Last checked at 
* 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 details)
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 first quarter, but the drugmaker on Thursday again delayed
its U.S. application for approval as it gathers more data for
submissions.
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 a billion doses to 170 countries so far.
The company began work on the vaccine last year after
teaming up with the University of Oxford, despite having no
prior vaccine experience.
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, and it
still hopeful the shot will have a role to play there.
Previously, it had planned an application during the first half.
A senior executive separately told Reuters that the company
was exploring options for the future of its COVID-19 vaccine
business, with more clarity on the matter expected by the end of
the year.
Elsewhere, AstraZeneca is hoping for a boost from the recent
purchase of rare medicines business Alexion.
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.
AstraZeneca shares fell 1.4% in early trade but had
recovered the losses and edged higher by 1109 GMT.
VACCINE WOES
The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker is also hoping to settle legal
proceedings with the European Commission over vaccine delivery
commitments.
Despite setbacks, the company said the vaccine, Vaxzevria,
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.
Vaccine sales were based on deliveries of about 319 million
doses, it 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 but hopes to eventually generate earnings to
make the business sustainable. Costs related to the vaccine
shaved a cent off second-quarter earnings per share. That was
down from 3 cents in the previous three months.
The company said it was also looking into how long the
vaccine's protection lasts and if a booster dose would be needed
to keep up immunity.
"People received their second dose, at the earliest in
March/April this year, so we need more time to know whether the
protection is lasting or needs boosting," CEO Pascal Soriot said
at a media briefing.
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.
Total revenue of $8.22 billion for the three months to June
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, Kirsten Donovan)
