Interim report from Astra (short version)

INTERIM REPORT FROM ASTRA JANUARY - SEPTEMBER 1998 Sales SEK 39,072 (1997: 32,457) m. +20 pct. Operating earnings SEK 10,406 (1997: 10,179) m. +2 pct. Pretax earnings SEK 11,258 (1997: 10,508) m. +7 pct. Earnings per share SEK 4.91 (1997: 4.54) +8 pct. Liquid assets SEK 19,486 (1997: 21,594) m. Sales, major product areas: Gastrointestinal SEK 21,005 m. + 34 pct. Cardiovascular SEK 6,818 m. + 13 pct. Respiratory SEK 6,299 m. + 8 pct. For comparable units, 9 month 1998 sales rose 14 pct. Astra's sales of Losec totaled SEK 20,754 (15,466) m., an increase of 21 pct. for comparable units. Total sales of Losec in the world market amounted to approximately SEK 28,700 (22,860) m. Sales of Pulmicort rose to SEK 3,923 (3,592) m., an increase of 9 pct. Pretax earnings rose 12 percent for comparable units to SEK 11,258 m. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are ready for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/02/19981102BIT00060/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/02/19981102BIT00060/bit0002.pdf