AstraZeneca beats profit expectations thanks to cancer and rare disease business

Pipeline with successes and setbacks

Operating profit improved by 12 percent to just under 5.2 billion dollars (4.6 billion euros) according to the company. Revenues were therefore in line with market expectations, while AstraZeneca exceeded them on the profit side.

With these figures, the company countered concerns about its long-term growth prospects that had arisen following a recent clinical trial failure. Group CEO Pascal Soriot also highlighted progress in the product pipeline: "In der ersten Jahreshälfte verzeichneten wir eine starke Leistung und eine kontinuierliche Weiterentwicklung unserer Pipeline - darunter sechs wichtige, erfolgreich verlaufene Phase-III-Programme sowie acht Erstzulassungen in bedeutenden Märkten".

In the first half of 2026, AstraZeneca successfully completed six important Phase III programs and achieved eight first approvals in major markets, according to the company. This includes a study of a drug for stomach cancer that met its targets.

Annual forecast and the 80 billion dollar target

Revenue growth in the mid to high single-digit percentage range is expected. AstraZeneca also reaffirmed its forecast for 2026, again projecting adjusted earnings per share growth in the low double-digit percentage range. The company also sees itself on track to reach its own goal of 80 billion dollars in revenue by 2030.

However, the group was weighed down by the loss of patent protection for the drug Farxiga in the USA. In addition, the antibody Ultomiris missed a statistically significant result in a Phase III study in adults and adolescents with transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy. The drug Wainua also failed to meet its primary endpoint in a clinical study.

Stock rises, analysts divided

On the London Stock Exchange, AstraZeneca shares rose at times by 1.42 percent to 128.50 pounds. Analysts have recently been divided: Deutsche Bank rated the stock "Sell" on July 15, 2026, JPMorgan issued an "Overweight" rating on July 21, 2026, and Jefferies recommended buying the stock on July 22, 2026.

The mix of better-than-expected quarterly figures, a robust pipeline, and at the same time setbacks in research shapes the picture with which AstraZeneca starts the second half of 2026. The coming months will show whether the cancer and rare disease divisions can compensate for the weaknesses recently observed in individual studies.