AstraZeneca expects vaccine data this year, sales beat estimates

[FRANKFURT] AstraZeneca, the British drugmaker working on one of the world's leading Covid-19 vaccine candidates, on Thursday beat third-quarter sales estimates as demand for its diverse portfolio of drugs remained strong during Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, and it maintained its 2020 forecasts.

The company reiterated it expected results from the late-stage trials on its experimental Covid-19 vaccine later this year, depending on the rate of infection among trial participants.

Product sales, which exclude payments from collaborations, rose 7 per cent to US$6.52 billion for the three months ended Sept 30 on a constant-currency basis, ahead of a company-compiled consensus of US$6.50 billion.

However, the company reported core earnings of 94 US cents per share, lower than analysts' expectations of 98 cents.

REUTERS