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* Sales of $1.17 bln in H1 from COVID-19 vaccine
* Q2 earnings miss forecasts, sales beat
* Now expects FY sales to grow by low-twenties percentage
(Writes through with detail)
By Pushkala Aripaka and Alistair Smout
July 29 (Reuters) - Second-quarter sales of AstraZeneca's
COVID-19 vaccine more than tripled to $894 million from
the previous three months, but the drugmaker once again delayed
its U.S. application for approval.
The vaccine has been touted as a major weapon against the
pandemic because it is cheaper and easier to use than some
rivals. AstraZeneca and its Indian manufacturing partner say
they have supplied 1 billion doses to 170 countries so far.
But the shot has also faced setbacks, including disputes
over data, production problems, and links to rare side-effects
that have led some countries to stop or restrict its use. The
United States has been particularly critical of the vaccine.
AstraZeneca said on Thursday it now expected to seek U.S.
approval for the vaccine in the second half of this year.
Previously, it had planned an application during the first half.
Its shares were down 1.4% in early trade.
The company said the shot, developed by Oxford University,
brought in $1.17 billion in sales in the first six months of
year, putting it among its best selling products, behind
first-placed lung cancer drug Tagrisso on $2.54 billion.
The vaccine sales were based on deliveries of about 319
million doses, the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said, giving an
average price of about $3.7 per dose. Deliveries from its
partner, India-based Serum Institute, were not included.
AstraZeneca has said it will not make a profit from the shot
during the pandemic, and costs related to the vaccine shaved a
cent off second-quarter earnings per share. That's down from 3
cents in the first quarter.
While AstraZeneca did not forecast vaccine sales for the
year, rivals Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson &
Johnson have guided to $33.5 billion, $19.2 billion and
$2.5 billion for their COVID-19 shots, respectively.
Elsewhere, AstraZeneca is hoping for a boost from the recent
purchase of rare medicines business Alexion, to add to its
fast-growing cancer medicines unit and newer drugs, such as
treatments for diabetes and heart conditions.
Including Alexion, it now expects total revenue to increase
by a low-twenties percentage this year, and core earnings of
$5.05 to $5.40 per share. The forecasts do not include sales
from the vaccine.
Total revenue of $8.22 billion for the three months to June,
on a constant-currency basis, beat analysts' consensus forecast
of $7.58 billion. But core earnings of 90 cents per share fell
short of an estimated 92 cents.
(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru and Alistair Smout
in London
Editing by Mark Potter)
