CAMBRIDGE, England– AstraZeneca reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $16.21 billion, an increase of 7% from the previous year, as growth across its oncology, respiratory and rare disease businesses helped offset pricing pressures and competition from generic medicines.
The pharmaceutical company also reported revenue of $46.88 billion for the first nine months of 2026, representing an 8% increase on a reported basis and a 7% increase at constant exchange rates.
Third-quarter product sales rose 5% to $15.07 billion, while alliance revenue increased 36% to $1.11 billion. Total product revenue, including alliance revenue, reached $16.17 billion, up 7%.
Reported earnings per share increased 23% to $2.02 during the quarter, while core earnings per share rose 17% to $2.79.
For the first nine months, reported earnings per share climbed 10% to $5.62, while core earnings per share increased 14% to $8.00.
The company attributed its performance to double-digit growth in oncology, respiratory and immunology, and rare diseases. Those gains helped counter declining sales associated with the loss of exclusivity for Farxiga and Brilinta, as well as pricing pressures from China’s volume-based pharmaceutical procurement program.
AstraZeneca said core operating profit and core earnings per share increased 14% during the first nine months of the year.
“In the first nine months we saw strong commercial momentum with total revenue up 7% and Core EPS up 14%, driven by our diverse therapy areas and global presence. We have had approvals for four new medicines and reported 12 positive Phase III program readouts with a collective peak year revenue potential well in excess of ten billion dollars. Our rich series of upcoming readouts in 2027 has a potential of more than twenty billion dollars.
With multiple potential blockbuster assets in late-stage development and transformative technologies scaling rapidly, we are on track to deliver our 2030 ambition and to sustain growth through the next decade,” said Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of AstraZeneca.
The company highlighted progress across its drug development pipeline, reporting 12 positive Phase III clinical trial results so far this year.
Since announcing its fourth-quarter 2025 results, AstraZeneca has secured 47 regulatory approvals in major markets, including initial approvals for four medicines: Etcamah, Baxfendy, Klygefa and Amlypave.
Several of the company’s established cancer treatments also received additional regulatory approvals.
Enhertu received approvals in the European Union, Japan and China for certain breast cancer indications, while Datroway gained approvals in those markets for patients with triple-negative breast cancer who are not candidates for immunotherapy.
AstraZeneca also reported regulatory progress for treatments targeting lung cancer, asthma and rare diseases.
Among its clinical developments, the company reported positive Phase III results for several experimental therapies, including tozorakimab, efzimfotase alfa and sonesitatug vedotin.
However, not all clinical trials met their objectives. The Phase III SERENA-4 trial involving Etcamah did not meet its primary endpoint, while the company discontinued development programs involving volrustomig in the eVOLVE-Lung02 trial and Ultomiris in the AWAKE trial because of insufficient efficacy.
AstraZeneca said its expanding late-stage pipeline remains central to its long-term growth strategy, with additional clinical trial results expected in 2027.
The company also continued investing in research and development, reflecting an increasing number of clinical trials, greater patient enrollment and the advancement of experimental treatments.
Despite rising development costs and pricing challenges in several markets, AstraZeneca maintained its financial outlook for the remainder of 2026.
The company expects full-year revenue to increase by a mid-to-high single-digit percentage at constant exchange rates, while core earnings per share are projected to grow by a low double-digit percentage.
AstraZeneca also expects its core tax rate to range between 18% and 22%.
Based on exchange rates observed in September, the company anticipates a modest positive currency impact on full-year revenue, while the effect on core earnings growth is expected to remain broadly neutral.
The reaffirmed guidance reflects AstraZeneca’s expectations that continued demand for its oncology, respiratory and rare disease treatments will support revenue growth despite generic competition and pharmaceutical pricing pressures.
