Astra boosted by drugs approval

ASTRAZENECA notched up more successes in its drug pipeline yesterday with two key approvals from regulators.

The FTSE 100 pharma group’s Imfinzi treatment has been approved in the US for use in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease that affects connections between different organs including the liver, the stomach and the pancreas.

The approval followed a Phase III clinical trial that showed Imfinzi reduced the risk of death in patients by 20pc when combined with chemotherapy compared to receiving chemo only.

Meanwhile, its Forxiga drug was approved by Chinese regulators for use in the treatment of chronic kidney disease in adults.

Clinical trials showed the treatment helped reduce the risk of death by 31pc.

Chronic kidney disease is a serious progressive condition that can increase the risk of heart attacks and premature death.

Astra shares inched up 0.3pc to 10648p.