Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, commenting on the results said:
"AstraZeneca had a strong financial first half of 2022, and great pipeline delivery. We announced practice-changing data for several medicines including Enhertu in breast cancer, Farxiga in heart failure and Ultomiris in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.
We have made great progress in our efforts to combat COVID-19. Vaxzevria is estimated to have saved more than six million lives during the first year of roll-out, and Evusheld has protected hundreds of thousands of immunocompromised people, enabling them to return to a more normal life. Evusheld continues to demonstrate activity against new variants.
Given the ongoing performance of our underlying business and the contribution of our COVID-19 medicines, we are updating our revenue guidance for 2022. This has enabled us to increase our R&D investment in the exciting number of pipeline opportunities that can benefit patients and drive long term sustainable growth for our company. We look forward to announcing the results of several important late-stage trials this year and next."
