AstraZeneca Profit Jumps on Strong Cancer Drug Sales

British pharmaceutical heavyweight AstraZeneca announced on Tuesday that its net profit surged by 45 percent last year, driven by robust demand for its cancer medicines and expanding operations in the United States and China.

The company reported profit after tax of $10.2 billion in 2025, up from $7.0 billion in 2024, according to a corporate statement. Revenue also climbed nine percent to $58.7 billion, largely boosted by strong oncology drug sales.

Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot praised the company’s performance, saying AstraZeneca recorded solid commercial growth across its therapeutic areas and delivered impressive progress in its drug development pipeline. He added that the company’s positive momentum has continued into 2026.

Soriot also expressed strong confidence that AstraZeneca will meet its ambitious goal of generating $80 billion in annual revenue by the end of the decade.

AstraZeneca shares rose by about one percent in midday trading in London, outperforming the broader FTSE 100 index, which was in decline. Market analyst Dan Coatsworth of AJ Bell noted that if AstraZeneca’s late-stage clinical trial pipeline succeeds, the company could significantly outpace its rivals.

AstraZeneca has been strengthening its presence in its two biggest markets, China and the United States. The company recently announced plans to invest $15 billion in China by 2030 to expand manufacturing and research operations. During a visit to Beijing by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, AstraZeneca also revealed a partnership with China’s CSPC Pharmaceutical to develop and market weight-loss injections, a rapidly growing segment in the pharmaceutical market.

The company is also shifting greater focus to the United States, which it aims to contribute half of its global revenue by 2030. Last year, the US accounted for 43 percent of total revenue. To attract more investors, AstraZeneca began a direct share listing on the New York Stock Exchange in February, while retaining its headquarters and primary listing in London.

In response to potential US pharmaceutical tariffs under President Donald Trump, AstraZeneca announced plans to invest $50 billion in US manufacturing and research by 2030. The company also reached an agreement with the Trump administration to significantly reduce drug prices in the US in exchange for a three-year delay on new tariffs.

The pharmaceutical sector remains a major focus of US trade policy, with tariffs imposed on foreign-made drugs as the administration pushes companies to shift operations to American soil.