Astrazeneca plc
Astrazeneca agreed bid for Cambridge Antibody.
Astrazeneca has made an agreed takeover offer for Cambridge Antibody of 1,320p a share.
The offer is obviously good for Cambridge Antibody shareholders. It is at a 66% premium above yesterday’s close - and Cambridge Antibody as recently been trading at higher levels than it has done at any time since mid-2002.
Astrazeneca already owns 19% of […]
Astrazeneca Q1 2006 results
Astrazeneca continued growth very similar to last year’s (sales up 12% at CER) on much the same growth drivers. Its fastest growing drugs were:
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (manic depression) drug Seroquel. Sales +$174m.
Heart drugs Crestor and Selonken. Sales +$114m and $48m respective.
Breast cancer drug Arimidex. Sales +$79m.
Ulcer drug Nexium. Sales +$134m.
Of these the growth in […]
Astrazeneca Q3 results
Astrazeneca continued its growth at much the same pace as in the first half with sales up 9% at CER and EPS up 49% (excluding one off items in the comparative period). Ulcer drug Losec/Prilosec continues to lose sales to both generics and to Astrazeneca’s own Nexium. Nexium now accounts for most of Astrazeneca’s sales […]
Astrazeneca Q2 results
Astrazeneca’s sales rose 13% (at CER, as are all sales numbers discussed below), with operating profit up 53% and EPS up 40%.
Strong growth in sales of Nexium more than offset Losec’s loss of sales to generics. This is very encouraging and suggests that Astrazeneca can regain some market share from generics. Nexium is a newer […]
Astrazeneca Q1
Astrazeneca’s first quarter was in line with the previous year with sales up 9% at CER and EPS up 33%. Growth in the sales of Nexium roughly offset the declines in its predecessor Losec/Prilosec, as the latter continues to lose ground to generics.
Astrazeneca
Astrazeneca’s existing drugs are performing well and this together with well controled costs is driving good EPS growth. Given a number of recent disappointments its pipeline does not look as strong and Astrazeneca’s growth prospects look overly dependent on its anti-cholesterol drug, Crestor.
Recent news on approvals has been very disappointing with Exanta refused US approval. […]
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