AstraZeneca posts Q2 profit rise as cancer sales surge, but Ultomiris trial fails
AstraZeneca plc reported second‑quarter 2026 results that beat expectations. Net profit rose more than 2 % to $2.51 billion and total revenue increased about 5‑6 % to roughly $15.4 billion, driven by a 16 % year‑on‑year jump in oncology sales. Core earnings per share were $2.63, up 18 % at constant‑currency rates, and the share price gained around 1.4 % in early European trading. Chief executive Pascal Soriot reaffirmed the company’s target of $80 billion in total revenue by 2030 and highlighted that more than twenty high‑value readouts are planned over the next 18 months.
At the same time, AstraZeneca said its rare‑disease drug Ultomiris (ravulizumab) did not achieve statistical significance for event‑free survival at 26 weeks in patients with transplant‑associated thrombotic microangiopathy, although the data showed a trend toward benefit. In a separate pediatric study the drug recorded overall survival of 87.2 % at 26 weeks and 73.4 % at 52 weeks, prompting the company to advance regulatory filings for children. The firm also reported that its experimental gastric‑cancer agent sonesitatug vedotin met a key overall‑survival goal in a late‑stage trial.
Entities: AstraZeneca · AstraZeneca plc · Enlarged cancer portfolio · Pascal Soriot · Sonesitatug vedotin · Tagrisso · Ultomiris · Ultomiris (ravulizumab) · elecoglipron
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ultomiris is already approved in the United States, the European Union and Japan for treating certain rare blood disorders and neurological conditions. (e874506d-17bd-4112-890f-3e801cb9186b, 5ffbe231-10ba-4564-9b90-3682b0b6405d, ef810d5e-6148-450f-9595-982d5bf76cf7, b88d1…)
- [● 3 SOURCES] AstraZeneca is in ongoing discussions with global health authorities about next steps for the adult indication of Ultomiris. (AstraZeneca)
- [● 4 SOURCES] In a pediatric trial, Ultomiris showed overall survival of 87.2 % at 26 weeks. (Pediatric study)
- [● 4 SOURCES] In a pediatric trial, Ultomiris showed overall survival of 73.4 % at 52 weeks. (Pediatric study)
- [● 4 SOURCES] AstraZeneca's experimental gastric‑cancer drug sonesitatug vedotin met a key trial goal, showing a statistically significant improvement in overall survival in advanced gastric cancer patients. (Reuters articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] AstraZeneca aims for up to 20 new drug launches to generate $80 billion in annual revenue by 2030. (e874506d-17bd-4112-890f-3e801cb9186b, 5ffbe231-10ba-4564-9b90-3682b0b6405d, ef810d5e-6148-450f-9595-982d5bf76cf7, b88d1…)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ultomiris failed to achieve statistical significance for event‑free survival at 26 weeks in patients with haematopoietic stem cell transplant‑associated thrombotic microangiopathy. (Reuters articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] In paediatric studies, Ultomiris showed overall survival of 87.2 % at 26 weeks and 73.4 % at 52 weeks. (claim)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sonesitatug‑vedotin met its key trial goal, showing a statistically significant overall‑survival benefit in advanced gastric cancer patients. (claim)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In a June study, the experimental weight‑loss pill elecoglipron caused an average 10.5 % body‑weight loss after 26 weeks and 11.8 % after 36 weeks. (claim)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Total revenue for the quarter rose 5 % at constant‑currency rates to $15.38 billion. (claim)
- [● 12 SOURCES] AstraZeneca aims to generate $80 billion in annual revenue by 2030, counting on up to 20 new drug launches. (claim)