Core operating profit for the six months to June 30 rose 15 percent year-on-year to $284 million Hikma Pharmaceuticals revised its annual sales outlook for two of its biggest divisions on Friday and reported higher first-half profit, as hospitals and distributors stocked up on critical medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK-based company, which supplies many generic drugs including anaesthetics, pain medications, sedatives, neuromuscular blocking agents and anti-infectives, said core operating profit for the six months to June 30 rose 15 percent year-on-year to $284 million.