.12 billion a year earlier.
Sales rose 2% year over year to ¥329.08 billion from ¥322.57 billion.
Profit attributable to owners of the company for the first fiscal quarter was ¥54.56 billion, or ¥27.65 per share, up from ¥42.47 billion, or ¥20.54 in the year-ago period.
Research and development expenses for the quarter reached ¥52.13 billion, down from ¥56.48 billion the prior year.