Sai Life Sciences filed its Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) and ESG Databook for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, with stock exchanges on August 25, 2026. The disclosure, submitted pursuant to Regulation 34(2)(f) of the SEBI LODR Regulations, forms part of the company's Integrated Annual Report.

The filing covers standalone operations, including manufacturing sites in Hyderabad and Bidar, alongside R&D facilities in the UK. TUV India Private Limited provided reasonable assurance for the BRSR Core indicators and limited assurance for selected non-core disclosures under ISAE 3000 (Revised).

Environmental Performance

The ESG Databook outlines key environmental metrics for FY26 compared to the previous year. Total energy consumption rose to 3,85,999 GJ from 3,15,631 GJ in FY25. Renewable energy sources accounted for 1,77,993 GJ, while non-renewable sources contributed 2,08,006 GJ.

Greenhouse gas emissions data shows a divergence between direct and indirect emissions. Scope 1 emissions increased to 22,445 tCO2e from 18,435 tCO2e. Conversely, Scope 2 market-based emissions fell sharply to 8,630 tCO2e from 15,638 tCO2e, reflecting the company's renewable energy procurement strategy. Scope 3 emissions stood at 90,272 tCO2e.

Water withdrawal totalled 1,83,967.92 kilolitres, with groundwater comprising 1,02,390.35 kilolitres. The company reported implementing Zero Liquid Discharge systems at its Bidar manufacturing facility.

Workforce and Social Metrics

As of March 31, 2026, Sai Life Sciences employed 3,909 permanent employees and 1,315 workers. Female representation among permanent employees was 15.14%, while the board of directors included one female member (17%). The turnover rate for permanent employees decreased to 20.98% in FY26 from 24.17% in FY25.

The company reported zero fatalities and zero lost-time injury frequency rates for both employees and workers during the year. One complaint regarding sexual harassment was filed and resolved under the POSH Act.

Governance and Compliance

The report highlights adherence to various international standards, including ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety across all Indian sites. The company disclosed no monetary penalties or fines related to regulatory non-compliance in FY26.

Sai Life Sciences Limited reported a 22% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to ₹73 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, driven by robust performance in its Contract Research Organization (CRO) segment. Revenue from operations grew 12% to ₹554 crore, while EBITDA expanded 18% to ₹148 crore, pushing the margin to 27% from 25% in the corresponding period last year. The strong double-digit growth in the CRO segment, which surged 26% year-on-year, indicates that high-value research services are increasingly driving profitability, offsetting moderate 6% growth in the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) business.

The Board of Directors, chaired by Managing Director Krishna Kanumuri, approved the unaudited financial results at a meeting held on August 6, 2026. The results were reviewed by the Audit Committee and subjected to a limited review by statutory auditors M/s. Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP. The filing was made pursuant to Regulation 30 and 33 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. An earnings call was held on August 7, 2026, where management provided deeper insights into segmental performance and strategic initiatives.

Financial Performance

Consolidated revenue from operations reached ₹554 crore in Q1FY27, up from ₹496 crore in Q1FY26. Total income stood at ₹557.83 crore. Profit before tax increased 21% to ₹97.97 crore. Total tax expense for the group was ₹24.69 crore. Basic earnings per share (EPS) were ₹3.46 on a consolidated basis, up from ₹2.90 in Q1FY26.

On a standalone basis, revenue from operations grew 13% to ₹546.73 crore. Standalone net profit rose 22% to ₹71.34 million. Finance costs decreased significantly to ₹76.36 million on a consolidated basis from ₹123.64 million year-ago, contributing to the bottom-line improvement.

Segmental Insights and Pipeline Strength

Chief Financial Officer Siva Chittor disclosed that the CDMO business contributed approximately 60% of total revenues, while the CRO business accounted for the remaining 40%. While CRO revenues grew sharply by 26%, CDMO revenues expanded by around 6%. Management attributed the CRO growth to successful conversions of pilot collaborations into long-term partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies and increased adoption of integrated service models.

The underlying health of the CMC business remains strong, with 33 active commercial molecules and 14 molecules in late-phase development. Over the last 15 months, Sai added six late-phase molecules to its pipeline, five of which originated from large pharma clients through Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) engagements. One such collaboration with a top-tier market-cap pharma company has evolved into an end-to-end engagement spanning discovery to commercial manufacturing. Additionally, three of the four new commercial contracts expected this year are primary supply deals, described as "decently sized" in value.

Strategic Expansion and Capex Guidance

Krishna Kanumuri highlighted the company’s evolution into a multi-modality partner, emphasizing advancements in peptides, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and formulation capabilities. A dedicated peptide development lab is coming online shortly, with a commercial-scale peptide manufacturing facility planned for 2028 near Hyderabad. The company also secured an EcoVadis Platinum Rating for sustainability, placing it in the top 1% of assessed companies globally.

Regarding capital expenditure, Siva Chittor reaffirmed the FY27 capex guidance of ₹1,100 crore to ₹1,300 crore, noting that investments are being made modularly based on internal hurdle rates higher than the target Return on Capital Employed (ROCE). No guidance was provided for FY28 capex. The company expects the second half of FY27 to be stronger than the first half due to planned capacity expansions coming online, particularly at the Bidar facility.

What the Numbers Show

The expansion in EBITDA margin to 27% from 25% demonstrates improved operating leverage despite moderate top-line growth. The significant reduction in finance costs, down nearly 40% year-on-year, played a crucial role in boosting net profit growth to 22%, outpacing revenue growth. The divergence between CRO (26% growth) and CDMO (6% growth) highlights a strategic shift toward higher-margin, early-stage development services. With over 90% of FY25 and FY26 revenue coming from returning customers, the company’s deepening relationships with large pharma clients provide substantial visibility into future revenues, supporting the management’s mid-term growth guidance of 15% to 20%.