AZ performance 'robust'
AstraZeneca's business performance in 2001 was described as 'robust' and a combination of well-established products, a strong presence in growth markets and a promising portfolio of new drugs in the pipeline will ensure success in coming years, the company says. Established products such as beta-blockers and respiratory treatments have combined year-on-year sales of US$2.7bn (€3.02bn) and are growing at 15% a year, while key growth products Arimidex, Atacand, Casodex, Seroquel and Zomig have now reached annualised sales of more than US$2bn (€2.24bn).
Latest data on Arimidex showed that it is significantly more effective and has important tolerability benefits compared with tamoxifen as an adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. 'Regulatory approval for Arimidex in this new indication will be sought in the US and Europe in the first quarter of 2002,' said Chris Brinsmead, vp, oncology therapeutic area.
Arimidex sales in 2000 were 19% up at US$156m (€174.5m), while the company's Nolvadex (tamoxifen) accounted for US$576m (€644.4m) in the same year. The early breast cancer market could be worth approximately US$2bn (€2.24bn).
Last year saw the launches of Nexium and Symbicort in 38 and 23 countries respectively and these have already succeeded in winning significant market share in some areas. Astra Zeneca now leads in Europe in gastrointestinal (1), oncology (1), respiratory (2) and cardiovascular (3) sales.
The company has a promising portfolio of new medicines. Crestor, a statin, is on track for launch in the second half of this year, while AZ is expected to submit an EU filing for its Iressa monotherapy indication for non small-cell lung cancer in the second quarter, followed by a combination filing in the EU and US simultaneously. A filing for the first indication for the oral anticoagulant Exanta for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is expected in the third quarter of 2002 in the EU and the second quarter of 2003 in the US, with a stroke prevention filing expected in the second quarter of next year in the EU and US.
A filing is also planned for Simbicort for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Meanwhile Casodex has received approval for early prostate cancer in nine countries and an sNDA was expected to be submitted by the end of 2001.
'Investment in building our commercial strength over the last two to three years has made a significant contribution to the outstanding success of this year's launches, and to the continued good progress of the growth products,' said ceo Tom McKillop. 'I am confident our excellent product portfolio and commercial strength will drive growth and ensure the success of AstraZeneca in the coming years.'
AZ's drugs portfolio addresses 60% of the total pharmaceutical market, a segment forecast to be worth US$292bn (€326.7bn) in 2005.