Daewoong Pharmaceutical said it posted sales of 293.8 billion won ($226.3 million) and an operating profit of 33.6 billion won in the second quarter, up 7.6 percent and 25.8 percent from a year ago.

Daewoong renewed its three-month profit record in the two consecutive quarters and saw its sales soar to a record high.

“The steady growth of our ethical drugs (ETC), the surging export of our botulinum toxin product, Nabota, and the favorable foreign exchange rate effects have led to the sharp improvement in the company’s profitability in the April-June period,” the company said in a press release on Thursday.

Nabota registered 37.1 billion won sales, up 60 percent from a year earlier, and export totaled 29.2 billion won, a hefty increase of 105 percent from 14.2 billion won a year ago. Driven by rising U.S. market share and product awareness, shipment to its U.S. partner, Evolus, totaled 21.1 billion won. Exports to Southeast Asia and Latin America also showed robust growth.

The company expected shipments to other markets, such as Europe, Turkey, and Chile, to increase in the third and fourth quarters.

In addition, Pexuclu, Daewoong’s new drug for gastroesophageal reflux disease launched earlier this month, will likely show good performance in the second half year amid rising market share at home.

Daewoong’s over-the-counter drug (OTC) business registered sales of 34.3 billion won, up 19.9 percent over the cited period. Due to Covid-19, EZN6, an antipyretic drug, grew 45 percent, and Urusa, a liver improvement drug, grew more than 30 percent.

"Nabota's expansion of market share and exports in major global botulinum toxin markets, including the U.S., led to record quarterly sales and operating profits," a Daewoong Pharmaceutical official said. "We expect the company's sales to rise further when Nabota is released in Europe and elsewhere."

Daewoong plans to strengthen its growth engine by investing 33 billion won, 11.2 percent of its sales, in research and development.