AstraZeneca PLC
Latest AstraZeneca PLC News and Updates

AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Originated in the U.K., Is Used Globally

AstraZeneca Will Profit From Its COVID-19 Vaccine—Why It Matters

Will the FDA Approve AstraZeneca's COVID-19 Cocktail?

Is the AstraZeneca Vaccine Approved in the U.S.?

Best COVID-19 Vaccine Stocks to Buy Now for 2021

U.K. Government Approves AstraZeneca's Coronavirus Vaccine

How to Get Help With Your Prescriptions With AstraZeneca Patient Assistance

AstraZeneca to Acquire Alexion for $39 Billion, Stock Down

Is AstraZeneca Stock Right for Your Portfolio After Alexion Announcement?

What Drugs Does AstraZeneca Make?

How Did AstraZeneca’s CVMD Franchise Perform in 2014?
In 2014, AstraZeneca’s CVMD franchise generated nearly $9.8 billion, a 11% rise in sales as compared to $8.8 billion in 2013.

Analysts’ Expectations for Sanofi
According to a March 3, 2016, Bloomberg consensus of five brokerage firms, 60% of brokerage firms rated Sanofi as a “buy,” while 40% of the broker firms rated the company as a “hold.”

Analysts’ Estimates and Ratings for Novartis in October
Novartis’s revenue is mainly driven by the strong performance of its Innovative Medicines segment, while Sandoz and Alcon also contribute to the company’s overall growth.

AQR Capital increases stake in Intel
Intel generated ~$5.7 billion in cash from operations. The company paid quarterly dividends of $1.1 billion and repurchased 122 million shares for $4.2 billion.

Why AQR Capital exits its position in Geo Group Inc.
AQR Capital sold a position in GEO Group Inc. in 2Q14. The company accounted for a 0.0206% position in the fund’s first quarter U.S. long portfolio.

Understanding the Revenue Fall in AstraZeneca’s Largest Segment in 3Q16
AstraZeneca’s (AZN) CVMD (Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease) segment contributed nearly 32.4% of total company revenues in 3Q16.

AstraZeneca and Other COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Seek Volunteers

Key Risks Facing Sucampo Pharmaceuticals in 2017
Sucampo has taken on a significant level of debt. Its outstanding debt is ~$300 million. Its interest expense has increased from $6.8 million in 2015 to $23.7 million in 2016.

AstraZeneca Issued High-Grade Bonds to Acquire ZS Pharma
Last week, AstraZeneca issued A2/A rated high-grade bonds worth $6.0 billion to fund the acquisition of ZS Pharma (ZSPH).

Exploring Novavax’s Vaccine Candidates for RSV
According to Novavax, ~64.0 million RSV infections occur every year on a global basis. The global cost of RSV exceeds $88.0 billion.

What’s the Story behind the Pfizer-Medivation Deal?
Medivation’s portfolio complements Pfizer’s existing oncology portfolio that includes solid tumors, hematology, and immunology-oncology.

AstraZeneca and Its Oncology Segment’s Growth in 2Q16
AstraZeneca’s (AZN) oncology segment is another key focus area. The segment’s contribution increased to more than 15% in 2Q16.

What’s to Be Expected from Novartis’s 3Q16 Earnings?
Novartis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue, is set to release its 3Q16 earnings on October 25, 2016.

AstraZeneca’s New Oncology Portfolio May See Healthy Growth
In 1Q17, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) new oncology portfolio reported global sales of around $236.0 million. Tagrisso earned revenues of $171.0 million globally.

Merck and AstraZeneca Announced EMA Approval for Lynparza
Lynparza (olaparib) is a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, or PARP inhibitor, and part of Merck & Co. (MRK) and AstraZeneca’s (AZN) global strategic oncology collaboration.

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Neuroscience and Immunoscience Segments
Sales for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) neuroscience segment declined over 80% in 2Q15, while the immunoscience segment’s sales improved ~15% in 2Q15 as compared to 2Q14.

Understanding Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Other Segments
Sales from Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Neuroscience segment declined by 94% in 1Q16. Sales from the Immunoscience segment improved by ~18.7% in 1Q16 over 1Q15.
Why AstraZeneca’s oncology pipeline is attractive to Pfizer
Pfizer (PFE) is seeking to expand its oncology franchise and a combination with AstraZeneca (AZN) would be meaningful due to the latter’s pipeline of cancer drugs.

How GlaxoSmithKline Stock Performed in 1Q18
GlaxoSmithKline stock has risen ~6.4% in 1Q18, while its stock has risen ~12.6% YTD (year-to-date) as of April 6, 2018.

AstraZeneca’s Valuation Report Card: How Did It Score?
The fundamental factors affecting stock prices and valuation include the performance of growth platforms as well as the exclusivity of blockbuster drugs.

AstraZeneca Is Taking Steps to Improve Its Position in Oncology
During the last quarter, the oncology segment’s contribution to AstraZeneca (AZN) increased to over 15%. AZN’s key products for oncology are Zoladex, Faslodex, Iressa, and the new drug Tagrisso.

Novartis Receives 2 Breakthrough Therapy Designations in January
In January 2018, the FDA granted a BTD to Novartis’s (NVS) Promacta for use along with standard immunosuppressive therapy.

Introducing Krystexxa, the Latest Addition to Horizon’s Orphan Portfolio
In January 2016, Horizon acquired Krystexxa from Crealta Holdings. The drug has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic refractory gout.

Tesaro Stock Up over 16% on Rumors of Acquisition by Roche
Yesterday, Tesaro (TSRO) stock rose ~16.3%, triggered by rumours of an acquisition bid by Roche (RHHBY), which registered a stock price rise of ~2.1%.

AQR Capital initiated position in Bally Technologies Inc.
AQR Capital initiated a position in Bally Technologies during the third quarter of 2014 that accounts for 0.22% of the fund’s 3Q14 portfolio.

What Are Generic Drugs and Why Are They Important?
TOM BUTCHER: What are generic drugs, and why are they important? JAMES DUFFY: Generic drugs are drugs that are comparable to their brand-name counterparts. They are comparable in terms of the dosage, effectiveness, and intended use. Generics are important because they are essentially a less-expensive alternative to their brand-name counterparts. This, of course, is expected […]

How Did Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Other Segments Perform in 3Q16?
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) neuroscience segment sales fell over 37% in 3Q16, while the immunoscience segment sales rose ~18% in 3Q16 as compared to 3Q15.

Durvalumab and Tagrisso May Boost AstraZeneca’s Revenues in 2017
On December 9, 2016, the FDA accepted for review its first-ever biologics license application (or BLA) submitted by AstraZeneca (AZN).

Investment-Grade Bond Funds Saw Outflows in November
According to Lipper’s funds flow data, investment-grade bond funds saw net outflows of $789.1 million up to the week ending November 25.

AstraZeneca’s Oncology Segment: How Did It Perform in 2Q15?
AstraZeneca’s oncology segment is another key focus area. The segment contributed 11.6% in 2014 and 12.1% in 2Q15. Key products for oncology are Zoladex and Faslodex.

What Will Be a Key Driver of Biogen’s Future Valuations?
Biogen’s investigational Alzheimer’s disease drug, aducanumab, is one of the four therapies accepted in the EMA’s Priority Medicines program (or PRIME).
Why AQR Capital increased its position in Apple in 2Q14
AQR Capital increased its position in Apple from 0.86% in the previous quarter to 1.24% in the fund’s second quarter U.S. long portfolio.

AstraZeneca’s Key Focus: Oncology
AstraZeneca’s (AZN) key focus is its oncology segment. The segment’s contribution increased to more than 12% in 1Q16. Its key products include Zoladex, Faslodex, and Iressa.

AstraZeneca May Witness a Fall in 2017 Net Profit Margin
Wall Street analysts have projected AstraZeneca’s (AZN) 2017 net profit margins at about 12.2%, which is lower by 300 basis points on a YoY basis.

Other Drugs for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Approximately 85% of all lung cancers in the United States are non-small cell lung cancers, and 10% to 15% of these are EGFR mutation-positive.

Four Key Deals: Analyzing Pfizer’s Impending Growth
Over the past year, Pfizer completed multiple acquisitions to restore its top line growth. They will offset the revenue decline and fuel Pfizer’s top line.

Tagrisso Expected to Be a Key Growth Driver for AstraZeneca in 2017
Launched in Japan in 2Q16, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) 1Q17 revenues for Tagrisso approached $39 million in this major emerging market.

This Could Be a Solid Growth Driver for Myriad Genetics in 2018
Myriad Genetics (MYGN) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (or FDA) acceptance of its supplementary premarket approval application for BRACAnalysis CDx, a DNA sequencing companion diagnostic test.

Oncology Segment: Another Growth Platform for AstraZeneca?
The oncology segment is another key focus area of AstraZeneca (AZN). The oncology segment’s contribution increased from ~11.6% in 2014 to ~12.1% in 2015.

What Might Have Fueled Valeant’s Interest in Salix?
The gastrointestinal (or GI) drug market in the United States is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% over a five-year period from 2014 to 2019.

Brodalumab, Oral Relistor among Valeant’s Recent Wins
Valeant’s (VRX) recent wins include the FDA’s advisory committee vote in favor of approving brodalumab for the indication of mild to moderate psoriasis.

Teva’s Respiratory Drugs Contribute 11% to Specialty Medicines
Teva’s respiratory drugs franchise provides solutions for asthma, COPD, and allergic rhinitis. Respiratory drugs contributed nearly 11% of total revenues for Teva’s Specialty Medicines in 2014.

How Has Aquinox Performed Compared to Peers?
Aquinox has a positive future outlook and will likely continue to better its performance in the near future.

Performance of Novo Nordisk Stock in 2Q17
Novo Nordisk (NVO) stock has risen ~18.6% in 2Q17. It has risen ~16.9% year-to-date as of July 7, 2017.

Bristol-Myers Squibb: What Do Its Other Segments Offer?
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) neuroscience segment’s sales declined by 63.0% in 2015 from 2014, while its immunoscience segment’s sales improved ~14.1%.

Analysts’ Recommendations for GlaxoSmithKline in May
GSK reported EPS of 24.60 British pence on revenue of 7.22 billion pounds, surpassing Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimates.

Is AstraZeneca Stock a Good Buy at These Prices?
Financials: Biggest Negative Contributor to PEUGX in 1Q16
The Putnam Europe Equity Fund – Class A (PEUGX) fell 4.3% in 1Q16, making it a below-average performer among the 12 funds in this review. In the past one year, PEUGX has fallen 7.9%

AstraZeneca Resumes COVID-19 Clinical Trials in U.K., Stock Up

Operation Warp Speed Has Invested Billions in Potential COVID-19 Vaccines

AstraZeneca Halts COVID-19 Vaccine Study After Unexplained Illness

Why the Patent Cliff Is a Key Driver of Generic Drug Growth
Over the last several years, patent cliffs have led to steep revenue losses for traditional pharmaceuticals as well as created a gateway for smaller companies to come to market with generics.

AstraZeneca Secures Deal With Australia for COVID-19 Vaccine

Brace Yourself: AstraZeneca Could Be a Fourth Entrant into the PD-1/PD-L1 Drug Class
The PD-1 (programmed death-1)/PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) class consists of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, Merck’s Keytruda, and Roche’s Tecentriq.

How AstraZeneca’s Oncology Products Performed in 4Q17
AstraZeneca’s (AZN) oncology products include legacy oncology products as well as new oncology products.

Major Expected Events from AstraZeneca’s R&D in H2 2018
AstraZeneca has seen major recent product approvals such as Lynparza in Japan for breast cancer and Tagrisso in the EU for lung cancer.
Alpha Has Eluded PEUGX in One Year to March 15
Along with a negative information ratio, PEUGX also posted a negative alpha in the one-year period ended March 15, 2016. This placed it tenth among the 12 funds in this review.

Pfizer Soars Due to Hopes about a Coronavirus Vaccine
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) stock rose 2.4% in pre-market trading at 7:51 AM ET today. The company’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine showed positive results.

A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Brexit Decision
To understand how the Brexit result stands to impact your portfolio or your willingness to invest in the United Kingdom, a cost-benefit analysis is pertinent.

AstraZeneca Rises on Its Earnings Beat
AstraZeneca (AZN) reported its second-quarter earnings results on July 25. The stock is already up 6.39% on the day and is trading close to $42.91.

AstraZeneca’s Lynparza Continues to Dominate
In the first quarter, Lynparza garnered revenue of $237 million for AstraZeneca (AZN), a YoY (year-over-year) rise of more than 105% driven mainly by its ongoing launch as a second-line maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer and as a therapy for germline BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer in the US and Japan.

Tagrisso: AstraZeneca’s Top-Selling Drug in Q1
AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Tagrisso was approved by the FDA first for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor T790M mutation-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and then as a first-line therapy for EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The drug has become the highest-selling drug in AstraZeneca’s portfolio.

How Are AstraZeneca’s Revenues Trending in 2019?
On its first-quarter earnings conference call, AstraZeneca (AZN) guided for year-over-year product sales growth in high-single-digit percentage in 2019. The company, however, expects modest product sales growth in the second half of 2019 due to higher oncology revenue in the previous period.

What AstraZeneca Expects for EPS in Fiscal 2019
In its first-quarter press release, AstraZeneca (AZN) reiterated its guidance for core EPS of $3.50–$3.70 in fiscal 2019.

AstraZeneca’s Oncology Portfolio: Growth Trends in 2019
During AstraZeneca’s fourth-quarter presentation, it highlighted the potential of Tagrisso to become the highest-earning drug in its portfolio in 2019.

What Are Analysts Recommending for PFE and AZN?
On April 11, Pfizer (PFE) closed at $42.27, 1.08% lower than its previous closing price, 22.99% higher than its 52-week low of $34.37.

A Look at AstraZeneca’s and Eli Lilly’s Tax and Debt
In fiscal 2018, AstraZeneca (AZN) and Eli Lilly (LLY) reported effective tax rates of 3% and $15.98%, respectively.

AstraZeneca or Eli Lilly: Which Is Controlling Expenses Better?
In its fourth-quarter earnings press release, AstraZeneca (AZN) guided for a low single-digit YoY (year-over-year) rise in core operating expenses in fiscal 2019.

What’s Expected for AstraZeneca’s or Eli Lilly’s EPS Growth
In its fourth-quarter earnings investor presentation, AstraZeneca (AZN) guided for core EPS of $3.50–$3.70 in fiscal 2019, expecting robust YoY (year-over-year) product sales growth and productivity improvements.

What are AstraZeneca’s Key Growth Drivers?
In fiscal 2018, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) revenue fell 2% YoY (year-over-year) to $22.09 billion on a CER (constant-exchange-rate) and reported basis.

How Is AstraZeneca Faring in Chinese Markets?
In the first nine months of 2018, AstraZeneca (AZN) reported revenues worth $2.85 billion from China, which is a YoY rise of 33% on an actual basis and 27% on a CER (constant exchange rate) basis.

Why Has AstraZeneca’s Stock Price Increased in 2018?
On November 19, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) stock price closed at $40.80, which represents ~5% growth from its closing price of $38.78 on October 31.

A Look at Merck’s Diabetes and Women’s Health Business
Merck & Co.’s (MRK) Januvia generated revenues of $927 million in the third quarter, reflecting an ~8% YoY (year-over-year) decline.

How JNJ’s Invega Sustenna and Risperdal Consta Performed
Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) Invega Sustenna, Xeplion, Trinza, and Trevicta combined witnessed solid growth in the third quarter.

A Closer Look at Novartis’s Innovative Medicines Segment
Novartis’s Innovative Medicines segment includes prescription products from two business units: Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Oncology.

Novartis ADR’s Performance and Revenue Estimates for Q3 2018
Novartis’s (NVS) stock price has increased ~14.3% in the third quarter, and its stock rose ~2.8% year-to-date on October 2.

Mergers and Acquisitions in the Pharmaceuticals Sector in Q3 2018
On October 2, Johnson & Johnson announced the completion of the divestiture of its LifeScan business to Platinum Equity for ~$2.1 billion.

A Look at Shire’s Valuation on September 19
Shire reported adjusted EPS of $3.88 on revenue of ~$3.9 billion in the second quarter, a 4.6% YoY (year-over-year) rise.

Novartis to Divest Portions of Sandoz US to Aurobindo
Novartis (NVS) announced today that it has agreed to sell select portions of its Sandoz US portfolio to Aurobindo Pharma USA.

EC Approves GSK’s Nucala for Children with Severe Asthma
On August 30, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that the EC approved Nucala for pediatric patients with severe refractory eosinophilic asthma.

Novartis’s Sandoz in Q2 2018
Novartis’s (NVS) Sandoz reported nearly flat revenues at ~$2.46 billion in Q2 2018 compared to $2.45 billion in the second quarter of 2017.

How Did AstraZeneca’s CVRM and Respiratory Products Perform?
Brilinta’s sales increased by 13.0% to $316.0 million, and Farxiga’s sales grew 34.0% to $340.0 million in the second quarter.

Novartis’s SOLAR-1 Trial Met Primary Endpoint
Novartis (NVS) announced on August 23 that its SOLAR-1 trial evaluating alpelisib combined with fulvestrant has met its primary endpoint.

Gauging Analysts’ Expectations for Novavax and Peers in August
Novavax has entered into a key grant agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is the current source of its revenue.

What Drove GlaxoSmithKline’s Consumer Healthcare Segment in Q2
GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Consumer Healthcare segment includes its wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health products.

How Is Merck’s Diabetes and Women’s Health Business Positioned?
In the second quarter of 2018, Merck’s (MRK) Januvia and Janumet generated revenues of $949 million and $585.0 million, respectively.

How Baxter International Fared in the Second Quarter
Baxter’s gross profit increased from $1.13 billion in Q2 2017 to $1.24 billion in Q2 2018.

GlaxoSmithKline’s Q2 2018 Earnings: Analysts’ Estimates
Analysts are estimating that GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) revenues will decrease 1.5% to 7.2 billion pounds in Q2 2018.

Why Advaxis Stock Is Soaring Today
Today, Advaxis (ADXS) is trading at $1.43, which represents a rise of ~16.80% from yesterday’s close of $1.22.

A Look at Novo Nordisk’s Financial Position
Novo Nordisk (NVO) reported Q1 2018 revenues of 26.9 billion Danish kroner, compared to 28.5 billion Danish kroner in Q1 2017—down ~5% YoY.