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3rd Quarter Results - Part 2 of 2

30th Oct 2008 11:00

RNS Number : 0217H
AstraZeneca PLC
30 October 2008
 

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

For the nine months ended 30 September

2008

$m

2007

$m

Sales

23,408 

21,389 

Cost of sales

(4,486)

(4,598)

Distribution costs

(220)

(181)

Research and development

(3,824)

(3,730)

Selling, general and administrative costs

(8,057)

(7,309)

Other operating income and expense

431 

594 

Operating profit

7,252 

6,165 

Finance income

637 

703 

Finance expense

(1,024)

(722)

Profit before tax

6,865 

6,146 

Taxation 

(1,994)

(1,794)

Profit for the period

4,871 

4,352 

Attributable to:

Equity holders of the Company

4,853 

4,329 

Minority interests

18 

23 

4,871 

4,352 

Basic earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

$3.34

$2.88

Diluted earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

$3.33

$2.87

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)

1,455 

1,505 

Diluted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)

1,456 

1,510 

Dividends declared and paid in the period

2,767 

2,658 

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

For the quarter ended 30 September

2008 

$m 

2007 

$m 

Sales

7,775 

7,150 

Cost of sales

(1,529)

(1,444)

Distribution costs

(79)

(59)

Research and development

(1,291)

(1,335)

Selling, general and administrative costs

(2,486)

(2,487)

Other operating income and expense

132 

197 

Operating profit

2,522 

2,022 

Finance income

235 

217 

Finance expense

(314)

(351)

Profit before tax

2,443 

1,888 

Taxation 

(705)

(537)

Profit for the period

1,738 

1,351 

Attributable to:

Equity holders of the Company

1,730 

1,343 

Minority interests

1,738 

1,351 

Basic earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

$1.20

$0.91

Diluted earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

$1.19

$0.90

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)

1,452

1,486

Diluted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)

1,455

1,489

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

As at 30 Sep

2008

$m

As at 31 Dec

2007

$m

As at 30 Sep

2007

$m

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

7,830 

8,298 

8,316 

Goodwill

9,870 

9,884 

9,713 

Intangible assets

13,223 

11,467 

11,682 

Other investments

179 

182 

217 

Deferred tax assets

1,374 

1,044 

1,331 

32,476 

30,875 

31,259 

Current assets

Inventories

2,083 

2,119 

2,558 

Trade and other receivables

7,181 

6,668 

6,492 

Other investments

82 

177 

102 

Income tax receivable

2,710 

2,251 

2,111 

Cash and cash equivalents

3,541 

5,867 

3,428 

15,597 

17,082 

14,691 

Total assets

48,073 

47,957 

45,950 

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

(2,546)

(4,280)

(5,403)

Trade and other payables

(6,939)

(6,968)

(6,632)

Provisions

(359)

(387)

(100)

Income tax payable

(4,536)

(3,552)

(3,393)

(14,380)

(15,187)

(15,528)

Non-current liabilities

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

(10,826)

(10,876)

(8,994)

Deferred tax liabilities

(3,864)

(4,119)

(4,224)

Retirement benefit obligations 

(2,018)

(1,998)

(1,630)

Provisions

(567)

(633)

(606)

Other payables

(186)

(229)

(226)

(17,461)

(17,855)

(15,680)

Total liabilities

(31,841)

(33,042)

(31,208)

Net assets

16,232 

14,915 

14,742 

EQUITY

Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the Company

Share capital

362 

364 

369 

Share premium account

2,005 

1,888 

1,832 

Other reserves

1,915 

1,902 

1,903 

Retained earnings

11,823 

10,624 

10,510 

16,105 

14,778 

14,614 

Minority equity interests

127 

137 

128 

Total equity 

16,232 

14,915 

14,742 

Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 

For the nine months ended 30 September

2008

$m

2007

$m

Cash flows from operating activities

Profit before taxation

6,865 

6,146 

Finance income and expense

387 

19 

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

1,693 

1,304 

Increase in working capital

(862)

(1,049)

Other non-cash movements

196 

679 

Cash generated from operations

8,279 

7,099 

Interest paid

(536)

(250)

Tax paid

(1,792)

(2,337)

Net cash inflow from operating activities 

5,951 

4,512 

Cash flows from investing activities

Acquisition of business operations

(14,814)

Movement in short term investments and fixed deposits

28 

875 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(750)

(754)

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

28 

39 

Purchase of intangible assets

(2,796)

(454)

Purchase of non-current asset investments

(33)

(22)

Disposal of non-current asset investments

384 

Interest received

131 

295 

Dividends paid by subsidiaries to minority interest

(37)

(9)

Net cash outflow from investing activities

(3,424)

(14,460)

Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing activities

2,527 

(9,948)

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from issue of share capital

118 

162 

Repurchase of shares

(603)

(3,294)

Dividends paid

(2,739)

(2,641)

Repayment of loans

(1,165)

Issue of loans

787 

7,895 

Movement in short term borrowings

(2,425)

5,297 

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities

(4,862)

6,254 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents in the period

(2,335)

(3,694)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

5,727 

6,989 

Exchange rate effects

(33)

50 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

3,359 

3,345 

Cash and cash equivalents consists of:

Cash and cash equivalents

3,541 

3,428 

Overdrafts

(182)

(83)

3,359 

3,345 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense 

For the nine months ended 30 September

2008

$m

2007

$m

Profit for the period

4,871 

4,352 

Foreign exchange and other adjustments on consolidation

(334)

420 

Available for sale losses taken to equity

(1)

(15)

Actuarial (loss)/gain for the period

(150)

336 

Tax on items taken directly to reserves

82 

(79)

(403)

662 

Total recognised income and expense for the period

4,468 

5,014 

Attributable to:

Equity holders of the Company

4,444 

4,998 

Minority interests

24 

16 

4,468 

5,014 

Notes to the Interim Financial Statements

1 BASIS OF PREPARATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements ("interim financial statements") for the nine months ended 30 September 2008 have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the European Union. Details of the accounting policies applied are those set out in AstraZeneca PLC's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2007. 

The information contained in Note 4 updates the disclosures concerning legal proceedings and contingent liabilities in the Company's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2007.

The interim financial statements do not constitute statutory accounts of the Group within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statement under Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985. 

2 Net debt

The table below provides an analysis of net debt and a reconciliation of net cash flow to the movement in net debt.

At 1 Jan

2008

$m

Cash

flow

$m

Non-cash

movements

$m

Exchange

movements

$m

At 30 Sep

2008

$m

Loans due after 1 year

(10,876)

(787)

660 

177 

(10,826)

Current instalments of loans

(649)

(649)

Total loans

(10,876)

(787)

11 

177 

(11,475)

Other investments - current

177 

(28)

(63)

(4)

82 

Cash and cash equivalents

5,867 

(2,293)

(33)

3,541 

Overdrafts

(140)

(42)

(182)

Short term borrowings

(4,140)

2,425 

(1,715)

1,764 

62 

(63)

(37)

1,726 

Net debt

(9,112)

(725)

(52)

140 

(9,749)

Non-cash movements in the period include fair value adjustments under IAS 39.

3 restructuring and synergy costs

Profit before tax for the nine months ended 30 September 2008 is stated after charging restructuring and synergy costs of $365 million ($604 million in the nine months 2007). These have been charged to the income statement as follows:

3rd Quarter

2008 $m

3rd Quarter

2007 $m

9 Months

2008 $m

9 Months

2007 $m

Cost of Sales

72

39

128

320

R&D

30

8

116

37

SG&A

15

99

121

247

Total

117

146

365

604

4 legal proceedings and contingent liabilities

AstraZeneca is involved in various legal proceedings considered typical to its business, including litigation relating to employment matters, product liability, commercial disputes, infringement of intellectual property rights, the validity of certain patents and securities law. The matters discussed below constitute the more significant developments since the publication of the disclosures concerning legal proceedings in the Company's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2007 and half year results 2008.

Unless noted otherwise below or in the Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2007, no provisions have been established in respect of the claims discussed below.

Atacand (candesartan cilexetil)

As previously disclosed, in July 2008 AstraZeneca received a Paragraph IV Certification from Mylan, Inc. (Mylan) relating to an Abbreviated New Drug Application submitted by Matrix Laboratories, Ltd with respect to all four dose forms of candesartan cilexetil, alleging non-infringement of US Patent No. 5,534,534. Mylan did not challenge the two compound patents listed in the US Food and Drug Administration Orange Book, the latter of which expires in 2012. As a result Mylan cannot market candesartan cilexetil before 4 June 2012. AstraZeneca did not file a complaint for patent infringement.

Atacand HCT (candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide)

AstraZeneca received a Paragraph IV notice dated 22 September 2008 relating to an Abbreviated New Drug Application submitted by Mylan, Inc. (Mylan) for Atacand HCT, a combination product containing candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide in the 32/12.5 and 16/12.5mg dose forms. The notice alleges that US Patent Nos. 5,534,534, 5,721,263 and 5,958,961 are invalid, unenforceable and/or not infringed. Mylan does not challenge the other two patents listed in the Orange Book, the latter of which expires on 4 June 2012. As a result Mylan cannot market candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide before 4 June 2012. AstraZeneca did not file a complaint for patent infringement.

Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium)

Patent litigation - US

After its transfer to the Delaware District Court pursuant to the order of the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation, on 16 September 2008, Apotex, Inc. voluntarily dismissed its declaratory judgement lawsuit, which it had originally filed in the Middle District of Florida. 

In September 2008, the US District Court, District of Delaware, issued an amended scheduling order covering all of the Crestor Abbreviated New Drug Application matters originally filed in the Delaware Court and the Aurobindo protective suit, which has been transferred to the Delaware Court from the District of New Jersey pursuant to the order of the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation. Discovery in all matters now proceeds under a common Delaware District Court scheduling order.

On 6 October 2008, Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Teva) filed a patent infringement action against AstraZeneca alleging that Crestor tablets infringe a recently reissued patent owned by Teva that claims stabilised pharmaceutical compositions.

AstraZeneca has full confidence in, and will vigorously defend and enforce, its intellectual property protecting Crestor.

Patent litigation - Canada

In September 2008, AstraZeneca Canada Inc. received a Notice of Allegation from Novopharm Limited (Novopharm) in respect of Canadian Patent Nos. 2,072,945 (the '945 patent) and 2,313,783 (the '783 patent) listed on the Patent Register in Canada for Crestor. Novopharm alleges that it filed an Abbreviated New Drug Submission in August 2008 for 5, 10, 20 and 40mg rosuvastatin calcium tablets. Novopharm claims that the '945 patent is invalid and that the '783 patent has not been infringed. AstraZeneca responded by commencing a court application in October 2008 under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, seeking an order prohibiting the Minister of Health from issuing a Notice of Compliance (marketing approval) to Novopharm until after expiry of the patents. Novopharm cannot obtain a Notice of Compliance for its rosuvastatin calcium tablets until the earlier of the disposition of the court application in Novopharm's favour or 24 months from the date on which the court application has been commenced (assuming its regulatory submission is approvable by that date), unless a Prohibition Order is granted.

AstraZeneca has full confidence in, and will vigorously defend and enforce, its intellectual property protecting Crestor.

Losec/Prilosec (omeprazole)

Patent litigation

As previously disclosed, in May 2007 the US District Court for the Southern District of New York upheld both formulation patents covering Prilosec. The Court found that the generic omeprazole formulations of Impax Laboratories Inc. (Impax) and Apotex, Inc. (Apotex) infringed AstraZeneca's patents. The Court also found that the generic products sold by Lek Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company d.d. and Lek Services USA, Inc. (together Lek) and Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc (Mylan)/Laboratorios Esteve, SA and Esteve Quimica, SA (together Esteve) did not infringe AstraZeneca's patents. AstraZeneca appealed the Mylan/Esteve decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Impax and Apotex also appealed. In May 2008, all three appeals were argued before the Federal Circuit. In June 2008, the Federal Circuit upheld the ruling that Mylan/Esteve did not infringe. In September 2008, the Federal Circuit upheld that the generic omeprazole formulations of Impax and Apotex infringed AstraZeneca's patents in suit. AstraZeneca will pursue damages and additional remedies from Impax and Apotex.

AstraZeneca has full confidence in, and will vigorously defend and enforce, its intellectual property protecting Losec/Prilosec.

European Commission investigation

AstraZeneca has been notified that the Oral Hearing in its appeal to the Court of First Instance (against the European Commission's 2005 Decision fining AstraZeneca for abuse of a dominant position regarding omeprazole) will take place on 26 and 27 November 2008 (or as may be adjourned by the Court). Judgement will be handed down in due course.

Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium)

Sales and marketing practices

As previously disclosed, AstraZeneca entities have been sued in various state and federal courts in the US in purported representative class actions involving the marketing of Nexium. In July 2008, the Arkansas State Court granted AstraZeneca's renewed motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' amended complaint. The plaintiffs filed an appeal.

Patent litigation 

As previously disclosed, Nexium patent infringement litigations against IVAX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now known as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited), its parent Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Limited and affiliated entities (together IVAX) and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Ltd and Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. (together Dr Reddy's) are ongoing in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. In May and June 2008, AstraZeneca received a complaint from IVAX and a complaint from Dr. Reddy's for declaratory judgements of non-infringement and/or invalidity for patents listed in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orange Book with reference to Nexium that were not previously at issue in the ongoing infringement litigations. In August 2008, the Court dismissed the IVAX and Dr. Reddy's declaratory judgement actions as to certain patents and stayed the declaratory judgement actions as to remaining patents at issue. No trial date has been set in the ongoing patent infringement litigations.

In August 2008, AstraZeneca received a notice-letter from IVAX challenging US Patent No. 7,411,070 (the '070 patent). The '070 patent is listed in the FDA Orange Book with reference to Nexium. The notice contains certifications of invalidity, unenforceability and/or non-infringement in respect of the '070 patent. In October 2008, AstraZeneca commenced patent infringement litigation asserting the '070 patent against IVAX and Cipla Limited in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. No trial date has been set.

AstraZeneca has full confidence in, and will vigorously defend and enforce, its intellectual property protecting Nexium.

Pulmicort Respules (budesonide inhalation suspension)

As previously disclosed, in October 2005 AstraZeneca filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against IVAX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now known as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited) (IVAX) for infringement of AstraZeneca's patents covering Pulmicort Respules. On 30 June 2008, IVAX filed a motion for summary judgement of no infringement. A hearing on IVAX's motion was held on 23 September 2008 and the Court denied the motion on the same date. 

On 29 October 2008, AstraZeneca filed a Motion for a Preliminary Injunction seeking to prevent IVAX launching its purported generic version of AstraZeneca's Pulmicort Respules, which would be deemed to be "at-risk" were it to gain the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), until the ongoing patent infringement case between the parties had been decided. The trial of this case is scheduled to begin on 12 January 2009. While the FDA has not yet granted approval to IVAX for its purported generic product, AstraZeneca is seeking assurance that, in the event of an approval, the Court will be in a position to render a decision to prevent an "at-risk" launch of the IVAX product.

AstraZeneca continues to have full confidence in, and will vigorously defend and enforce, its intellectual property protecting Pulmicort Respules.

Seroquel and Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate)

Patent litigation

As previously disclosed, AstraZeneca received Paragraph IV Certification notice-letters from both Sandoz Inc. (Sandoz) and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (Teva) relating to Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA) for approvals to market generic quetiapine fumarate tablets. AstraZeneca previously brought patent infringement actions in US District Court, District of New Jersey in response to those filings and the consolidated lawsuit resulted in a summary judgement in AstraZeneca's favour in July 2008. Teva and Sandoz appealed the Court's summary judgement. On 22 September 2008, Sandoz filed its opening brief in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the ANDA patent infringement action against Sandoz and Teva. Likewise, on 6 October 2008, Teva filed its opening brief. 

In September 2008, AstraZeneca received a Paragraph IV Certification notice-letter from Accord Healthcare Inc. (Accord) advising that it had submitted an ANDA seeking approval to market generic versions of 200, 300 and 400mg Seroquel XR tablets before expiration of AstraZeneca's patent covering the Seroquel XR formulation. Accord is a subsidiary of Intas Pharmaceutical Limited (Intas). Also in September 2008, AstraZeneca filed a lawsuit in US District Court, District of New Jersey, against Accord, Intas and related entities, alleging infringement of AstraZeneca's US Patent No. 5,948,437, which covers the Seroquel XR formulation. The matter is proceeding.

In October 2008, AstraZeneca received a third Paragraph IV Certification notice-letter from Handa Pharmaceuticals (Handa) advising that it had submitted an ANDA seeking approval to market a generic version of a 50mg Seroquel XR tablet before expiration of AstraZeneca's patents covering the product. On 28 October 2008, AstraZeneca filed a lawsuit in US District Court, District of New Jersey against Handa alleging infringement of AstraZeneca's patents covering the active ingredient and formulation of Seroquel XR tablets.

AstraZeneca has full confidence in, and will vigorously defend and enforce, its intellectual property protecting Seroquel and Seroquel XR.

 

Product liability

As previously disclosed, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, either alone or in conjunction with one or more affiliates, has been sued in numerous individual personal injury actions involving Seroquel. In most of these cases, the nature of the plaintiffs' alleged injuries is not clear from the complaint and, in most cases, little or no factual information regarding the alleged injury has been provided in the complaint. However, the plaintiffs generally contend that they developed diabetes and/or other related injuries as a result of taking Seroquel and/or other atypical antipsychotic medications.

As of 8 October 2008, AstraZeneca was defending 8,988 served or answered lawsuits involving approximately 14,902 plaintiff groups. To date, approximately 2,225 additional cases have been dismissed by order or agreement and approximately 1,500 of those cases have been dismissed with prejudice. No trial is expected until the first half of 2009. Approximately 22% of the cases that were or are pending in the federal court Multi-District Litigation have been dismissed. Approximately two-thirds of the plaintiffs with currently pending Seroquel cases are in state courts (primarily Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Missouri) with the other third pending in the federal court.

Average wholesale price class action litigation 

As previously disclosed, in May 2007 AstraZeneca reached a proposed settlement agreement resolving the Class 1 claims in the Boston, Massachusetts litigation brought on behalf of a putative class of plaintiffs alleged to have overpaid for Zoladex as a result of inflated wholesale list prices. In October 2008, the Court issued an order approving the settlement on the condition that the parties agree to apportion a greater percentage of the settlement funds to individual claimants rather than to charities. The Court did not alter the total amount of payments under the settlement. The parties are considering how to respond to the Court's order.

In September 2008, the Boston Court granted, in part, the plaintiffs' motion for certification of multi-state versions of Class 2 and Class 3 relating to Zoladex. AstraZeneca believes the decision to be in error and will seek leave for an immediate appeal.

Drug importation anti-trust litigation

As previously disclosed, in August 2004 Californian retail pharmacy plaintiffs filed an action in the Superior Court of California alleging that AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and numerous other pharmaceutical manufacturers conspired to prevent American consumers from purchasing prescription drugs from Canada and also conspired to set the price of drugs sold in California at or above the Canadian sales price for those same drugs. In December 2006, the Court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgement and the case was subsequently dismissed. Plaintiffs appealed that decision and the Court of Appeal of the State of California affirmed the lower Court's decision. Plaintiffs have appealed to the Supreme Court of California.

AstraZeneca denies the material allegations in the California action and is vigorously defending this matter. 

Employment-wage/hour litigation 

As previously disclosed, AstraZeneca is defending three putative class action lawsuits alleging various violations of state wage and hour laws by challenging the way AstraZeneca has classified its sales representatives as exempt from overtime pay requirements. In Hummel v. AstraZeneca, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York granted AstraZeneca's motion for summary judgement and dismissed the case on 9 September 2008. On 6 October 2008, Hummel filed a notice of appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Pain pump litigation 

As previously disclosed, AstraZeneca entities have been named in lawsuits in various US jurisdictions alleging injuries caused by the use of local anaesthetic products with third-party pain pumps. There have now been more than 30 such lawsuits filed, involving approximately 40 plaintiffs, although 14 plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed, or are in the process of voluntarily dismissing, their cases against the AstraZeneca defendants. AstraZeneca also tendered an additional 5 cases to Abraxis Biosciences, Inc. 

It was previously reported that plaintiffs moved to consolidate the federal pain pump cases under the Multi-District Litigation process. The Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation denied that motion on 11 August 2008. The cases will accordingly continue as individual lawsuits in the jurisdictions where they were filed. 

AstraZeneca intends to vigorously defend these cases.

340B litigation 

As previously disclosed, the County of Santa Clara filed a class action suit against AstraZeneca, along with several other pharmaceutical manufacturers, on behalf of similarly situated California counties and cities that allegedly overpaid for drugs covered by the federal '340B' programme, which entitles certain hospitals and clinics to preferential pricing for their outpatient purchases of drugs. This suit was previously dismissed. In August 2008, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the dismissal, enabling the County to continue its suit at the lower court. Discovery commenced in October 2008 and a trial date has been set for February 2010. 

AstraZeneca intends to vigorously defend these claims.

Tax litigation

As previously disclosed, AstraZeneca and Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have made a joint referral to the UK Court in respect of transfer pricing for the years 1996 to date. The issue is likely to be resolved by litigation that is now expected to commence in 2010. Management continue to believe that AstraZeneca has adequately provided for its transfer pricing audits, disputes and the joint referral in the UK. Management will continue to keep the provision under review.

5 accounting impact from merck arrangements

Introduction

In 1982, Astra AB set up a joint venture with Merck & Co., Inc. for the purposes of selling, marketing and distributing certain Astra products in the US. In 1998, this joint venture was restructured (the "Restructuring"). Under the agreements relating to the Restructuring (the "Agreements"), a US limited partnership was formed, in which Merck is the limited partner and AstraZeneca is the general partner, and AstraZeneca obtained control of the joint venture's business subject to certain limited partner and other rights held by Merck and its affiliates. These rights provide Merck with safeguards over the activities of the partnership and place limitations on AstraZeneca's commercial freedom to operate. The Agreements provide for:

Annual contingent payments.

A payment to Merck in the event of a business combination between Astra and a third party in order for Merck to relinquish certain claims to that third party's products.

Termination arrangements which, if and when triggered, cause Merck to relinquish its interests in AstraZeneca's products and activities.

Further details are set out in the 2007 Annual Report and Form 20-F Information.

Payment made on 17 March 2008

On 17 March, under the termination arrangements included in the Agreements, AstraZeneca made a net cash payment to Merck of approximately $2.63 billion. This payment resulted in AstraZeneca acquiring Merck's interests in certain AstraZeneca products including PulmicortRhinocortSymbicort and Toprol-XL. Consequently AstraZeneca no longer has to pay contingent payments on these products to Merck and has obtained the ability to fully exploit these products and to fully exploit other opportunities in the Respiratory therapy area that AstraZeneca was previously prevented from doing by Merck's interests in these products. Intangible assets aggregating to $994 million have been recognised in respect of these acquired product rights and these are being amortised over various periods giving rise to an annual expense of approximately $60 million per annum. Approximately $50 million of this amortisation relates to relief from contingent payments, and will be charged to Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), with the balance related to the Respiratory therapy area, which will be charged to SG&A. For the purposes of calculating Core financial measures, the Company will exclude only the amortisation expense related to therapy area intangibles (i.e. that charged to SG&A) from the Core financial measures calculations.

The balance of the net payment made on 17 March represents payments on account for the product rights that will be acquired in the event that the First Option and the Second Option (see below) are exercised by AstraZeneca. Intangible assets aggregating to $1,656 million have been recognised. These balances are not subject to amortisation until each of the options is exercised and the related product rights are acquired. Should it become probable that the First Option will not be exercised, all the payments on account will be expensed immediately. If after the First Option has been exercised it becomes probable that the Second Option will not be exercised, the payments on account for the product rights to be acquired under the Second Option will be expensed immediately.

Further optional payments

AstraZeneca has the right in 2010 to acquire Merck's interests in all the products still covered by the Agreements other than Prilosec and Nexium for $647 million ("the First Option"). These products comprise marketed products (EntocortAtacandPlendilLexxel) and products still in development (including AZD6140, AZD3355, AZD0328 and AZD2327). If the First Option is exercised, AstraZeneca will no longer have to pay contingent payments on these products to Merck and will obtain the ability to fully exploit these products and to fully exploit other opportunities in the Cardiovascular and Neuroscience therapy areas that AstraZeneca was previously prevented from doing by Merck's interests in these products. If the First Option is exercised, this will give rise to an additional amortisation expense in the range of $15 to $50 million per annum charged to COGS, the precise amount dependent upon the launch status of the covered pipeline compounds, and an additional charge to SG&A of around $60 million.

Provided that the First Option is exercised, AstraZeneca may exercise a further option ("the Second Option") two years later (or in 2017, or if combined annual sales of the two products fall below a minimum amount) which will end the contingent payments in respect of Nexium and Prilosec and effectively end AstraZeneca's relationship with and obligations to Merck (other than some residual manufacturing arrangements). The exercise price for the Second Option is the net present value of the future annual contingent payments on Prilosec and Nexium as determined at the time of exercise. If the Second Option is exercised then amortisation related to the ability to exploit opportunities in the Gastrointestinal therapy area will commence, in the amount of $15 million per annum (charged to SG&A), as well as an as yet indeterminable amount of amortisation related to relief from contingent payments. 

The intangible assets relating to purchased product rights and the intangible assets relating to payments on account will be subject to impairment testing and would be partially or wholly impaired if a product is withdrawn or if activity in any of the affected therapy areas is significantly curtailed.

  

6 NINE MONTHS territorial sales analysis

% Growth

9 Months

2008

$m

9 Months

2007

$m

Actual

Constant

Currency

US

9,726

9,701

-

-

Canada

979

814

20

9

North America

10,705

10,515

2

1

Western Europe**

7,445

6,662

12

-

Japan

1,355

1,129

20

6

Other Established ROW

653

506

29

16

Established ROW*

9,453

8,297

14

2

Emerging Europe

924

735

26

10

China

456

313

46

33

Emerging Asia Pacific

618

545

13

12

Other Emerging ROW

1,252

984

27

19

Emerging ROW

3,250

2,577

26

16

Total Sales

23,408

21,389

9

3

*

Established ROW comprises Western Europe (including France, UK, Germany, Italy, Sweden and others), Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

**

For the nine months, Western Europe sales growth excluding Synagis would be 10 percent on an actual basis and -2 percent on a constant currency basis.

7 THIRD quarter territorial sales analysis 

% Growth

3rd Quarter

2008

$m

3rd Quarter

2007

$m

Actual

Constant

Currency

US

3,199

3,199

-

-

Canada

320

286

12

9

North America

3,519

3,485

1

1

Western Europe**

2,434

2,200

11

-

Japan

459

395

16

5

Other Established ROW

247

196

26

16

Established ROW*

3,140

2,791

13

2

Emerging Europe

315

241

31

15

China

168

112

50

35

Emerging Asia Pacific

204

189

8

10

Other Emerging ROW

429

332

29

20

Emerging ROW

1,116

874

28

18

Total Sales

7,775

7,150

9

3

*

Established ROW comprises Western Europe (including France, UK, Germany, Italy, Sweden and others), Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

**

For the third quarter, Western Europe sales growth excluding Synagis would be 11 percent on an actual basis and 0 percent on a constant currency basis.

8 NINE MONTHS product sales analysis

World

US

9

 Months

2008

$m

9

Months

2007

$m

Actual

Growth

%

Constant

Currency

Growth

%

9

Months

2008

$m

Actual

Growth

%

Gastrointestinal:

Nexium

3,876

3,913

(1)

(5)

2,269

(12)

Losec/Prilosec

791

845

(6)

(15)

138

(19)

Others

66

60

10 

23

10 

Total Gastrointestinal

4,733

4,818

(2)

(7)

2,430

(12)

Cardiovascular:

Crestor

2,610

1,997

31 

24 

1,188

14 

Seloken/Toprol-XL

600

1,229

(51)

(55)

207

(77)

Atacand

1,120

934

20 

10 

198

Tenormin

236

224

(4)

14

Zestril

184

228

(19)

(27)

15

(6)

Plendil

201

205

(2)

(10)

15

(46)

Others

209

212

(1)

(11)

1

(50)

Total Cardiovascular

5,160

5,029

(4)

1,638

(25)

Respiratory:

Symbicort

1,490

1,139

31 

19 

165

n/m

Pulmicort

1,098

1,007

722

10 

Rhinocort

244

267

(9)

(13)

139

(20)

Oxis

56

64

(13)

(23)

-

Accolate

55

57

(4)

(5)

39

(5)

Others

126

121

(5)

-

Total Respiratory

3,069

2,655

16 

1,065

18 

Oncology:

Arimidex

1,406

1,256

12 

577

14 

Casodex

974

965

(7)

215

(2)

Zoladex

860

797

(2)

55

(19)

Iressa

192

168

14 

5

(29)

Ethyol

23

27

n/m

n/m

23

n/m

Others

304

267

14 

127

Total Oncology

3,759

3,480

1,002

Neuroscience:

Seroquel

3,292

2,941

12 

2,184

Local anaesthetics

458

398

15 

26

(19)

Zomig

336

320

(2)

138

Diprivan

213

189

13 

29

Others

43

43

(7)

7

(36)

Total Neuroscience

4,342

3,891

12 

2,384

Infection and Other:

Synagis

724

138

n/m

n/m

543

n/m

Merrem

680

558

22 

14 

151

41 

FluMist

71

-

n/m

n/m

71

n/m

Other Products

171

203

(16)

(20)

88

(19)

Total Infection and Other

1,646

899

83 

n/m

853

n/m

Aptium Oncology

294

300

(2)

(2)

294

(2)

Astra Tech

405

317

28 

17 

60

46 

Total

23,408

21,389

9,726

9 THIRD quarter product sales analysis

World

US

3rd

Quarter

2008

$m

3rd 

Quarter

2007

$m

Actual

Growth

%

Constant

Currency

Growth

%

3rd

Quarter

2008

$m

Actual

Growth

%

Gastrointestinal:

Nexium

1,315

1,293

(2)

779

(8)

Losec/Prilosec

249

268

(7)

(15)

39

(30)

Others

25

20

25 

15 

11

38 

Total Gastrointestinal

1,589

1,581

(4)

829

(9)

Cardiovascular:

Crestor

922

691

33 

28 

420

23 

Seloken/Toprol-XL

204

328

(38)

(42)

72

(66)

Atacand

386

320

21 

12 

67

Tenormin

79

73

(1)

5

25 

Zestril

60

72

(17)

(24)

7

133 

Plendil

65

66

(2)

(9)

4

(50)

Others

66

71

(7)

(14)

(100)

Total Cardiovascular

1,782

1,621

10 

575

(10)

Respiratory:

Symbicort

501

371

35 

25 

64

n/m

Pulmicort

304

286

196

Rhinocort

72

80

(10)

(14)

39

(20)

Oxis

18

18

(11)

Accolate

18

19

(5)

(5)

13

Others

38

39

(8)

Total Respiratory

951

813

17 

10 

312

25 

Oncology:

Arimidex

486

425

14 

193

16 

Casodex

300

324

(7)

(14)

71

(1)

Zoladex

295

273

20

(13)

Iressa

67

55

22 

13 

2

Ethyol

3

19

(84)

(84)

3

(84)

Others

105

93

13 

44

Total Oncology

1,256

1,189

(1)

333

Neuroscience:

Seroquel

1,130

1,055

749

(1)

Local anaesthetics

149

129

16 

6

(40)

Zomig

115

107

48

Diprivan

69

64

(2)

9

(10)

Others

13

16

(19)

(25)

1

(80)

Total Neuroscience

1,476

1,371

813

(2)

Infection and Other:

Synagis

124

122

55

(2)

Merrem

241

186

30 

23 

61

65 

FluMist

71

-

n/m

n/m

71

n/m

Other Products

58

63

(8)

(13)

32

(18)

Total Infection and Other

494

371

33 

28 

219

66 

Aptium Oncology

98

100

(2)

(2)

98

(2)

Astra Tech

129

104

24 

15 

20

43 

Total

7,775

7,150

3,199

  

Shareholder Information

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEETINGS

Announcement of fourth quarter and full year 2008 results

29 January 2009

Announcement of first quarter 2009 results

30 April 2009

Annual General Meeting

30 April 2009

Announcement of second quarter and half year 2009 results

30 July 2009

Announcement of third quarter and nine months 2009 results

29 October 2009

DIVIDENDS

The record date for the first interim dividend payable on 15 September 2008 (in the UK, Sweden and the US) was 8 August 2008. Ordinary shares traded ex-dividend on the London and Stockholm Stock Exchanges from 6 August 2008. ADRs traded ex-dividend on the New York Stock Exchange from the same date.

The record date for the second interim dividend for 2008 payable on 16 March 2009 (in the UK, Sweden and the US) will be 6 February 2009. Ordinary shares will trade ex-dividend on the London and Stockholm Stock Exchanges from 4 February 2009. ADRs will trade ex-dividend on the New York Stock Exchange from the same date.

Future dividends will normally be paid as follows:

First interim

Announced in July and paid in September

Second interim

Announced in January and paid in March

TRADEMARKS

Trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies appear throughout this document in italics. AstraZeneca, the AstraZeneca logotype and the AstraZeneca symbol are all trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies. Trademarks of companies other than AstraZeneca appear with a ® or ™ sign and include: Abraxane®, a registered trademark of Abraxis BioScience, LLC. and ONGLYZA™, a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

ADDRESSES FOR CORRESPONDENCE

Registrar and

Transfer Office

The AstraZeneca Registrar

Equiniti Limited

Aspect House

Spencer Road

Lancing

West Sussex

BN99 6DA

UK

Depositary

for ADRs

JPMorgan Chase Bank

JPMorgan Service Center

PO Box 3408

South Hackensack

NJ 07606-3408

US

Registered Office

15 Stanhope Gate

London

W1K 1LN

UK

Swedish Securities Registration Centre

VPC AB

PO Box 7822

SE-103 97 Stockholm

Sweden

Tel (freephone in UK):  0800 389 1580

Tel (outside UK):  +44 (0)121 415 7033

Tel (toll free in US):

888 697 8018

Tel: +1 (201) 680 6630

Tel: +44 (0)20 7304 5000

Tel: +46 (0)8 402 9000

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In order, among other things, to utilise the 'safe harbour' provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995, we are providing the following cautionary statement: These interim financial statements contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the operations, performance and financial condition of the Group. Although we believe our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any forward-looking statements, by their very nature, involve risks and uncertainties and may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those predicted. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information at the date of preparation of these interim financial statements and AstraZeneca undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. We identify the forward-looking statements by using the words 'anticipates', 'believes', 'expects', 'intends' and similar expressions in such statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, certain of which are beyond our control, include, among other things: the risk of expiration or early loss of patents (including patents covering competing products), marketing exclusivity or trademarks; the risk of patent litigation; failure to obtain patent protection; the impact of fluctuations in exchange rates; our debt-funding arrangements; risks relating to owning and operating a biologics and vaccines business; competition; price controls and price reductions; taxation; the risk of substantial product liability claims; the performance of new products; environmental/occupational health and safety liabilities; the development of our business in emerging markets; product counterfeiting; the risk of adverse outcome of litigation and/or government investigations and risk of insufficient insurance coverage; the difficulties of obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals for new products; the risk of failure to observe continuing regulatory oversight; the risk that R&D will not yield new products that achieve commercial success; the risk that acquisitions and strategic alliances formed as part of our externalisation strategy may be unsuccessful; the risk of reliance on third parties for supplies of materials and services; the risk of failure to manage a crisis; the risk of delay to new product launches; information technology and outsourcing; risks relating to productivity initiatives and reputation.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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