Ono Pharmaceutical reports strong half-year earnings, pipeline advances

Ono Pharmaceutical announced consolidated financial results for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, reporting a 7.0% increase in revenue to JPY 257.1 bn and a 7.2% rise in core operating profit to JPY 70.1 bn. Net profit attributable to owners saw a 5.5% increase to JPY 53.8 bn. This growth was bolstered by strong overseas product sales, with QINLOCK revenue jumping 123.3% to JPY 18.1 bn, and increased royalty income, up 6.7% to JPY 82.2 bn.

Key pipeline advancements include the approval of Opdivo in Japan for MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer and the initiation of a Phase III study for Velexbru in the U.S. for primary central nervous system lymphoma. The company also filed for approval of ONO-2017 in Japan for partial-onset seizures and entered a joint development agreement for ONO-5532 (Gel-One) for osteoarthritis. However, some development projects for Opdivo in gastric cancer and DCC-3116 and DCC-3084 in advanced malignancies were discontinued due to strategic reasons or failure to meet primary endpoints.

For the full fiscal year 2025, Ono Pharmaceutical forecasts a 0.6% increase in revenue to JPY 490.0 bn and a 1.2% rise in core operating profit to JPY 114.0 bn. The company anticipates maintaining its annual dividend of JPY 80.0 per share. Research and development costs are expected to increase by 4.7% to JPY 150.0 bn, reflecting investments in new projects and the full-year inclusion of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals' expenses.