Astrazeneca Regulatory News (AZN)

Failure to meet development targets

Impact

The development of any pharmaceutical product candidate is a complex, risky and lengthy process involving significant financial, R&D and other resources, which may fail at any stage of the process due to various factors. These include failure to obtain the required regulatory or marketing approvals for the product candidate or its manufacturing facilities; unfavourable clinical efficacy data; safety concerns; failure of R&D to develop new product candidates; failure to demonstrate adequate cost-effective benefits to regulatory authorities and/or payers; and the emergence of competing products.

Because our business model and strategy rely on the success of relatively few compounds, the failure of any in-line production may have a significant negative effect on our business or results of operations.

Production and release schedules for biologics may be more significantly impacted by regulatory processes than other products. This is due to more complex and stringent regulation on the manufacturing of biologics and their supply chain.

A succession of negative drug project results and a failure to reduce development timelines effectively, or produce new products that achieve the expected commercial success, could frustrate the achievement of development targets, adversely affect the reputation of our R&D capabilities, and is likely to materially adversely affect our business and results of operations. See also Failure to achieve strategic priorities or to meet targets or expectations on page 217.

Difficulties obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals for new products

Impact

We are subject to strict controls on the commercialisation processes for our pharmaceutical products, including their development, manufacture, distribution and marketing. Safety, efficacy and quality must be established before a drug can be marketed for a given indication. The criteria for establishing safety, efficacy and quality may vary by country or region and the submission of an application to regulatory authorities may or may not lead to the grant of marketing approval. Regulators can refuse to grant approval or may require additional data before approval is given, even though the medicine may already be launched in other countries. Approved products are also subject to regulations, and a failure to comply can potentially result in losing regulatory approval to market our products. Regulations may require a company to conduct additional clinical trials after a drug's approval, which can result in increased costs, labelling challenges or loss of regulatory approval.

Factors, including advances in science and technology, evolving regulatory science, and different approaches to benefit/risk tolerance by regulatory authorities, the general public, and other third party public interest groups influence the initial approvability of new drugs. Existing marketed products are also subject to these same forces, and new data and meta-analyses have the potential to drive changes in the approval status or labelling. Recent years have seen an increase in post-marketing regulatory requirements and commitments, and an increased call for third party access to regulatory and clinical trial data packages for independent analysis and interpretation.

Politically motivated and unpredictable policy making by governments and regulators can adversely influence regulatory decision making, often leading to severe delays in regulatory approval. The predictability of the outcome and timing of review processes remains challenging due to evolving regulatory science, competing regulatory priorities, unpredictable policy making and downward pressure on regulatory authority resources.

Delays in regulatory reviews and approvals impact patient and market access. In addition, post-approval requirements result in increased costs and may impact the labelling and approval status of currently marketed products.

Failure to obtain and enforce effectiveIP protection

Impact

Our ability to obtain and enforce patents and other IP rights in relation to our products is an important element of our ability to protect our investment in R&D and create long-term value for the business. Some countries in which we operate are still developing their IP laws or may even be limiting the applicability of these laws to pharmaceutical inventions. Adverse political perspectives on the desirability of strong IP protection for pharmaceuticals in certain emerging and even developed markets may limit our ability to obtain effective IP protection for our products. As a result, certain countries may seek to limit or deny effective IP protection for pharmaceuticals.

Limitations on the availability of patent protection or the use of compulsory licensing in certain countries in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on the pricing and sales of our products and, consequently, could materially adversely affect our revenues from those products. More information about protecting our IP is contained in the Intellectual Property section from page 68. Information about the risk of patent litigation and the early loss of IP rights is contained in the Expiry or loss of, or limitations to, IP rights risk on page 208.

Delay to new product launches

Impact

Our continued success depends on the development and successful launch of innovative new drugs. The anticipated launch dates of major new products significantly affect our business, including investment in large clinical studies, the manufacture of pre-launch product stocks, investment in marketing materials pre-launch, sales force training and the timing of anticipated future revenue streams from new product sales. Launch dates are primarily driven by our development programmes and the demands of the regulatory authorities in the approvals process, as well as pricing negotiations. Delays to anticipated launch dates may result from various factors, including adverse findings in pre-clinical or clinical studies, regulatory demands, price negotiation, competitor activity and technology transfer.

Significant delays to anticipated launch dates of new products could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and/or results of operations. For example, for the launch of products that are seasonal in nature, delays in regulatory approvals or manufacturing difficulties may delay launch to the next season which, in turn, may significantly reduce the return on costs incurred in preparing for the launch for that season. In addition, a delayed launch may lead to increased costs if, for example, marketing and sales efforts need to be rescheduled or performed for longer than expected.

Acquisitions and strategic alliances, including licensing and collaborations, may be unsuccessful

Impact

We seek licensing arrangements and strategic collaborations to expand our product portfolio and geographical presence as part of our business strategy.

Such licensing arrangements and strategic collaborations are key, enabling us to grow and strengthen the business. The success of such arrangements is largely dependent on the technology and other IP rights we acquire, and the resources, efforts and skills of our partners. Also, under many of our licensing arrangements and strategic collaborations, we make milestone payments well in advance of the commercialisation of the products, with no assurance that we will recoup these payments.

Furthermore, we experience strong competition from other pharmaceutical companies in respect of licensing arrangements, strategic collaborations, and acquisition targets, and therefore, we may be unsuccessful in implementing some of our intended projects.

We may also seek to acquire complementary businesses or enter into other strategic transactions. The integration of an acquired business could involve incurring significant debt and unknown or contingent liabilities, as well as having a negative effect on our reported results of operations from acquisition-related charges, amortisation of expenses related to intangibles and charges for the implementation of long-term assets. We may also experience difficulties in integrating geographically separated organisations, systems and facilities, and personnel with different organisational cultures.

If we fail to complete these types of collaborative projects in a timely manner, on a cost-effective basis, or at all, this may limit our ability to access a greater portfolio of products, IP technology and shared expertise.

Additionally, disputes or difficulties in our relationship with our collaborators or partners may arise, often due to conflicting priorities or conflicts of interest between parties, which may erode or eliminate the benefits of these alliances.

The incurrence of significant debt or liabilities due to the integration of an acquired business could cause deterioration in our credit rating and result in increased borrowing costs and interest expense.

Further, if liabilities are uncovered in an acquired business, an acquired business fails to perform in line with expectations, or a strategic transaction does not deliver the results we intended, then the Group or our shareholders may suffer losses and may not have adequate remedies against the seller or third parties. Integration processes may also result in business disruption, diversion of management resources, the loss of key employees and other issues, such as a failure to integrate IT and other systems.

Challenges to achieving commercial success of new products

Impact

The successful launch of a new pharmaceutical product involves substantial investment in sales and marketing activities, launch stocks and other items. The commercial success of our new medicines is particularly important to replace lost sales following patent expiry. We may ultimately be unable to achieve commercial success for any number of reasons. These include difficulties in manufacturing sufficient quantities of the product candidate for development or commercialisation in a timely manner, the impact of price control measures imposed by governments and healthcare authorities, the outcome of negotiations with third party payers, erosion of IP rights, including infringement by third parties, failure to show a differentiated product profile and changes in prescribing habits.

As a result, we cannot be certain that compounds currently under development will achieve success, and our ability to accurately assess, prior to launch, the eventual efficacy or safety of a new product once in broader clinical use can only be based on data available at that time, which is inherently limited due to relatively short periods of product testing and relatively small clinical study patient samples.

The commercialisation of biologics is often more complex than for small molecule pharmaceutical products, primarily due to differences in the mode of administration, technical aspects of the product, and rapidly changing distribution and reimbursement environments.

Our products are subject to competition by other products approved for the same or similar indication, and the approval of a competitive product that is considered superior with, or equivalent to, one of our products may result in immediate and significant decreases in our sales.

If a new product does not succeed as anticipated or its rate of sales growth is slower than anticipated, there is a risk that we may be unable to fully recoup the costs incurred in launching it, which could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations.

Due to the complexity of the commercialisation process for biologics, the methods of distributing and marketing biologics could materially adversely impact our revenues from the sales of products, such as Synagis and FluMist/Fluenz.

Illegal trade in our products

Impact

The illegal trade in pharmaceutical products is widely recognised by industry, non-governmental organisations and governmental authorities to be increasing. Illegal trade includes counterfeiting, theft and illegal diversion (that is, when our products are found in a market where we did not send them and where they may not be locally approved). There is a risk to public health when illegally traded products enter the supply chain, as well as associated financial risk. Regulators and the public expect us to help reduce opportunities for illegal trade in our products through securing the integrity of our supply chain, surveillance, investigation and supporting legal action against those found to be engaged in illegal trade.

Public loss of confidence in the integrity of pharmaceutical products as a result of illegal trade could materially adversely affect our reputation and financial performance. In addition, undue or misplaced concern about this issue may cause some patients to stop taking their medicines, with consequential risks to their health. Authorities may take action, financial or otherwise, if they believe we are liable for breaches in our own supply chains.

There is also a direct financial loss when counterfeit, stolen and/or illegally diverted products replace sales of genuine products or genuine products are recalled following discovery of counterfeit, stolen and/or illegally diverted products.

Developing our business in Emerging Markets

Impact

The development of our business in Emerging Markets is a critical factor in determining our future ability to sustain or increase our global product revenues. This poses various challenges including: more volatile economic conditions and/or political environments; competition from multinational and local companies with existing market presence; the need to identify and to leverage appropriate opportunities for sales and marketing; poor IP protection; inadequate protection against crime (including counterfeiting, corruption and fraud); inadequate infrastructure to address disease outbreaks (such as the Ebola virus); the need to impose developed market compliance standards; the need to meet a more diverse range of national regulatory, clinical and manufacturing requirements; inadvertent breaches of local and international law; not being able to recruit appropriately skilled and experienced personnel; identification of the most effective sales and marketing channels and route to market; and interventions by national governments or regulators restricting market access and/or introducing adverse price controls.

The failure to exploit potential opportunities appropriately in Emerging Markets may materially adversely affect our reputation, business or results of operations.

Expiry or loss of, or limitations to, IP rights

Impact

Pharmaceutical products are only protected from being copied during the limited period of protection under patent rights and/or related IP rights such as Regulatory Data Protection or orphan drug status. Expiry or loss of these rights typically leads to the immediate launch of generic copies of the product in the country where the rights have expired or been lost. See the Patent Expiries section on page 201, which contains a table of certain patent expiry dates for our key marketed products.

Additionally, the expiry or loss of patents covering other innovator companies' products may also lead to increased competition for our own, still-patented, products in the same product class due to the availability of generic products in that product class. Further, there may be increased pricing pressure on our still-patented products due to the lower prices of generic entrants.

Products under patent protection or within the period of Regulatory Data Protection typically generate significantly higher revenues than those not protected by such rights. Our revenues, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected upon expiry or early loss of our IP rights due to generic entrants into the market for the applicable product. Additionally, the loss of patent rights covering major products of other pharmaceutical companies may materially adversely affect the growth of our still-patented products in the same product class in that market.

Pressures from generic competition

Impact

Our products compete not only with other products approved for the same condition, marketed by research-based pharmaceutical companies, but also with generic drugs marketed by drug manufacturers. These competitors may invest more resources into the marketing of their products than we do, depending on the relative priority of these competitor products within their company's portfolio. Generic versions of products are often sold at lower prices than branded products, as the manufacturer does not have to recoup the significant cost of R&D investment and market development. The majority of our patented products, including Nexium, Crestor and Seroquel XR, are subject to pricing pressures due to competition from generic copies of these products and from generic forms of other drugs in the same product class (for example, generic forms of Losec/Prilosec, Lipitor and Seroquel IR).

As well as facing generic competition upon expiry or loss of IP rights, we also face the risk that generic drug manufacturers seek to market generic versions of our products prior to expiries of our patents and/or the Regulatory Exclusivity periods. For example, we are currently facing challenges in the US from numerous generic drug manufacturers regarding our patents for Nexium and Pulmicort Respules, two of our key products. Generic manufacturers may also take advantage of the failure of certain countries to properly enforce Regulatory Data Protection and may launch generics during this protected period. This is a particular risk in some Emerging Markets where appropriate patent protection may be difficult to obtain or enforce.

If challenges to our patents by generic drug manufacturers succeed and generic products are launched, or generic products are launched 'at risk' on the expectation that challenges to our IP will be successful, this may materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In 2014, US sales for Crestor and Seroquel XR were $2,918 million (2013: $2,912 million) and $738 million (2013: $743 million), respectively. Furthermore, if limitations on the availability, scope or enforceability of patent protection are implemented in jurisdictions in which we operate, generic manufacturers in these countries may be increasingly able to introduce competing products to the market earlier than they would have been able to, had more robust patent protection or Regulatory Data Protection been available.

Effects of patent litigation in respect of IP rights

Impact

Any of the IP rights protecting our products may be asserted or challenged in IP litigation initiated against or by external parties. Such IP rights may also be the subject of validity challenges in patent offices. We expect our most valuable products to receive the greatest number of challenges. Despite our efforts to establish and defend robust patent protection for our products, we may not succeed in protecting our patents from such litigation or other challenges.

We also bear the risk that courts may decide that third parties do not infringe our IP rights. This may result in AstraZeneca losing exclusivity and/or erosion of revenues. Details of proceedings involving non-infringement allegations, including so-called Section 505(b)(2) cases in the US can be found in Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182.

Where we assert our IP rights but are ultimately unsuccessful, third parties may seek damages, alleging, for example, that they have been inappropriately restrained from entering the market. In such cases, we bear the risk that we incur liabilities to those third parties.

We also bear the risk that we may be found to infringe patents owned or licensed exclusively by third parties, including research-based and generic pharmaceutical companies and individuals. Infringement accusations may implicate, for example, our manufacturing processes, product intermediates or use of research tools. Details of significant infringement claims against us by third parties enforcing IP rights can be found in Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182.

If we are not successful in maintaining exclusive rights to market one or more of our major products, particularly in the US where we achieve our highest revenue, our revenue and margins could be materially adversely affected. If we are ultimately unsuccessful in patent litigation, we may incur liabilities to third parties for damages incurred after enforcing our IP rights.

Managing or litigating infringement disputes over so-called 'freedom to operate' can be costly. We may be subject to injunctions against our products or processes and be liable for damages or royalties. We may need to obtain costly licences. These risks may be greater in relation to biologics and vaccines, where patent infringement claims may relate to discovery or research tools, and manufacturing methods and/or biological materials. While we seek to manage such risks by, for example, acquiring licences, forgoing certain activities or uses, or modifying processes to avoid infringement claims and permit commercialisation of our products, such steps can entail significant cost and there is no guarantee that they willbe successful.

Price controls and reductions

Impact

Most of our key markets have experienced the implementation of various cost control or reimbursement mechanisms for pharmaceutical products.

For example, in the US, prices are being depressed through restrictive reimbursement policies and cost control tools such as restricted lists and formularies, which employ 'generic first' strategies and/or require physicians to obtain prior approval for the use of a branded medicine where a generic alternative exists. These mechanisms can be used by payers to limit the use of branded products and put pressure on manufacturers to reduce net prices. In addition, payers are shifting a greater proportion of the cost of branded medicines to the patient via out-of-pocket payments at the pharmacy counter. The patient out-of-pocket spend is generally in the form of a co-payment or, in some cases, a co-insurance, which is designed, principally, to encourage patients to use generic medicines.

In Emerging Markets, governments are increasingly controlling pricing in the self-pay sector.

A summary of the principal aspects of price regulation and how pricing pressures are affecting our business in our most important markets is set out in Pricing pressure in the Marketplace section from page 17 and opposite in the following risk factor.

Due to these pricing pressures, there can be no certainty that we will be able to charge prices for a product that, in a particular country or in the aggregate, enable us to earn an adequate return on our product investment. These pressures, including the increasingly restrictive reimbursement policies to which we are subject, as well as potential legislation that expands the commercial importation of medicines into the US, could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations.

We expect these pricing pressures will continue, and may increase.

Economic, regulatory and political pressures

Impact

We face continued economic, regulatory and political pressures to limit or reduce the cost of our products.

In 2010, the US enacted the ACA, a comprehensive health reform law that expands insurance coverage, implements delivery system reforms and places a renewed focus on cost and quality. In terms of specific provisions impacting our industry, the law mandates higher rebates and discounts on branded drugs for certain Medicare and Medicaid patients as well as an industry-wide excise fee. Implementation of several health system delivery reforms included in the ACA has commenced and will continue until 2018. The ACA expands the patient population eligible for Medicaid and provides new insurance coverage for individuals through state and federally-operated health insurance exchanges. In general, patients enrolled in the exchanges are subject to higher cost sharing obligations and may not have as robust access to prescription drugs as compared with patients enrolled in Medicare Part D or commercial plans. There will be ongoing scrutiny of the US pharmaceutical industry that could result in further government intervention and financial constraint. For more information, please see Regulatory requirements and Pricing pressure in the Marketplace section from page 16 and page 17, respectively.

In the EU, efforts by the EC to reduce inconsistencies and improve standards in the disparate national pricing and reimbursement systems met with little immediate success as Member States guard their right to make healthcare budget decisions. The industry continues to be exposed in Europe to various ad hoc cost-containment measures and reference pricing mechanisms, which impact prices. There is a trend towards increasing transparency and comparison of prices among EU Member States. Recent controversy regarding the high price of a drug marketed by one of our competitors for chronic hepatitis C may provoke further EU collaboration and may eventually lead to a change in the overall pricing and reimbursement landscape.

Concurrently, many markets are adopting the use of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to provide a rigorous evaluation of the clinical efficacy of a product, at, or post, launch. HTA evaluations are also increasingly being used to assess the clinical effect, as well as cost-effectiveness, of products in a particular health system. This comes as payers and policymakers attempt to increase efficiencies in the use and choice of pharmaceutical products.

Further information regarding these pressures is contained in Regulatory requirements and Pricing pressure in the Marketplace section from page 16 and page 17, respectively.

While new patients entering the US healthcare system due to the ACA may lead to a slight increase in prescription drug utilisation, it is too early to predict what the financial impact from newly covered individuals may be. Overall, we expect that our financial and other costs resulting from the ACA, many of which we are unable to accurately estimate, will far outweigh any increase in revenues.

The continued disparities in EU and US pricing systems could lead to marked price differentials between markets, which, by way of the implementation of existing or new reference pricing mechanisms, increases the pricing pressure affecting the industry. The importation of pharmaceutical products from countries where prices are low due to government price controls, or other market dynamics, to countries where prices for those products are higher, is already prevalent and may increase. Increased transparency of net prices and strengthened collaboration by governments may accelerate the development of further cost containment policies (such as procurement or the comparison of net prices etc).

Abbreviated approval processes for biosimilars

Impact

While no application for a biosimilar has been made in relation to an AstraZeneca biologic, various regulatory authorities are implementing or considering abbreviated approval processes for biosimilars that would compete with patented biologics.

For example, in 2010, the US enacted the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act within the ACA, which contains general directives for biosimilar applications. The FDA issued draft guidance in February 2012 on implementing an abbreviated biosimilar approval pathway. However, significant questions remain, including standards for designation of interchangeability and data collection requirements to support extrapolation of indications. In 2012, the FDA also implemented user fee programmes to support biosimilar product review and policy development. In Europe, the EMA published final guidelines on similar biologics containing MAbs and in May 2012, the first MAb biosimilar application was submitted with recommendation for approval made by the EMA. Notably, various jurisdictions have adopted either the EMA guidelines or those set forth by the WHO to enable biosimilars to enter the market after discrete periods of data exclusivity.

The extent to which biosimilars would differ from patented biologics on price is unclear. However, due to their complex nature, it is uncertain whether biosimilars would have the same impact on patented biologics that generic products have had on patented small molecule products.

In addition, it is uncertain when any such abbreviated approval processes may be fully realised, particularly for more complex protein molecules such as MAbs. Such processes may materially and adversely affect the future commercial prospects for patented biologics, such as the ones that we produce.

Increasing implementation and enforcement of more stringent anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation

Impact

There is an increasing global focus on the implementation and enforcement of anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation.

For example, in the UK, the Bribery Act 2010 came into force in 2011. It has extensive extra-territorial application, and imposes organisational liability for any bribe paid by persons or entities associated with an organisation where the organisation failed to have adequate preventative procedures in place at the time of the offence. In the US, there has been significant enforcement activity in respect of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by the SEC and DOJ against US companies and non-US companies listed in the US. China and other countries are also enforcing their own anti-bribery laws more aggressively and/or adopting tougher new measures.

We are the subject of current anti-corruption investigations and there can be no assurance that we will not, from time to time, continue to be subject to informal inquiries and formal investigations from governmental agencies. In the context of our business, governmental officials interact with us in various roles that are important to our operations, such as in the capacity of a regulator, partner or healthcare payer, reimburser or prescriber, among others. Details of these matters are included in Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182.

We devote significant resources to the considerable challenge of compliance with this legislation, including in emerging and developing markets, at considerable cost. Investigations from governmental agencies require additional resources. Despite taking significant measures to prevent breaches of applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws by our personnel and associated third parties, breaches may result in the imposition of significant penalties, such as fines, the requirement to comply with monitoring or self-reporting obligations, or debarment or exclusion from government sales or reimbursement programmes, any of which could materially adversely affect our reputation, business or results of operations.

Any expected gains from productivity initiatives are uncertain

Impact

We continue to implement various productivity initiatives and restructuring programmes with the aim of enhancing the long-term efficiency of the business. However, anticipated cost savings and other benefits from these programmes are based on estimates and the actual savings may vary significantly. In particular, these cost reduction measures are often based on current conditions and cannot always take into account any future changes to the pharmaceutical industry or our operations, including new business developments or wage or price increases.

If inappropriately managed, the expected value of these initiatives could be lost through low employee engagement and hence productivity, increased absence and attrition levels, and industrial action.

Our failure to successfully implement these planned cost reduction measures, either through the successful conclusion of employee relations processes (including consultation, engagement, talent management, recruitment and retention), or the possibility that these efforts do not generate the level of cost savings we anticipate, could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations.

Failure to attract and retain key personnel and failure to successfully engage with our employees

Impact

We rely heavily on recruiting and retaining talented employees with a diverse range of skills and capabilities to meet our strategic objectives. For example, the success of our science activities depends largely on our ability to attract and retain sufficient numbers of high-quality researchers and development specialists. We face intense competition for well qualified individuals, as the supply of people with specific skills and significant leadership potential or in specific geographic regions may be limited.

Our ability to achieve high levels of employee engagement in the workforce, and hence benefit from strong commitment and motivation, is key to the successful delivery of our business objectives.

The inability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel, in particular those in key scientific and leadership positions and those in our talent pools, may weaken our succession plans for critical positions in the medium term, may materially adversely affect the implementation of our strategic objectives and could ultimately impact our business or results of operations.

Failure to engage effectively with our employees could lead to business disruption in our day-to-day operations, reduce levels of productivity and/or increase levels of voluntary turnover, all of which could ultimately adversely impact our business or results of operations.

While we are committed to working on improving drivers of engagement, such as increasing our employees' understanding of our strategy and our ongoing efforts to reduce organisational complexity, our efforts may be unsuccessful.

Failure of information technology and cybercrime

Impact

We are dependent on effective IT systems. These systems support key business functions such as our R&D, manufacturing, supply chain and sales capabilities and are an important means of safeguarding and communicating data, including critical or sensitive information, the confidentiality and integrity of which we rely on. The size and complexity of our IT systems, and those of our third party vendors (including outsource providers) with whom we contract, have significantly increased over the past decade and makes such systems potentially vulnerable to service interruptions and security breaches from attacks by malicious third parties, or from intentional or inadvertent actions by our employees or vendors.

Any significant disruption to these IT systems, includingbreaches of data security or cybersecurity, or failure to integrate new and existing IT systems, could harm our reputation and materially adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

While we have invested heavily in the protection of our data and IT, we may be unable to prevent breakdowns or breaches in our systems that could result in disclosure of confidential information, damage to our reputation, regulatory penalties, financial losses and/or other costs.

Significant changes in the business footprint and the implementation of the new IT strategy, including the setting up of captive offshore Global Technology Centres, could lead to temporary loss of capability while the changes are being implemented.

The inability to effectively back-up and restore data could lead to permanent loss of data that could result in non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

We and our vendors could be susceptible to third party attacks on our information security systems. Such attacks are of ever increasing levels of sophistication and are made by groups and individuals with a wide range of motives and expertise, including criminal groups, 'hacktivists' and others. From time to time we experience malicious intrusions and computer viruses.

Failure of outsourcing

Impact

We have outsourced various business critical operations to third party providers. This includes certain R&D processes, IT systems, HR and finance and accounting services.

The failure of outsource providers to deliver timely services, and to the required level of quality, and the failure of outsource providers to co-operate with each other, could materially adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. In addition, such failures could adversely impact our ability to meet business targets, maintain a good reputation within the industry and with stakeholders, and result in non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

A failure to successfully manage and implement the integration of IT infrastructure services provided by our outsource providers could create disruption, which could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations.

In addition, failure to manage outsourcing or insourcing transition processes may disrupt our business. For instance, as we transition services that previously were outsourced to our service centre in Chennai (India), incumbent outsource providers may cease to continue to provide the same level of resources and quality of service.

Manufacturing biologics

Impact

Manufacturing biologics, especially in large quantities, is complex and may require the use of innovative technologies to handle living micro-organisms and facilities specifically designed and validated for this purpose, with sophisticated quality assurance and control procedures.

Final market release of a biologic depends on a number of in-process manufacturing and supply chain parameters to ensure the product conforms with its safety, identity and strength requirements and meets its quality and purity characteristics.

Biologics production facilities, especially for drug substance manufacture, are very specialised and can take years to develop and bring on line as licensed facilities. Predicting demand for certain classes of biologics, especially prior to launch, can be challenging. We expect that external capacity for biologics drug substance production will remain constrained for the next several years and, accordingly, may not be readily available for supplementary production in the event that we experience unforeseen need for such capacity.

Slight variations in any part of the manufacturing process or components may lead to a product that does not meet its stringent design specifications. Failure to meet these specifications may lead to recalls, spoilage, drug product shortages, regulatory action and/or reputational harm.

Difficulties and delays in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of our products

Impact

We may experience difficulties and delays in manufacturing our products, such as

· supply chain disruptions, including those due to natural or man-made disasters at one of our facilities or at a critical supplier or vendor

· delays related to the construction of new facilities or the expansion of existing facilities, including those intended to support future demand for our products

· inability to supply products due to a product quality failure or regulatory agency compliance action such as licence withdrawal, product recall or product seizure

· other manufacturing or distribution problems, including changes in manufacturing production sites, limits to manufacturing capacity due to regulatory requirements, changes in the types of products produced, or physical limitations or other business interruptions that could impact continuous supply.

Manufacturing, distribution and sales difficulties may result in product shortages and significant delays, which may lead to lost sales and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Reliance on third party goods and services

Impact

We increasingly rely on third parties for the timely supply of goods, such as raw materials (for example, the API in some of our medicines), equipment, formulated drugs and packaging, and services, all of which are key to our operations. Many of these goods are difficult to substitute in a timely manner or at all.

Unexpected events and/or events beyond our control could result in the failure of the supply of goods and services. For example, suppliers of key goods may cease to trade. In addition, we may experience limited supply of biological materials, such as cells, animal products or by-products. Furthermore, government regulations could result in restricted access to, use or transport of such materials.

Third party supply failure could lead to significant delays and/or difficulties in obtaining goods and services on commercially acceptable terms. This may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Loss of access to sufficient sources of key goods and biological materials or services may interrupt or prevent planned research activities and/or increase our costs. Further information is contained in Working with Suppliers in Manufacturing and Supply from page 57.

Adverse outcome of litigation and/or governmental investigations

Impact

We may be subject to various product liability, consumer commercial, antitrust, environmental, employment or tax litigation or other legal proceedings and governmental investigations. Litigation, particularly in the US, is inherently unpredictable and unexpectedly high awards for damages can result from an adverse verdict. In many cases, plaintiffs may claim compensatory, punitive and statutory damages in extremely high amounts. In particular, the marketing, promotional, clinical and pricing practices of pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as the manner in which manufacturers interact with purchasers, prescribers and patients, are subject to extensive regulation, litigation and governmental investigation. Many companies, including AstraZeneca, have been subject to claims related to these practices asserted by federal and state governmental authorities and private payers and consumers, which have resulted in substantial expense and other significant consequences. Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182 describes the material legal proceedings in which we are currently involved.

Investigations (for example, under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or federal or state False Claims Acts described in further detail in Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182) or legal proceedings, regardless of their outcome, could be costly, divert management attention, or damage our reputation and demand for our products. Unfavourable resolution of current and similar future proceedings against us could subject us to criminal liability, fines, penalties or other monetary or non-monetary remedies, require us to make significant provisions in our accounts relating to legal proceedings and could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations.

Substantial product liability claims

Impact

Pharmaceutical companies have, historically, been subject to large product liability damages claims, settlements and awards for injuries allegedly caused by the use of their products. Adverse publicity relating to the safety of a product or of other competing products may increase the risk of product liability claims.

Substantial product liability claims that result in court decisions against us or in the settlement of proceedings could materially adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations, particularly where such circumstances are not covered by insurance. For more information, see the Limited third party insurance coverage risk on page 219.

Failure to adhere to applicable laws, rules and regulations

Impact

Any failure to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations may result in civil and/or criminal legal proceedings being filed against us, or in us becoming subject to regulatory sanctions. Regulatory authorities have wide-ranging administrative powers to deal with any failure to comply with continuing regulatory oversight and this could affect us, whether such failure is our own or that of our contractors or external partners. Details of product liability claims against us can be found in Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182.

Failure to comply with applicable laws, including ongoing control and regulation, could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations. For example, once a product has been approved for marketing by the regulatory authorities, it is subject to continuing control and regulation, such as the manner of its manufacture, distribution, marketing and safety surveillance. For example, if regulatory issues concerning compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice or safety monitoring regulations for pharmaceutical products (often referred to as pharmacovigilance) arise, this could lead to loss of product approvals, product recalls and seizures, and interruption of production, which could create product shortages and delays in new product approvals, and negatively impact patient access and our reputation.

Failure to adhere to applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to anti-competitive behaviour

Impact

Any failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations relating to anti-competitive behaviour may expose us to regulatory sanctions and/or lawsuits from governmental authorities and private, non-governmental entities.

Certain of our commercial arrangements with generics companies, which have sought to settle patent challenges on terms acceptable to both innovator and generics manufacturer, may be subject to challenge by competition authorities.

Where a government authority investigates our adherence to competition laws, or we become subject to private party lawsuits (for example, the US Nexium settlement anti-trust litigation described in more detail in Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182), this may result in inspections of our sites or requests for documents and other information. Competition investigations or legal proceedings could be costly, divert management attention or damage our reputation.

Unfavourable resolution of such challenges, investigations or legal proceedings against us could require us to change our commercial practice and could subject us to fines and penalties, third party damages actions and other sanctions. These could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations.

Environmental and occupational health and safety liabilities

Impact

We have environmental and/or occupational health and safety-related liabilities at some currently and formerly owned, leased and third party sites, the most significant of which are detailed in Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182.

While we carefully manage these liabilities, if a significant compliance issue, environmental, occupational health or safety incident or legal requirement for which we are responsible were to arise, this could result in us being responsible for compensation, fines and/or remediation costs. In some circumstances, such liability could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations. In addition, our financial provisions for any obligations that we may have relating to environmental or occupational health and safety liabilities may be insufficient if the assumptions underlying the provisions, including (for example) our assumptions regarding the portion of waste at a site for which we are responsible, prove incorrect or if we are held responsible for additional contamination or occupational health and safety-related claims.

Misuse of social media platforms andnew technology

Impact

We increasingly use the internet, social media, mobile applications and other forms of new technology to communicate internally and externally. The accessibility and instantaneous nature of interactions with such media may facilitate or exacerbate the risk of data leakages from within AstraZeneca or false or misleading statements being made about AstraZeneca, which may damage our reputation. As existing social media platforms expand and evolve, and new social media platforms emerge, it becomes increasingly challenging to identify new points of entry and to put structures in place to secure and protect information.

Inappropriate use of certain media vehicles could lead to the unauthorised or unintentional public disclosure of sensitive information (such as personally identifiable information on employees, healthcare professionals or patients, for example, those enrolled in our clinical trials), which may damage our reputation, adversely affect our business or results of operations and expose us to legal risks, as well as additional legal obligations. Similarly, the involuntary public disclosure of commercially sensitive information, such as trade secrets through external media channels, or an information loss could adversely affect our business or results of operations. In addition, negative posts or comments on social media websites about us or, for example, the safety of our products, could harm our reputation.

Failure to achieve strategic priorities or to meet targets or expectations

Impact

We may from time to time communicate our business strategy or our targets or expectations regarding our future financial or other performance (for example, the expectations described in Future prospects in the Financial Review from page 81, which we communicated to investors at our strategy update and our investor day in May and November 2014, respectively). All such statements are of a forward-looking nature and are based on assumptions and judgements we make, all of which are subject to significant inherent risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of and/or that are beyond our control.

Any failure to successfully implement our business strategy may frustrate the achievement of our financial or other targets or expectations and, in turn, materially damage our brand and materially adversely affect our business, financial position or results of operations.

There can be no guarantee that our financial targets or expectations will materialise on the expected timeline or at all. Actual results may deviate materially and adversely from any such target or expectation, including if one or more of the assumptions or judgements underlying any such target or expectation proves to be incorrect in whole or in part.

Adverse impact of a sustained economic downturn

Impact

A variety of significant risks may arise from a sustained global economic downturn. Additional pressure from governments and other healthcare payers on medicine prices and volumes of sales in response to recessionary pressures on budgets may cause a slowdown or a decline in growth in some markets. In some cases, those governments most severely impacted by the economic downturn may seek alternative ways to settle their debts through, for example, the issuance of government bonds which might trade at a discount to the face value of the debt.

In addition, our customers may cease to trade, which may result in losses from writing off debts, or the sustained economic downturn may unfavourably affect the spending patterns of the consumers of our products.

We are highly dependent on being able to access a sustainable flow of liquid funds due to the high fixed costs of operating our business and the long and uncertain development cycles of our products. In a sustained economic downturn, financial institutions with whom we deal may cease to trade and there can be no guarantee that we will be able to access monies owed to us without a protracted, expensive and uncertain process, if at all.

More than 95% of our cash investments are managed centrally and are invested in collateralised bank deposits or AAA credit rated institutional money market funds. Money market funds are backed by institutions in the US and the EU, which, in turn, invest in other funds, including sovereign funds. This means our credit exposure is a mix of US and EU sovereign default risk and financial institution default risk.

While we have adopted cash management and treasury policies to manage this risk (see the Financial risk management policies section on page 81), we cannot be certain that these will be as effective as they are intended to be, in particular in the event of a global liquidity crisis. In addition, open positions where we are owed money and investments we have made in financial institutions or money market funds cannot be guaranteed to be recoverable. Additionally, if we need access to external sources of financing to sustain and/or grow our business, such as the debt or equity capital financial markets, this may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all, in the event of a severe and/or sustained economic downturn. This may, for instance, be the case in the event of any default by the Group on its debt obligations, which may materially adversely affect our ability to secure debt funding in the future or our financial condition in general. Further information on debt funding arrangements is contained in the Financial risk management policies section on page 81.

Political and socio-economic conditions

Impact

We operate in over 100 countries around the world, some of which may be subject to political and social instability. There may be disruption to our business if there is instability in a particular geographic region, including as a result of war, terrorism, riot, unstable governments, civil insurrection or social unrest. For instance, our operational risks in Ukraine have increased due to growing political and economic uncertainty in the region.

Deterioration of, or failure to improve, socio-economic conditions, and situations and/or resulting events, depending on their severity, could adversely affect our supply and/or distribution chain in the affected countries and the ability of customers or ultimate payers to purchase our medicines. This could adversely affect our business or results of operations. Broader economic developments, such as potential international sanctions and global oil price developments, could exacerbate this effect in the Ukrainian and Russian markets.

Fluctuations in exchange rates

Impact

As a global business, currency fluctuations can significantly affect our results of operations, which are reported in US dollars. Approximately 40% of our global 2014 sales were in the US, which is expected to remain our largest single market for the foreseeable future. Sales in other countries are predominantly in currencies other than the US dollar, including the euro, Japanese yen, Australian dollar and Canadian dollar. We have a growing exposure to emerging market currencies, some of which are subject to exchange controls, and these currencies, such as that of Venezuela, may be subject to material devaluations against the US dollar. Major components of our cost base are located in the UK and Sweden, where an aggregate of approximately 21% of our employees are based.

Movements in the exchange rates used to translate foreign currencies into US dollars may materially adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, some of our subsidiaries import and export goods and services in currencies other than their own functional currency, and so the financial results of such subsidiaries could be affected by currency fluctuations arising between the transaction dates and the settlement dates for these transactions. In addition, there are foreign exchange differences arising on the translation of equity investments in subsidiaries.

Limited third party insurance coverage

Impact

In recent years, the costs associated with product liability litigation have increased the cost of, and narrowed the coverage afforded by, pharmaceutical companies' product liability insurance. To contain insurance costs in recent years, we have continued to adjust our coverage profile, accepting a greater degree of uninsured exposure. The Group has not held any material product liability insurance since February 2006. In addition, where claims are made under insurance policies, insurers may reserve the right to deny coverage on various grounds. For example, product liability litigation cases relating to Crestor and Nexium in the US are not covered by third party product liability insurance. See Note 27 to the Financial Statements from page 182 for details.

If we are found to have a financial liability due to product liability or other litigation, in respect of which we do not have insurance coverage, or if an insurer's denial of coverage is ultimately upheld, this could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations.

For more information, please see the Substantial product liability claims risk on page 216.

Taxation

Impact

The integrated nature of our worldwide operations can produce conflicting claims from revenue authorities as to the profits to be taxed in individual countries. The majority of the jurisdictions in which we operate have double tax treaties with other foreign jurisdictions, which provide a framework for mitigating the incidence of double taxation on our revenues and capital gains.

The resolution of these disputes can result in a reallocation of profits between jurisdictions and an increase or decrease in related tax costs, and has the potential to affect our cash flows and EPS. Claims, regardless of their merits or their outcome, are costly, divert management attention and may adversely affect our reputation.

If any of these double tax treaties should be withdrawn or amended, especially in a territory where a member of the Group is involved in a taxation dispute with a tax authority in relation to cross-border transactions, such withdrawal or amendment could materially adversely affect our business or results of operations, as could a negative outcome of a tax dispute or a failure by the tax authorities to agree through competent authority proceedings. See the Financial risk management policies section on page 81 for tax risk management policies and Note 27 to the Financial Statements on page 187 for details of current tax disputes.

Pensions

Impact

Our pension obligations are backed by assets invested across the broad investment market. Our most significant obligations relate to the UK pension fund.

Sustained falls in these asset values will strain pension fund solvency levels, which may result in requirements for additional cash, restricting cash available for strategic business growth. Similarly, if the liabilities increase due to a sustained low interest rate environment, this will reduce pension fund solvency ratios. The likely increase in the IAS 19 accounting deficit generated by any of these factors may cause the credit rating agencies to review our credit rating, with the potential to negatively affect our ability to raise debt. See Note 20 to the Financial Statements from page 162 for further details of the Group's pension obligations.