AstraZeneca has reported an improved quarterly financial result in the first three months of 2010, thanks to the strong performance of its key pharmaceutical brands.
The company achieved a revenue total of $8.6 billion (5.7 billion pounds), up seven per cent on the first quarter of 2009 at constant exchange rates, while profits and earnings per share also saw double-digit increases.
Encouraging performance of brands such as Seroquel and Symbicort were highlighted as key drivers of this growth, while sales of the heart disease treatment Crestor increased by 27 per cent compared to the first three months of last year.
David Brennan, chief executive officer of AstraZeneca, said that the firm's revenue has grown in all of the major regions in which it operates.
He added: "Revenue comparisons will become more challenging in the second half of the year as a result of the uplift from Toprol-XL and H1N1 vaccine sales in 2009 and the expiration of the Arimidex patent."
Last week, AstraZeneca was granted approval by regulators in Europe for Crestor to be used as a treatment against the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes among those at risk of a first cardiovascular event.
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