UK-based multinational AstraZeneca Plc (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) has released its financial results for the Q4 and full-year 2022 periods. The firm continues to expand at a rapid pace, with total global revenues up 25% year-on-year (YOY) to USD 44.35 billion. This growth is a testament to AstraZeneca’s strong pipeline and market presence.
Q4 Performance and COVID-19 Impact
In the fourth quarter, the pace of expansion slowed to 2% YOY at USD 11.2 billion, impacted by falling sales of the COVID-19 vaccine Vaxzevria. Excluding Vaxzevria, total revenues were up 17%, with oncology product sales up 19%, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism (CVRM) up 19%, respiratory and immunology (R&I) up 3%, and Rare Diseases growing at 10% YOY.
2023 Outlook and Pipeline Strength
The expectation for 2023 is that COVID-19 revenues will dissipate, resulting in overall low-to-mid single-digit percentage growth. However, excluding COVID-19 medicines, revenues are forecast to continue to expand at low double-digit rates. CEO Pascal Soriot underlined AstraZeneca’s continued pipeline strength, noting “a record 34 approvals in major markets” during 2022. The company aims to initiate “more than 30 Phase III trials this year, of which 10 have the potential to deliver peak year sales over USD 1 billion,” while 15 new medicines should reach the market between now and the end of the decade.
Leading Products and Sales Growth
Over the 12 months, the leading product globally was the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy Tagrisso (osimertinib) with USD 5.44 billion in sales, up 15% YOY. Other key cancer drugs included the PD-L1 targeted Imfinzi (durvalumab), PARP inhibitor Lynparza (olaparib), and BTK inhibitor Calquence (acalabrutinib), each generating over USD 2 billion in annual sales with double-figure growth, Calquence being the most impressive at 69% YOY expansion. Type 2 diabetes drug Farxiga (dapagliflozin) sales expanded by 56% to USD 4.4 billion, while from the rare disease portfolio, Soliris (eculizumab) brought in USD 3.76 billion (-5% YOY) and Ultomiris (ravulizumab) USD 1.97 billion (+42%).
China Market Performance and Outlook
The China market was flat with zero reported growth at USD 5.79 billion in annual revenues, accounting for 13% of AstraZeneca’s global revenues. In Q4, China market sales were up 3% to USD 1.194 billion. CFO Aradhana Sarin predicted during the earnings conference call that, “In China, we expect to return to growth in 2023 with 2022 having been more of a transition year due to pricing dynamics relating to VBP and NRDL.”
Product-Specific Highlights in China
There is reportedly ongoing rising demand for Tagrisso thanks to the March 2021 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) price cut, with value growth expected to return during 2023. Lynparza was boosted by NRDL inclusion in March 2021 for ovarian cancer, while potassium binder Lokelma (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) is now the market-leading drug in its class after gaining reimbursement from January 2022. In this year’s NRDL update, AstraZeneca benefited from the first-time inclusion of Orpathys (savolitinib), partnered with that drug’s originator HutchMed, reimbursed as a treatment for MET mutated NSCLC. The UK firm also saw 6 drugs renew NRDL listings.-Fineline Info & Tech
