AstraZeneca reports encouraging first-quarter financial results

AstraZeneca has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2015, during which it generated a revenue total of $6.06 billion (3.94 billion pounds).

This represented a year-on-year increase of one percent, with the company's growth platforms accounting for 56 percent of this total following a strong period for these brands in emerging markets in particular.

Its Brilinta/Brilique brands showed particularly encouraging momentum, while the firm was also pleased with the progress of its pipeline developments, with highlights including the positive results from its PINNACLE and PEGASUS phase III trials.

AstraZeneca is also making concerted efforts to strengthen its oncology business and now has 72 trials underway in this area, including 31 in immuno-oncology.

In the last week alone, it has formed new immuno-oncology collaborations with Celgene and Innate Pharma, underlining the strategic importance of this field of research.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer at AstraZeneca, said: "Our encouraging performance in the quarter supports our full-year guidance."