LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - Drugmaker AstraZeneca said on Friday it would change the way it reported results witheffect from the first quarter of 2015 to make revenue fromso-called externalisation deals more visible to investors.
The move means the company will now focus on total revenuerather than sales revenue in its financial outlook, though bothmeasures are expected to decline by the same rate this year.
Consistent with its previous sales outlook, AstraZenecaexpects total 2015 revenue to fall by a mid single-digit percentat constant exchange rates. Adjusted or "core" earnings pershare are still seen increasing by a low single-digit percent.
The company is aiming to do more externalisation deals,involving the sale of non-core drugs, both to increase its focusand generate additional income to see it through a tough periodof patient expiries on older drugs.
Historically, revenue from such deals formed part of "otheroperating income" presented below cost of goods sold (COGS). Infuture, it will contribute to total revenue, which is shownabove COGS. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by David Clarke)