AstraZeneca year-to-date and Q3 2019 results

AstraZeneca PLC

24 October 2019 07:00 BST

Year-to-date and Q3 2019 results

Patients to benefit from further pipeline progress; sales-growth momentum driving operating leverage

Year-to-date Product Sales growth of 13% (17% at CER¹) to $17,315m included third-quarter Product Sales of $6,132m (+16%, +18% at CER). The third quarter again saw all three therapy areas and every sales region produce encouraging performances, including:

• The continued performance of new medicines², with sales growth in the quarter of 62% (+64% at CER) to $2,707m, including new-medicine growth in Emerging Markets of 85% (90% at CER) to $539m

• Sales growth by therapy area in the quarter: Oncology +46% (+48% at CER) to $2,334m, New CVRM³ +8% (+11% at CER) to $1,113m and Respiratory +15% (+18% at CER) to $1,319m

• Sales growth by region in the quarter: total Emerging Markets sales grew by 25% (29% at CER) to $2,123m, with China sales growth of 35% (40% at CER) to $1,283m, ahead of longer-term trends. US sales increased by 17% to $2,025m; Europe sales continued their return to growth, increasing by 1% (4% at CER) to $1,139m; Japan sales increased by 31% (27% at CER) to $657m

The Company today upgrades its Product Sales guidance at CER for the year.

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, commenting on the results said:

“With AstraZeneca growing at pace, our sales guidance has been upgraded for the second consecutive quarter. Another strong performance from our new medicines accompanied impressive results in our key markets, most notably in China, the US and Japan. The performance reinforces our confidence in delivering sustainable earnings growth.

We delivered further positive news for patients. Lynparza demonstrated its potential as a treatment for prostate cancer and as an expanded treatment for ovarian cancer. Tagrisso, Imfinzi and PT010 also had positive data, and we delivered breakthrough data in heart failure for Farxiga.

We are continuing to ensure that we capture the benefits of our growth by balancing reinvesting in our business, delivering on our sustainability commitments, continuing to improve our operating leverage and cash generation.”

Financial summary

• Product Sales increased by 13% in the year to date (17% at CER) to $17,315m. The performance in the quarter was supported by favourable inventory and gross-to-net movements which are not expected in the final quarter of the year

• The Reported Gross Profit Margin increased by one percentage point in the year to date to 80%, partly reflecting the mix of sales; the Core Gross Profit Margin increased by one percentage point in the year to date to 81%

• Reported Operating Expense increased by 11% in the year to date (15% at CER) to $12,871m and represented 73% of Total Revenue (YTD 2018: 74%). Core Operating Expense increased by 3% (6% at CER) to $10,537m and represented 59% of Total Revenue (YTD 2018: 65%), demonstrating a significant improvement in operating leverage

• Reported R&D Expense increased by 1% in the year to date (5% at CER) to $3,968m. Core R&D Expense increased by 1% (4% at CER) to $3,826m, partly a result of investment in the development of the potential new oncology medicine, trastuzumab deruxtecan

• Reported SG&A Expense increased by 16% (20% at CER) in the year to date to $8,656m, due to an increase in legal provisions and revaluation movements on acquisition-related liabilities in the year to date; Core SG&A Expense increased by 4% (8% at CER) to $6,464m, primarily reflecting growth in China, as well as ongoing additional support for new medicines. An update on legal matters and subsequent events is disclosed in Note 5 and Note 6

• Reported Other Operating Income and Expense declined by 32% in the year to date (31% at CER) to $1,041m; Core Other Operating Income and Expense declined by 7% (6% at CER) to $1,060m

• The Reported Operating Profit Margin declined in the year to date by one percentage point (two at CER) to 13%; the Core Operating Profit Margin increased by five percentage points to 28%

• The Reported Tax Rate in the year to date was 27% (YTD 2018: 18%); the Core Tax Rate was 22% (YTD 2018: 19%). The tax rates in the year to date reflected the geographical mix of profits and the impact of collaboration and divestment activity

• Reported EPS of $0.79 in the year to date, based on a weighted-average number of shares of 1,297m, represented a decline of 11% (15% at CER); Core EPS increased by 39% (38% at CER) to $2.61. In April 2019, the Company completed an issue of 44,386,214 new ordinary shares of $0.25 each at a price of £60.50 per share, resulting in an increase in share capital of $11m and an increase in share premium of $3,479m, net of transaction costs of $22m

• The difference between the Reported and Core EPS year-on-year performance partly reflected the impact of a favourable $346m legal settlement in YTD 2018 that was recognised as income in Reported Other Operating Income and Expense. It was also a result of the aforementioned increase in legal provisions and revaluation movements on acquisition-related liabilities in 2019

• The Company today upgrades its Product Sales guidance at CER for the year. Product Sales are now expected to increase by a low to mid-teens percentage; the prior guidance was for a low double-digit percentage increase
  
   

Please refer the associated PDF to view the announcement in full. 
 

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