The profit was expected, states Johan Unnerus, pharmaceutical analyst at Redeye.
The pharmaceutical giant's prospects are now also more stable, given that we have got a comprehensive framework for tariffs between the US and Europe, he says.
The market in the US is also a large part of the company's growth, believes Johan Unnerus, and the pharmaceutical company plans a continued increase in its total sales to 50 percent on the US market in the next five years. The billion investment in pharmaceutical substances in Virginia that Astra Zeneca recently announced is part of the company's long-term investment in the US that has been going on for 15-20 years.
The market for pharmaceuticals is strong in the US with good prices, growth and well-developed AI that Astra Zeneca uses to increase its productivity, says Johan Unnerus.
”When we now enter the next growth phase, we have promised $50 billion to continue growing in the US, which includes the largest manufacturing investment in AstraZeneca's history, planned in Virginia”, writes CEO Pascal Soriot in the quarterly report.
”Weapons left in the closet”
Pharmaceuticals are not included in the agreement on 15 percent tariffs that the EU and the US concluded on Sunday evening and what will happen to the pharmaceutical industry is still uncertain. Since the EU and the US are now in agreement on a comprehensive trade agreement, the chance increases that they will also agree on pharmaceuticals, according to Johan Unnerus.
But Trump probably wants to keep that weapon in the closet, given that one is also reviewing the price picture on the home market, he says.
Strategic plan
However, tariff threats and geopolitical uncertainty may have driven the decision to strengthen its presence in the US, he believes.
TT: That one is making a large investment in manufacturing pharmaceutical substances in the US, is it also a way to make oneself less dependent on supply chains from China?
Yes, it can be a strategic way to balance geopolitical risks with physical presence, a strategy that has been strengthened during the 2025 trade turmoil, says Johan Unnerus.
Pharmaceutical giant Astra Zeneca reports a revenue increase of 12 percent during the second quarter to $14.5 billion compared to the same quarter last year.
The profit was $1.58 per share, 27 percent higher than last year, in line with the share analysts' forecasts.
Astra Zeneca's core profit was $2.17 per share, 12 percent higher than last year in fixed currency.
The company management repeats its previous forecast for the full year 2025, of higher profit and revenue.
Source: Astra Zeneca
