After a robust third quarter, AstraZeneca Plc confirmed its revenue guidance for the year which is expected to increase by a high single-digit percentage. At the same time, it gave an update on products in late-stage development and a glimpse of new technologies on the horizon. Chief Executive Pascal Soriot outlined the company’s ambitions in a call with journalists on 6 November, which also included comments on new investment in the US.
Among the new pipeline technologies are gene and cell therapies, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and radio-conjugates. The goal of the new conjugate technologies is to replace systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Meanwhile the company is also investing in experimental obesity treatments with the goal of achieving weight loss without losing muscle mass. “It is fundamentally visceral fat around organs and inside muscles that we have to drive down,” the executive said. The company currently has three Phase 3 trials ongoing in a small molecule inhibitor of a protein that regulates cholesterol levels in the blood as well as other drugs in Phase 2.
In the third quarter and first nine months of 2025, AstraZeneca generated revenue of $15.2 billion and $43.2 billion respectively. Year-to-year growth for the quarter was 10% at constant exchanges rates and 11% for the nine-month period. Mr Soriot said the company is on track to achieve its 2030 ambition. A revenue target of $80 billion for that year was announced in 2024.
Oncology products contributed 44% of total revenue in the quarter and 43% at nine months. This was closely followed by drugs in the biopharmaceutical sector which include treatments for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Three clinical milestones were reached for the breast cancer treatments Enhertu and Datroway. In triple negative breast cancer Datroway, an antibody-drug conjugate, showed a 43% reduction in the risk of disease progression compared with chemotherapy. Another breakthrough was achieved for the experimental small molecule drug baxdrostat which significantly reduced uncontrolled hypertension. Baxdrostat is set for a regulatory submission soon.
IFRS operating profit for the quarter was $3.6 billion and $10.8 billion for the nine months. Outlays for R&D were $3.7 billion for the quarter, or 16% of sales, and $10.4 billion for the nine months, also 16% of sales at constant exchange rates.
In October, AstraZeneca was one of several global pharmaceutical companies to sign an agreement with the Trump Administration to lower the prices of drugs sold in the US. The company also committed to invest $50 billion in manufacturing and R&D in the country over the next five years. At the same time, it upgraded its US share listing to the New York Stock Exchange from Nasdaq. The company is also listed in London and Stockholm. Asked if AstraZeneca planned to leave the UK, Mr Soriot said, no, adding that the company is domiciled in the UK.
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