AstraZeneca delivered better-than-expected second-quarter earnings, with adjusted earnings per share climbing 21% to $2.63, comfortably surpassing analyst expectations. According to reports from Livemint, the pharmaceutical giant's total revenue jumped 5% to $15.38 billion at constant-currency rates. The company's operating profit reached $3.16 billion and pre-tax profit was $2.8 billion, with the core operating margin at 34%. The performance was driven by continued strong demand for key oncology medicines, including Enhertu for breast cancer and Imfinzi for lung cancer, as reported by Livemint. The earnings beat comes as AstraZeneca seeks to address investor concerns following an unexpected trial failure this month, which has raised questions about the company's long-term drug pipeline.
AstraZeneca shares rose 1.72%, or 218 pounds, to ₹12,888 in London trading, helping pare the stock's year-to-date losses of 5.18%. As reported by Livemint, the positive market response reflects investor confidence in the company's oncology portfolio strength and long-term growth prospects. The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance and maintained its 2026 forecasts, expecting core earnings per share to increase by a low double-digit percentage with total revenues rising at a mid-to-high-single-digit rate. Chief Financial Officer Aradhana Sarin told Bloomberg Television that AstraZeneca expects to sustain a similar pace of growth beyond 2030, describing the company's long-term growth potential as one of its most overlooked strengths. The company remains on track to deliver its ambition of $80 billion in total revenue by 2030.
AstraZeneca provided encouraging clinical data for tozorakimab, an experimental treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), now expecting the drug to generate more than $5 billion in annual sales if successfully commercialized, as reported by Livemint. The company also announced 30 approvals in major regions since Q4 2025 results, including eight first approvals in major markets, including in the US for Baxfendy, their first-in-class medicine for hypertension. However, the company reported disappointing results for Ultomiris in a study involving a rare blood disorder, though it continues to advance regulatory filings for Ultomiris in paediatric HSCT-TMA with the drug showing a treatment benefit trend in adults and adolescents.
AstraZeneca Pharma India received CDSCO approval on July 28 to import and distribute Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (Enhertu) for breast cancer treatment, expanding the drug's approved use in India. The latest approval allows Enhertu's 100mg/5ml lyophilized powder for concentrate for solution for infusion for an additional indication, building on the CDSCO's clearance granted in June for advanced HER2-positive breast cancer treatment. As per the permit, Enhertu, in combination with pertuzumab, can be used as a first-line treatment for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. This regulatory expansion further strengthens AstraZeneca's oncology portfolio in India, where Enhertu is an antibody-drug conjugate used to treat certain HER2-expressing cancers and is approved for multiple oncology indications globally.
AstraZeneca India's fourth quarter results showed mixed performance with revenue growing 20.4% to ₹578.6 crore from ₹480.4 crore in the previous year, as reported by CNBC TV18. However, net profit declined 23% to ₹44.8 crore from ₹58.2 crore in the year-ago period. The company's EBITDA fell 29.4% to ₹60.9 crore from ₹86.2 crore, with EBITDA margin contracting sharply to 10.5% from 17.9% in the previous year. The stock ended 0.8% lower at ₹12,774 apiece following the announcement, with the stock having declined 6% this year so far. Despite the quarterly challenges, the regulatory approvals for Enhertu and strong global oncology performance continue to support the company's long-term growth prospects in India.
