AstraZeneca reports first-half growth, disappointment in Ultomiris trial
By Josh White
Date: Monday 27 Jul 2026
(Sharecast News) - AstraZeneca reported first-half total revenue of $30.7bn on Monday, up 9%, while core earnings per share increased 12% to $5.21 as double-digit growth in its Oncology and Rare Disease businesses offset headwinds from Farxiga's US loss of exclusivity and China's volume-based procurement programme.
The FTSE 100 drugmaker increased its interim dividend to $1.06 a share and said it had secured 30 approvals in major markets since its fourth-quarter results, while reaffirming full-year guidance for mid-to-high single-digit revenue growth and low double-digit growth in core EPS at constant exchange rates.
It also said that its Phase III CLARITY-Gastric01 trial showed sonesitatug vedotin significantly improved overall survival in patients with second and later-line CLDN18.2-positive advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers.
The antibody-drug conjugate met its primary endpoint for overall survival in third and later-line treatment and a key secondary endpoint in the broader second and later-line population, although progression-free survival did not reach statistical significance.
AstraZeneca also announced that its Phase III ALXN1210-TMA-313 trial found Ultomiris did not achieve statistical significance for the primary endpoint of event-free survival in adults and adolescents with thrombotic microangiopathy following haematopoietic stem cell transplant.
The company said it would continue discussions with regulators on the adult programme while advancing regulatory filings for the paediatric indication after a separate Phase III study demonstrated clinically meaningful overall survival, with the safety profile remaining consistent with previous experience.
At 0851 BST, shares in AstraZeneca were up 1.72% at 12,888p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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