AZ News from the Street 2017

Discussion in 'AstraZeneca' started by anonymous, Jan 4, 2017 at 10:08 AM.

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  1. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    DOW 20,000 today! There is total euphoria in the market! Even AZ is up today!!

    Of course AZ isn't in the DOW index and the DOW was only 100 points away before this anyway.
     

  2. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Six more months added to Symbicort patent exclusivity...tic...tic...tic...


    AstraZeneca’s Symbicort Gets Pediatric Exclusivity (AZN)

    Shobhit Seth
    Investopedia
    January 27, 2017

    AstraZeneca PLC’s (AZN) secured a "pediatric exclusivity" patent extension for its asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) drug Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol). At present, the inhaler form Symbicort is approved for treating asthma in patients aged 12 years and older and for maintenance treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in adults.

    The drug was first approved in 2006 in the U.S. markets.

    FDA’s Pediatric Exclusivity Program Under the rules, the U.S. Food And Drug Administration (FDA) can issue Written Requests to holders of approved applications for pediatric studies if it has determined that information related to the use of the drug in the pediatric population may produce health benefits.

    Following a similar request from FDA, which is a pre-requisite for the program, AstraZeneca conducted trials in children ages 6 to 12 who had asthma. The successful trial results led to the grant of pediatric exclusivity.

    The pediatric exclusivity will enable Symbicort 6 months of protection in each of its indications added to the end of its patent life. With the extension, the branded drug will now be able to generate millions more in additional sales without any risk of competition from generics.

    The respiratory ailment drug generated $277 million from the U.S. markets during the third quarter of 2016. Its global sales stood at $697 million during the same period.
     
  3. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Falling profits put pressure on AstraZeneca chief to deliver ‘blowout’ clinical trial results this year
    share
    [​IMG]
    AstraZeneca's offices

    • Julia Bradshaw
    28 JANUARY 2017 • 6:52 PM


    Astrazeneca's chief executive Pascal Soriot will come under pressure this week to deliver on his strategy amid declining sales and profits.

    The drugs giant is expected to report a 6pc slump in revenue when it unveils full-year results, alongside a 7pc fall in pre-tax profits.

    In contrast to the growth potential from its late-stage drugs pipeline, AstraZeneca’s core business is under increasing pressure from fierce competition in respiratory and diabetes.

    Rivals are driving down prices, while cheap generic versions of its best-selling cholesterol busting drug Crestor are hammering sales.

    As a result, investors will be looking for an update on the pipeline and the outlook for 2017. “The actual numbers are irrelevant, so long as Astra hasn’t massively missed expectations,” said one analyst. “It’s all about the outlook, and given how bad the third and fourth quarters were for every major pharmaceutical company so far, we are expecting a fairly muted one.”

    He said that a key focus in investors’ minds would be how much “externalisation revenue” AstraZeneca generated last year.

    This is revenue in the form of milestone and royalty payments for assets sold as part of Mr Soriot’s strategy to focus on the core business and slash costs.

    They are important because they offset pressure elsewhere. In the first nine months of 2016, externalisation revenue totalled $1.36bn (£1.08bn), a 55pc increase on the year before.

    AstraZeneca is due to report the results of major clinical trials this year. The biggest one, called Mystic, involves two ground-breaking lung cancer drugs.

    The results have to be pretty “blowout”, said one analyst. “They can say what they like about diabetes and respiratory, but the oncology pipeline is the important thing. The major interest on Thursday will be Mystic and nothing else. It absolutely needs to be blowout.”

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley expect “multiple headwinds” for AstraZeneca over the next 12 months, and have forecast a decline in both sales and profits.
     
  4. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    AstraZeneca Provides Cautious 2017 Guidance
    AstraZeneca posted stronger-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter but was hesitant about 2017.
    Edward Hardy Follow
    Feb2,20177:41AMEST


    AstraZeneca Provides Cautious 2017 Guidance


    AstraZeneca (AZN) posted stronger-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter but provided cautious 2017 guidance as its blockbuster Crestor drug sales continued to slow in the face of generic competition.

    Core earnings for the period were $1.21 per share, the company said, higher than the estimate of $1.14 per share. Revenue for the quarter came in at $5.585 million, largely in line with analysts' expectations.

    CEO Pascal Soriot said, "2017 has the potential to be a turning point for our company as we near the end of our patent-expiry period and bring new medicines to patients across the globe."
     
  5. anonymous

    anonymous Guest


    No so fast Mr. Veterinarian. End of "our" patent expiry...maybe. When does Symbicort go generic? Knowing that represents ~50% of the sales in the US right now, if it is soon, your crepes are cooked.

    And even if not, don't forget your friendly Advair going this year. Wonder what excuse he will have at the end of 17'?
     
  6. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    numbers are in:

    AstraZeneca (AZN) Beats on Q4 Earnings but Misses on Sales
    Zacks Equity Research
    February 3, 2017
    AstraZeneca PLC AZN reported fourth-quarter 2016 core earnings of $1.21 per American Depositary Share, which comfortably beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents. Core earnings also rose 9% year over year at constant currency rates (CER)." AstraZeneca PLC AZN reported fourth-quarter 2016 core earnings of $1.21 per American Depositary Share, which comfortably beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents. Core earnings also rose 9% year over year at constant currency rates (CER).

    AstraZeneca’s shares were up 0.9% so far this year, while the Zacks classified Large-Cap Pharma industry lost 0.3%.

    Core earnings increased on the back of cost savings and a non-recurring tax benefit of 36 cents per share resulting from agreements on transfer pricing arrangements between various tax authorities.

    However, sales were softer in the quarter.

    Total revenue declined 12% at CER to $5.6 billion in the fourth quarter. Moreover, revenues marginally missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

    Among the key growth platforms (representing 63% of total revenues), Diabetes, Emerging Markets and Brilinta performed well in the quarter, whereas Respiratory and Japan sales declined. New Oncology saw sequentially higher sales growth.

    All growth rates mentioned below are on a year-over-year basis and at CER.

    Quarter in Detail

    Product sales declined 15% in the quarter to $5.26 billion, while externalization revenues were $325 million. Loss of exclusivity for Crestor and Nexium, lower Symbicort sales, and lack of FluMist sales (due to the U.S. Centers for Disease Contro's recommendation to not use FluMist this season) hurt the top line in the quarter.

    U.S. sales plummeted 37% to $1.62 billion primarily due to the impact of the entry of generic versions of Crestor in the U.S. European markets witnessed a 3% decline in sales to $1.33 billion due to generic competition. Revenues from Emerging Markets were, however, up 7% to $1.49 billion in the reported quarter, supported by strong growth in China (up 8% to $609 million).

    As far as AstraZeneca’s core products are concerned, sales of both Nexium and Crestor declined in the reported quarter.

    Nexium recorded sales of $491 million (down 15%), with the U.S. contributing $135 million (down 23%) and Europe accounting for $61 million (down 19%). Similarly, Crestor sales declined 53% to $631 million, with the U.S. accounting for $95 million (down 88%) and Europe contributing $209 million (down 6%). U.S. sales declined sharply in the fourth quarter as multiple generic versions of the drug entered the market in Jul 2016.

    Products that recorded growth in the quarter include Farxiga/Forxiga (up 57% to $239 million), Daliresp/Daxas (up 28% to $41 million), Pulmicort (up 8% to $288 million), Faslodex (up 19% to $222 million), Lynparza (up 72% to $62 million), Duaklir (up 58% to $19 million) and Seloken/Toprol-XL (up 14% to $178 million). Newly launched Tagrisso recorded sales of $147 million, up 10.5% sequentially. The upside was attributable to strong U.S. sales backed by strong patient demand and successful commercial launches across multiple markets. Another new medicine Movantik/Moventig recorded sales of $26 million in the quarter.

    Brilinta/Brilique sales were $236 million in the reported quarter, up 37%. Sales were also up almost 13.47% sequentially as Brilinta maintained its leadership position in the U.S. branded oral anti-platelet market. Brilinta’s new-to-brand weekly prescription market share jumped to around 15% at the end of the year, representing an increase of around three percentage points. In Europe and China, Brilinta continued to put up an impressive performance.

    Other Details

    AstraZeneca’s core gross margin was down 2.6 to 79.3%. Core selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased 14% to $2.05 billion due to the company’s productivity initiatives.

    During the quarter, core research and development (R&D) expenses increased 2% at $1.48 billion.

    2016 Results

    Full-year sales dropped 5% year over year to $23.0 billion, marginally beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

    Core earnings came in at $4.31 per ADS, comfortably surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.10. Core earnings fell 5% year over year at CER.

    2017 Outlook

    AstraZeneca issued its outlook for 2017. The company continues to expect total revenue to decline in the low-to-mid single-digit percentage range in 2017. Core earnings are expected to decline in the low-to-mid teen percentage. Based on the average exchange rates during the year, currency movements are expected to minimally impact the top line in 2017.

    While adjusted R&D costs are expected to be broadly in line with the 2016 levels, the company anticipates a further reduction in SG&A costs, reflecting the evolving structure of its business."
    AstraZeneca’s shares were up 0.9% so far this year, while the Zacks classified Large-Cap Pharma industry lost 0.3%.

    Core earnings increased on the back of cost savings and a non-recurring tax benefit of 36 cents per share resulting from agreements on transfer pricing arrangements between various tax authorities.

    However, sales were softer in the quarter.

    Total revenue declined 12% at CER to $5.6 billion in the fourth quarter. Moreover, revenues marginally missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

    Among the key growth platforms (representing 63% of total revenues), Diabetes, Emerging Markets and Brilinta performed well in the quarter, whereas Respiratory and Japan sales declined. New Oncology saw sequentially higher sales growth.

    All growth rates mentioned below are on a year-over-year basis and at CER.

    Quarter in Detail

    Product sales declined 15% in the quarter to $5.26 billion, while externalization revenues were $325 million. Loss of exclusivity for Crestor and Nexium, lower Symbicort sales, and lack of FluMist sales (due to the U.S. Centers for Disease Contro's recommendation to not use FluMist this season) hurt the top line in the quarter.

    U.S. sales plummeted 37% to $1.62 billion primarily due to the impact of the entry of generic versions of Crestor in the U.S. European markets witnessed a 3% decline in sales to $1.33 billion due to generic competition. Revenues from Emerging Markets were, however, up 7% to $1.49 billion in the reported quarter, supported by strong growth in China (up 8% to $609 million).

    As far as AstraZeneca’s core products are concerned, sales of both Nexium and Crestor declined in the reported quarter.

    Nexium recorded sales of $491 million (down 15%), with the U.S. contributing $135 million (down 23%) and Europe accounting for $61 million (down 19%). Similarly, Crestor sales declined 53% to $631 million, with the U.S. accounting for $95 million (down 88%) and Europe contributing $209 million (down 6%). U.S. sales declined sharply in the fourth quarter as multiple generic versions of the drug entered the market in Jul 2016.

    Products that recorded growth in the quarter include Farxiga/Forxiga (up 57% to $239 million), Daliresp/Daxas (up 28% to $41 million), Pulmicort (up 8% to $288 million), Faslodex (up 19% to $222 million), Lynparza (up 72% to $62 million), Duaklir (up 58% to $19 million) and Seloken/Toprol-XL (up 14% to $178 million). Newly launched Tagrisso recorded sales of $147 million, up 10.5% sequentially. The upside was attributable to strong U.S. sales backed by strong patient demand and successful commercial launches across multiple markets. Another new medicine Movantik/Moventig recorded sales of $26 million in the quarter.

    Brilinta/Brilique sales were $236 million in the reported quarter, up 37%. Sales were also up almost 13.47% sequentially as Brilinta maintained its leadership position in the U.S. branded oral anti-platelet market. Brilinta’s new-to-brand weekly prescription market share jumped to around 15% at the end of the year, representing an increase of around three percentage points. In Europe and China, Brilinta continued to put up an impressive performance.

    Other Details

    AstraZeneca’s core gross margin was down 2.6 to 79.3%. Core selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased 14% to $2.05 billion due to the company’s productivity initiatives.

    During the quarter, core research and development (R&D) expenses increased 2% at $1.48 billion.

    2016 Results

    Full-year sales dropped 5% year over year to $23.0 billion, marginally beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

    Core earnings came in at $4.31 per ADS, comfortably surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.10. Core earnings fell 5% year over year at CER.

    2017 Outlook

    AstraZeneca issued its outlook for 2017. The company continues to expect total revenue to decline in the low-to-mid single-digit percentage range in 2017. Core earnings are expected to decline in the low-to-mid teen percentage. Based on the average exchange rates during the year, currency movements are expected to minimally impact the top line in 2017.

    While adjusted R&D costs are expected to be broadly in line with the 2016 levels, the company anticipates a further reduction in SG&A costs, reflecting the evolving structure of its business.
     
  7. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    news on Durva and Tremi for pancreatic cancer and RSV drug study...not good news!!!
     
  8. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Interesting they didn't release news until after q4 financials were released...we can't seem to catch a break at all...yikes!!!
     
  9. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

  10. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Xarleto hitting it out of the park

    Janssen touts Xarelto's broader uses, halts CV trial early

    Author
    Judy Packer-Tursman
    Published
    Feb. 9, 2017

    Dive Brief:
    • Janssen Research & Development said Feb. 8 that the Phase 3 COMPASS trial evaluating blockbuster blood-thinner Xarelto (rivaroxaban) to prevent major adverse cardiac events, including heart attack and stroke, is being halted earlier than planned because the drug’s effectiveness is so evident.
    • Previously, March 2018 was the estimated completion date for the international study, which enrolled 27,400 patients with coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease.
    • "Given the magnitude of effect, Janssen, Bayer and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), which collaborated on the COMPASS clinical trial, will offer rivaroxaban to study participants in an open-label extension trial," Janssen said. Initially developed by Bayer, Xarelto is marketed by Janssen in the U.S.
    .[​IMG]
    Dive Insight:
    Currently, Xarelto is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in some patients with an irregular heartbeat, among other uses. The drug was being tested on patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD) in an effort to broaden its use. The study’s early halt was based on the recommendation of its independent data monitoring committee.

    Janssen stressed Xarelto’s potential impact given the magnitude of heart health problems: The incidences of coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease are increasing worldwide, despite effective treatments, and screening studies suggest that 20% of adults over age 55 have evidence of PAD. In the U.S. alone, CAD affects 16.5 million and PAD, more than 10 million.

    Patients with either coronary or peripheral artery disease carry significant risk of fatal or debilitating myocardial infarction and stroke, according to Janssen, and rivaroxaban is the only non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant currently being evaluated for these high-risk patients.

    "We are excited about the possibility of making rivaroxaban available to patients with CAD and PAD to reduce their risk of major adverse cardiac events, and look forward to discussing the COMPASS trial data with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as quickly as possible," said Paul Burton, Janssen’s vice president of medical affairs.

    Johnson & Johnson said it plans to present a complete analysis of the trial’s data at a medical meeting in 2017.

    This could help Xarelto get an edge up in a complicated and saturated market. While the low-cost generic warfarin is still the go-to for blood thinners, Xarelto, as well as Pradaxa (dabigitran) and Eliquis (apixaban), have been battling for a place in this market. J&J reported U.S. Xarelto sales of $2.3 billion for the full-year 2016 earlier this month.
     
  11. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    BMS on the block? Is AZ next or might they also be a potential buyer?

    Bristol-Myers Squibb: Takeover Target?
    February 14, 2017, 1:06 P.M. ET


    By Ben Levisohn
    I hate reporting on rumors, especially ones based on unnamed sources. But when a stock is moving because of said rumor, do I have much of a choice? Which brings me to Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY). Its shares have dropped 30% during the past seven months due to the failure of a cancer-drug trial. Since then analysts have begun speculating about the possibility that Bristol-Myers could be a takeover target, and now we have rumors, reported by StreetInsider.com, that Roche, Novartis (NVS), and Pfizer (PFE) are actively exploring a takeover, while Gilead Sciences (GILD) might be considering the idea.

    So is it worth reporting? I’ll leave that up to you.

    Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb have gained 3% to $53.61 at 1:01 p.m. today, while Novartis has fallen 0.5% to $75.07, Pfizer is little changed at $32.61, and Gilead Sciences has advanced 0.3% to $67.83.

    UPDATE: In an email to clients today, Evercore ISI’s Mark Schoenebaum pointed to a video he released on Feb. 10 for his view on a possible Bristol-Myers takeover. In it, he argued that Bristol’s management wouldn’t reflexively resist an overture:

    This is a very responsible, very logical very rational management team. Not an emotional team…Management teams that are guided largely by emotions and pride are the ones that say internally absolutely not, we would never want to be acquired. We just won’t do it…I don’t think this is that kind of management team. I think [they] would be…incredibly shrewd negotiators, they would want the highest price possible. But in my mind…ultimately the decision would be guided by the spreadsheet…If Bristol can get paid out for an assumption they will own lung cancer, an assumption the market is now making now…this management team would respond to a numbers arguments.
     
  12. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Very long term AZ investor Woodford:

    Top AstraZeneca shareholder Woodford adds to stake, bullish on outlook

    Reuters
    February 16, 2017

    LONDON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Top AstraZeneca shareholder Woodford Investment Management said on Wednesday it had added to its stake in the pharmaceutical firm and was confident in its growth outlook.

    Woodford, in an update on its website, said shares in AstraZeneca had been unfairly hit since analysts raised concern about the prospects for its key cancer drug trial, Mystic, after rival Bristol-Myers Squibb scaled back its plans in a similar area.

    "Whilst this is understandable to an extent, we think the reaction is wrong. Indeed, Bristol-Myers Squibb's problems in this setting may well turn out to be positive for AstraZeneca," Mitchell Fraser-Jones said in a note to investors.

    Fraser-Jones said Woodford believed AstraZeneca was on a path to return to growth regardless of the outcome of Mystic, although it was nevertheless optimistic that Mystic would be successful when results are released later this year.

    (Reporting by Simon Jessop; Editing by Susan Fenton)
     
  13. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    AstraZeneca Stock Rises On Successful Breast Cancer Drug Trial
    Astrazeneca stock rose Friday after the company said that its Lynparza drug fared well in clinical trials of its effectiveness as a breast cancer treatment.
    James Skinner
    The Street
    Feb17,2017
    8:05AMEST
    Astrazeneca (AZN) stock rose Friday after the company said that its Lynparza drug fared well in clinical trials of its effectiveness as a breast cancer treatment.

    Lynparza showed statistically meaningful improvement in survival for patients with germline BRCA mutated breast cancer, the company said. BRCA mutated breast cancer is where a hereditary gene mutates to produce breast-ovarian cancer syndrome in the body.

    The announcement came just a day after the FDA granted approval for Siliq, a psoriasis treatment, which triggered a $130 million payment from development partner Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX) .

    Astra stock rose 2.5% by noon in London to change hands at 4,634 pence each, which compared well against the 0.51% gain for the Stoxx Europe TMI Pharma index, and brought Astra's year-to-date return to 4.8%.

    Friday's gain erases losses racked up in the previous session, after Astra went ex-dividend, while the encouraging drug-development news might help to ease recent concerns over earnings momentum at the firm.

    "As a reminder the AstraZeneca turnaround story largely hinges on what happens to its oncology portfolio and progress with Lynparza is an important element of that turnaround," said Alistair Campbell, an analyst at Berenberg.

    The Anglo-Swedish pharma conglomerate left some investors disappointed in early February when it delivered guidance for core earnings in 2017.

    Core earnings per share are expected to be below $4.20, the threshold for long term incentives for CEO Pascal Soriot to vest.

    Although psoriasis and breast cancer treatments are an important part of the Astra portfolio, the market is watching closely for the outcome of Mystic trials, an immuno-oncology drug designed to treat lung cancer.

    Astra has said that it expects to have results for the trials in mid 2017, in time for regulatory submissions to be made at some time in the second-half.

    "The real prize is the high risk / high reward potential for I-O to work in all comers and across multiple indications, at which point AZ is a £60+ stock in our view," said Roger Franklin, an analyst at Liberum Capital in London.
     
  14. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    LYNPARZA™ (olaparib) Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase III Trial in BRCA-Mutated Metastatic Breast Cancer
    Business Wire
    February 17, 2017
    WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

    AstraZeneca today announced positive results from its Phase III OlympiAD trial comparing LYNPARZA™ (olaparib) tablets (300mg twice daily) to physician’s choice of a standard of care chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer harboring germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.1 Patients treated with LYNPARZA showed a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared with those who received chemotherapy (capecitabine, vinorelbine or eribulin).

    Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca, said: “These results are positive news for patients with BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer, a disease with a high unmet need, and are the first positive Phase III data for a PARP inhibitor beyond ovarian cancer. This is highly encouraging for the development of our broad portfolio which aims to treat multiple cancers by targeting DNA damage response pathways.”

    Initial findings from the OlympiAD study indicate that the safety profile of LYNPARZA was consistent with previous studies.

    A full evaluation of the OlympiAD data is ongoing and the results will be submitted for presentation at a forthcoming medical meeting. AstraZeneca will be working with regulatory authorities to make LYNPARZA available to patients with this type of breast cancer.

    LYNPARZA tablets are an investigational formulation and are not FDA-approved for any use.1,2 LYNPARZA capsules (400mg twice daily) are currently approved in the US as a monotherapy in patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (as detected by an FDA-approved test) advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with three or more prior lines of chemotherapy. The indication is approved under accelerated approval based on objective response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
     
  15. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    $250M deal: AstraZeneca sells rights to cancer therapy
    John George
    American City Business Journals
    February 21, 2017

    AstraZeneca entered into an agreement to sell the rights to a cancer drug in the United States and Canada to TerSera Therapeutics for an upfront payment of $250. The deal could also net AstraZeneca up to $70 million in sales-related income if revenue milestones are met, along with recurring quarterly sales-based payments that are set at a mid-teen percent of product sales. TerSera Therapeutics, which has offices in Iowa and Illinois, acquired the rights to Zoladex, an injectable drug used to treat prostate cancer, breast cancer and certain benign gynaecological disorders. It was first approved in the U.S. and Canada in 1989.

    Last year, Zoladex had sales of $69 million in those two countries and $816 million globally.
    As part of the deal AstraZeneca will manufacture and supply Zoladex to TerSera, while continuing to market the drug in other markets.
    “This agreement allows us to retain a significant share of the value of Zoladex in the U.S. and Canada, while concentrating our resources on our innovative new oncology medicines,” said Mark Mallon, executive vice president, global product and portfolio strategy at AstraZeneca. “It also ensures patients have continued access to Zoladex, with TerSera’s helping to expand the potential of this medicine.”

    Ed Fiorentino, chairman and CEO of TerSera, said his company is “very pleased to be partnering with AstraZeneca, and investing in the future growth of Zoladex, which continues to be a mainstay of treatment for its indicated uses.”
     
  16. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Same old plan, selling off all the old cash cows that are no longer growing. I'm surprised they got as much as they did for it.
     
  17. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    this Mallon guy must be one busy dude--guess you need a wharton degree to sell shit in a fire sale....
     
  18. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    AstraZeneca Expects Fall in Net Profit Margins in 2017
    By Margaret Patrick | Feb 28, 2017 1:10 pm EST
    Fall in net profit margins
    AstraZeneca (AZN) has projected that its 2017 core EPS (earnings per share) will fall in the low to mid-teens YoY (year-over-year). Despite a significant fall in 2016 revenues, AstraZeneca managed to control a fall in its core EPS through effective cost optimization measures.

    The company saw a YoY fall of around 5.0% in R&D (research and development) expenses. It reduced its SG&A (selling, general, and administrative) expenses YoY by 9.0% in 2016.

    Wall Street analysts have projected that AstraZeneca’s 2017 net profit margins will be ~12.6%, which is a YoY fall of about 330 basis points.

    If AstraZeneca surpasses its 2017 margin projections, it could have a positive impact on AZN stock as well as the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU). AstraZeneca makes up about 0.15% of VEU’s total portfolio holdings.

    In 2017, peers Merck & Co. (MRK), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), and Pfizer (PFE) are expected to report net profit margins of around 21.3%, 23.6%, and 22.7%, respectively.

    Future growth trends
    Oncology drugs Lynparza and Tagrisso are expected to be major revenue contributors for AstraZeneca in 2017. The company expects CVMD (cardiovascular and metabolic disease) drugs Brilinta and Farxiga to each earn revenues in excess of $1.0 billion in 2017.

    The respiratory drug Symbicort saw pricing pressures in the United States and Europe in 2016. AstraZeneca expects that in 2017, recently launched Bevespi and the potential launch of investigational therapy benralizumab will partly offset the loss of the company’s respiratory franchise revenues.