AZN AstraZeneca PLC

Strong underlying growth supports FY 2024 guidance upgrade, with both Total Revenue and Core EPS now expected to increase by a mid teens percentage at CER1

AstraZeneca:

Revenue and EPS summary

H1 2024

% Change

 

Q2 2024

% Change

$m

Actual

CER

 

$m

Actual

CER

- Product Sales

24,629

15

18

 

12,452

14

18

- Alliance Revenue

 

939

50

50

 

482

42

42

- Collaboration Revenue

49

(78)

(78)

 

4

(98)

(98)

Total Revenue

 

25,617

15

18

 

12,938

13

17

Reported EPS

$2.65

13

23

 

$1.24

6

15

Core2 EPS

$4.03

(1)

5

 

$1.98

(8)

(3)

Financial performance for H1 2024 (Growth numbers at constant exchange rates)

• Total Revenue up 18% to $25,617m, driven by an 18% increase in Product Sales and continued growth in Alliance Revenue from partnered medicines
• Total Revenue growth from Oncology was 22%, CVRM 22%, R&I 22%, and Rare Disease 15%
• Core Product Sales Gross Margin3 of 82%
• Core Operating Margin of 33%
• Core Tax Rate of 20%
• Core EPS increased 5% to $4.03. The increase in Core EPS was lower than Total Revenue growth principally due to gains recognised in the prior year, specifically a $241m gain on the disposal of Pulmicort Flexhaler US rights (Q1 2023), and a $712m gain relating to updates to contractual arrangements for Beyfortus (Q2 2023)
• Interim dividend increased 7c to $1.00 (77.6 pence, 10.79 SEK) has been declared
• Guidance for FY 2024 increased, with Total Revenue and Core EPS anticipated to grow by a mid teens percentage at CER (previously a low double-digit to low teens percentage). An increase in Collaboration Revenue is not assumed in the upgraded guidance

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said:

“Building on our strong growth in the first half of the year and continued underlying demand for our medicines we are upgrading our FY 2024 guidance for both Total Revenue and Core EPS.

At our Investor Day in May we set out a new revenue ambition to deliver $80 billion of Total Revenue by 2030. This is a clear reflection of the substantial growth potential we see from both our approved medicines and those in our late-stage pipeline. Already this year we have announced five positive, potentially practice-changing Phase III studies that are anticipated to meaningfully contribute to our growth.

In the year to date we have continued to make encouraging progress with several disruptive technologies, including antibody drug conjugates, bispecifics, cell and gene therapies, radioconjugates, and weight management medicines, all of which have the potential to drive our growth beyond 2030.”

Key milestones achieved since the prior results announcement

• Positive read-outs for Imfinzi in combination with chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NIAGARA), Calquence in untreated mantle cell lymphoma (ECHO), Enhertu in HR-positive, HER2-low metastatic breast cancer (DESTINY-Breast06)
• US approvals for Imfinzi in combination with chemotherapy followed by Imfinzi monotherapy for primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer that is mismatch repair deficient (DUO-E). EU approvals for Truqap in combination with Faslodex for biomarker-positive estrogen receptor-positive, HER2‑negative advanced breast cancer (CAPItello-291), Tagrisso with the addition of chemotherapy for 1st‑line EGFRm NSCLC (FLAURA2). Japan and China approvals for Tagrisso with the addition of chemotherapy for the 1st­­‑line EGFRm NSCLC (FLAURA2)

Guidance

Due to strong underlying growth in Product Sales and Alliance Revenue, the Company raises its Total Revenue and Core EPS guidance for FY 2024 at CER, based on the average foreign exchange rates through 2023.

 

Total Revenue is expected to increase by a mid teens percentage (previously a low double-digit to low teens percentage)

 

Core EPS is expected to increase by a mid teens percentage (previously a low double-digit to low teens percentage)

 

• An increase in Collaboration Revenue is not assumed in the upgraded guidance (previously assumed a substantial increase)
• Other operating income is expected to decrease substantially (FY 2023 included a $241m gain on the disposal of Pulmicort Flexhaler US rights, and a $712m one-time gain relating to updates to contractual arrangements for Beyfortus)
• The Core Tax rate is expected to be between 18-22%

The Company is unable to provide guidance on a Reported basis because it cannot reliably forecast material elements of the Reported results, including any fair value adjustments arising on acquisition-related liabilities, intangible asset impairment charges and legal settlement provisions. Please refer to the cautionary statements section regarding forward-looking statements at the end of this announcement.

Currency impact

If foreign exchange rates for July 2024 to December 2024 were to remain at the average rates seen in June 2024, it is anticipated that FY 2024 Total Revenue would incur a low single-digit percentage adverse impact compared to the performance at CER, and Core EPS would incur a mid single-digit percentage adverse impact. The Company’s foreign exchange rate sensitivity analysis is provided in Table 17.

Table 1: Key elements of Total Revenue performance in Q2 2024

% Change

 

Revenue type

 

$m

Actual %

CER %

 

 

Product Sales

12,452

14

18

 

 

Alliance Revenue

482

42

42

• $344m Enhertu (Q2 2023: $255m) • $104m Tezspire (Q2 2023: $62m)

Collaboration Revenue

4

(98)

(98)

• Q2 2023 included $180m for COVID-19 mAbs

Total Revenue

 

12,938

13

17

 

 

Therapy areas

$m

Actual %

CER %

 

 

Oncology

5,331

15

19

 

• Tagrisso up 8% (12% at CER) due to strong global demand, Calquence up 21% (22% at CER) with sustained leadership in 1L CLL. Enhertu Total Revenue up 46% (49% at CER)

CVRM

3,160

18

22

 

• Farxiga up 29% (32% at CER), Lokelma up 36% (41% at CER)

R&I

 

1,905

23

26

 

• Breztri up 44% (47% at CER). Saphnelo up 65%, Tezspire up 97% (>2x at CER), Symbicort up 20% (25% CER)

V&I

119

(57)

(53)

• The drop in V&I revenue was primarily driven by lower Collaboration Revenue from COVID-19 mAbs • Beyfortus revenue was $35m (Q2 2023: $2m), which more than offset a $6m decline in Synagis

Rare Disease

2,147

10

14

• Ultomiris up 33% (36% at CER), partially offset by decline in Soliris of 14% (8% at CER) • Strensiq up 13% (14% at CER) and Koselugo up 43% (45% at CER)

Other Medicines

 

276

(11)

(5)

 

 

Total Revenue

 

12,938

13

17

 

 

Regions

 

$m

Actual %

CER %

 

 

US

5,571

17

17

 

 

Emerging Markets

 

3,386

9

18

 

 

- China

1,630

13

18

 

 

- Ex-China Emerging Markets

 

1,756

5

18

 

 

Europe

 

2,732

24

24

 

 

Established RoW

 

1,249

(5)

6

 

 

Total Revenue

 

12,938

13

17

 

 

Key partnered medicines

• Combined sales of Enhertu, recorded by Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited (Daiichi Sankyo) and AstraZeneca, amounted $1,772m in H1 2024 (H1 2023: $1,169m).
• Combined sales of Tezspire, recorded by Amgen and AstraZeneca, amounted to $507m in H1 2024 (H1 2023: $257m).

Table 2: Key elements of financial performance in Q2 2024

Metric

Reported

Reported change

Core

Core change

 

Comments4

Total Revenue

$12,938m

13% Actual 17% CER

$12,938m

13% Actual 17% CER

 

• See Table 1 and the Total Revenue section of this document for further details

Product Sales Gross Margin

82%

Stable Actual Stable CER

83%

Stable Actual Stable CER

 

• Variations in Product Sales Gross Margin can be expected between periods due to product seasonality (e.g. FluMist and Beyfortus in H2), foreign exchange fluctuations and other effects

R&D

expense

$3,008m

13% Actual 13% CER

$2,872m

12% Actual 13% CER

+ Increased investment in the pipeline • Core R&D-to-Total Revenue ratio of 22% (Q2 2023: 22%)

SG&A expense

$4,929m

-1% Actual 1% CER

$3,735m

13% Actual 16% CER

+ Market development for recent launches and pre-launch activities • Core SG&A-to-Total Revenue ratio of 29% (Q2 2023: 29%)

Other operating income and expense5

$60m

-92% Actual -92% CER

$60m

-92% Actual -92% CER

 

‒The prior year quarter included a $712m gain relating to updates to contractual arrangements for Beyfortus

Operating Margin

21%

Stable Actual +1pp CER

32%

-6pp Actual -5pp CER

 

• See commentary above on Gross Margin, R&D, SG&A and Other operating income and expense

Net finance expense

$343m

-7% Actual -7% CER

$285m

10% Actual 10% CER

 

+ Higher level of Net debt

Tax rate

20%

+7pp Actual +7pp CER

19%

+2pp Actual +2pp CER

 

• Variations in the tax rate can be expected between periods

EPS

$1.24

6% Actual 15% CER

$1.98

-8% Actual -3% CER

 

• Further details of differences between Reported and Core are shown in Table 12

Table 3: Pipeline highlights since prior results announcement

Event

Medicine

Indication / Trial

 

Event

Regulatory approvals and other regulatory actions

Imfinzi

Primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer with mismatch repair deficiency (DUO-E)

Regulatory approval (US), CHMP positive opinion (EU)

Imfinzi + Lynparza

Primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer with mismatch repair proficiency (DUO-E)

CHMP positive opinion (EU)

Tagrisso

EGFRm NSCLC (1st-line)

(FLAURA2)

Regulatory approval (EU, JP, CN)

Truqap

Biomarker-positive ER-positive HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (CAPItello-291)

Regulatory approval (EU)

 

 

 

Regulatory submissions or acceptances*

Tagrisso

EGFRm NSCLC (Stage III unresectable) (LAURA)

sNDA acceptance and Priority Review (US)

Dato-DXd

 

Non-squamous NSCLC (2nd- and 3rd-line) (TROPION-Lung01)

Regulatory submission (EU)

sipavibart

Prevention of COVID-19

(SUPERNOVA)

Regulatory submission (EU)

 

 

 

Major Phase III data readouts and other developments

Calquence

Mantle cell lymphoma (1st‑line) (ECHO)

Primary endpoint met

Dato-DXd

Locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC (TROPION-Lung01)

Dual primary endpoint OS not met in the intention to treat population

Enhertu

HER2-low breast cancer (2nd-line) (DESTINY-Breast-06)

Primary endpoint met

Imfinzi

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NIAGARA)

Primary endpoint met

Imfinzi

Adjuvant use in early-stage PD-L1 ≥25% NSCLC (Adjuvant BR.31)

Primary endpoint not met

 

 

 

 

 

Truqap

Locally advanced or metastatic TNBC (CAPItello-290)

Primary endpoint not met

 

 

 

 

 

sipavibart

Prevention of COVID-19 (SUPERNOVA)

Primary endpoint met

*US, EU and China regulatory submission denotes filing acceptance

Upcoming pipeline catalysts

For recent trial starts and anticipated timings of key trial readouts, please refer to the Clinical Trials Appendix, available on www.astrazeneca.com/investor-relations.html.

Corporate and business development

In May 2024, AstraZeneca announced its intention to build a $1.5 billion manufacturing facility in Singapore for antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), enhancing global supply of its ADC portfolio. ADCs are next-generation treatments that deliver highly potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells through a targeted antibody. The planned greenfield facility, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board, will be AstraZeneca’s first end-to-end ADC production site, fully incorporating all steps of the manufacturing process at a commercial scale. Manufacturing of ADCs is a multi-step process that comprises antibody production, synthesis of chemotherapy drug and linker, conjugation of drug-linker to the antibody, and filling of the completed ADC substance.

In May 2024, AstraZeneca completed an additional $140m equity investment in Cellectis, a clinical-stage biotechnology company. The equity investment and a research collaboration agreement, announced in November 2023, will leverage the Cellectis proprietary gene editing technologies and manufacturing capabilities, to design up to 10 novel cell and gene therapy products for areas of high unmet need, including oncology, immunology and rare diseases. In Q4 2023, Cellectis received an initial payment of $105m from AstraZeneca, which comprised a $25m upfront cash payment under the terms of a research collaboration agreement and an $80m equity investment. Now that the additional $140m equity investment has closed, AstraZeneca holds a total equity stake of c.44% in Cellectis and AstraZeneca continues to treat its investment in Cellectis as an associate.

In June 2024, AstraZeneca completed the acquisition of Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation radioconjugates. The acquisition marks a major step forward in AstraZeneca delivering on its ambition to transform cancer treatment and outcomes for patients by replacing traditional regimens like chemotherapy and radiotherapy with more targeted treatments. The acquisition complements AstraZeneca’s leading oncology portfolio with the addition of the Fusion pipeline of radioconjugates, including FPI-2265, a potential new treatment for patients with mCRPC, and brings new expertise and pioneering R&D, manufacturing and supply chain capabilities in actinium-based radioconjugates to AstraZeneca. See Note 5 for further information.

In July 2024, AstraZeneca completed the acquisition of Amolyt Pharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel treatments for rare endocrine diseases. The acquisition bolsters the Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease late-stage pipeline and expands on its bone metabolism franchise with the notable addition of eneboparatide (AZP-3601), a Phase III investigational therapeutic peptide with a novel mechanism of action designed to meet key therapeutic goals for hypoparathyroidism. In patients with hypoparathyroidism, a deficiency in parathyroid hormone production results in significant dysregulation of calcium and phosphate, which can lead to life-altering symptoms and complications, including chronic kidney disease. See Note 7 for further information.

Sustainability highlights

At the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland in May, AstraZeneca convened Ministers of Health, industry, civil society and patient groups. Areas of focus for engagement, led by Ruud Dobber, EVP BioPharmaceuticals, included the need to increase early action to prevent, diagnose and treat disease and to accelerate collaboration to build resilient, equitable and net zero health systems.

Conference call

A conference call and webcast for investors and analysts will begin today, 25 July 2024, at 11:45 UK time. Details can be accessed via astrazeneca.com.

Reporting calendar

The Company intends to publish its 9M and Q3 2024 results on 12 November 2024.

To read AstraZeneca's H1 and Q2 2024 Financial Results press release in full including the glossary, please click here.

 

1

Constant exchange rates. The differences between Actual Change and CER Change are due to foreign exchange movements between periods in 2024 vs. 2023. CER financial measures are not accounted for according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) because they remove the effects of currency movements from Reported results.

2

Core financial measures are adjusted to exclude certain items. The differences between Reported and Core measures are primarily due to costs relating to the amortisation of intangibles, impairments, legal settlements and restructuring charges. A full reconciliation between Reported EPS and Core EPS is provided in Table 11 and Table 12 in the Financial performance section of this document.

3

The calculations for Reported and Core Product Sales Gross Margin exclude the impact of Alliance Revenue and Collaboration Revenue.

4

In Table 2, the plus and minus symbols denote the directional impact of the item being discussed, e.g. a ‘+’ symbol next to a comment related to the R&D expense indicates that the item resulted in an increase in the R&D spend relative to the prior year.

5

Income from disposals of assets and businesses, where the Group does not retain a significant ongoing economic interest, continue to be recorded in Other operating income and expense in the Company’s financial statements.

 

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