Sales improving at Astrazeneca

Astrazeneca has taken a knock on its sales, but said the loss of exclusivity on its blockbuster statin is being countered by revenue growth from new drugs.

Total revenues in the half-year were down 1 per cent to $10.3 billion (£7.8bn), but there was a sales improvement in the second quarter, with sales rising 2 per cent to $5.2bn, figures yesterday revealed.