Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, commenting on the results said:
"Our company continued its strong growth trajectory in the third quarter with Total Revenue from our non‑COVID-19 medicines up 13% compared to last year.
We initiated several Phase III trials of high-potential molecules this quarter, including for volrustomig, our PD-1/CTLA-41 bispecific antibody. Our portfolio of bispecifics has the potential to replace the first-generation checkpoint inhibitors across a range of cancers. We also initiated a fixed dose combination study of zibotentan with Farxiga which has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients with kidney disease not well controlled on current standard of care.
I am excited about the acceleration of our cardiometabolic and obesity pipeline with today's licensing agreement for ECC5004, a potential best-in-class, oral GLP-1RA2. This molecule could offer an important advance, as both a monotherapy and in combinations, for the estimated one billion people living with cardiometabolic diseases such as type-2 diabetes and obesity.
Given the momentum in the year to date we have increased our full-year guidance for Total Revenue excluding COVID medicines as well as for Core EPS."
