The pharma company has announced its full-year and Q4 2018 results and new launches and commercial execution delivered full-year sales growth and a very strong final quarter.
The final quarter of the year saw a very strong performance, including Product Sales growth of 5% (8% at CER) to $5,768m, according ot the RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. In the year, Product Sales increased by 4% to $21,049m, reflecting the performance of new medicines (+81%) and the sustained strength of Emerging Markets (+12%, +13% at CER); China sales increased by 28% (25% at CER) in the year.
Promising performance from Imfinzi
Oncology sales increased by 50% (49% at CER) in FY 2018, with Tagrisso and Lynparza each doubling in sales, accompanied by a promising performance from Imfinzi. Fasenra sales reached $297m in its first full year, performing exceptionally well in the countries where it was launched. In addition, Earnings Per Share (EPS) benefited from a low tax rate.
The pipeline produced further positive developments and 2019 is expected to be another busy year for news flow.
“Our new medicines performed particularly well across the therapy areas and the Emerging Markets business went from strength to strength. 2019 will be a year of focus on continued pipeline delivery and flawless commercial execution. The performance of our new medicines demonstrated the ability of our commercial teams to convert the pipeline into successful medicines,” said Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer.
“We enter a period of sustained growth”
“As we recently entered a new phase in our strategic development, we have refined our organisation to position ourselves for the next phase of our journey. The changes are designed to further integrate research and development and accelerate decision-making and the launches of new medicines, consolidating what we believe is already one of the most exciting and productive pipelines in the industry. We are also enhancing our commercial units to increase collaboration with our R&D organisation, enabling greater commitment to our main therapy areas; we want AstraZeneca to be more agile, collaborative and focused as we enter a period of sustained growth,” Soriot continued.
Read more about AstraZeneca’s eventful quarter here!
