- British pharmaceutical company made through an Anglo-Swedish merger in 1999 which offers offers an intriguing blend of value and growth potential. Listed in London, NYSE & Stockholm.
- During bull markets, investors tend to overlook the pharmaceuticals sector for having duller returns than other areas and ignore how much the two firms are spending on research and development which makes them a more attractive long term investment bet. There has been too much focus on patents and worries over the strength of drug pipelines, but in recessionary times these stocks looks pretty attractive because their product demand profile is very resilient and they have very good cashflows!
- Outlook for Astrazeneca looks very positive
- It recently backed its full-year profit outlook.
- Considerable fat being cut out of its business model as it slims up to counter the tougher environment (reducing 11 percent of its workforce by 2010)
- Achieving growth of 20 per cent plus in emerging markets.
- A November study showed that the company's cholesterol drug Crestor reduced the risk of various heart problems by 44%
- Recently settled a patent case against Teva (a generic manufacturer) over the child asthma drug Pulmicort, or budesonide.
- On the negative side, results from phase 3 trials for its lung-cancer treatment candidate Zactima were discouraging in that, while the drug seems to work well in combination with chemotherapy treatment Taxotere, this was not true of Eli Lilly's Alimta (which could eliminate more than half of the potential patients for Zactima).
- Phase IIb trials of AZD3480 as a treatment for schizophrenia have not met the company's criteria and its development is being stopped.
Already have an account?
Login here
