The Lemon Fool

Total Revenue increased by 12% (14% at CER) to $12,629m in the half, with growth across all three therapy areas7 and in every region. Highlights of Total Revenue included:

- The performance of the new medicines, which improved by 42% (45% at CER) to $6,353m, including new-medicine growth in Emerging Markets of 71% (79% at CER) to $1,406m. These medicines represented 50% of global Total Revenue (H1 2019: 40%)

- Growth across all therapy areas: Oncology +28% (+31% at CER) to $5,324m, New CVRM8 +8% (+11% at CER) to $2,265m and Respiratory & Immunology +5% (+7% at CER) to $2,676m. In the second quarter, Respiratory & Immunology Total Revenue of $1,122m declined by 11% (8% at CER), reflecting the adverse impact of COVID-19 on sales of Pulmicort in China

- Growth in every region: an increase in Emerging Markets of 9% (15% at CER) to $4,329m, with China growth of 10% (14% at CER) to $2,659m. China increased by 7% in the second quarter (12% at CER) to $1,243m. Total Revenue in the US increased by 13% in the half to $4,177m and in Europe by 17% (20% at CER) to $2,447m

COVID-19

In addition to the array of efforts listed in the prior results announcement, the Company has mobilised research efforts to find new ways to help target the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reduce the cytokine storm9 and limit organ damage; for the latest AstraZeneca communications regarding COVID-19, please click here.

AstraZeneca has prioritised broad and equitable supply of a vaccine throughout the world at no profit during the pandemic, details of which can be found in the sustainability section of this document. In July 2020, results from the ongoing Phase I/II COV001 trial, led by the University of Oxford, were published in The Lancet showing that recombinant adenovirus vaccine AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) was tolerated and generated robust immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in evaluated participants. Late-stage trials are currently underway in the UK, Brazil and South Africa and are due to start in the US. These trials will determine how well the vaccine will protect from the COVID-19 disease and measure safety and immune responses in different age ranges, at various doses.

Further details of the Company's broad COVID-19 research and development programme and agreements to establish manufacturing capacity are shown later in this announcement.

And later;

Dividends

The Board has recommended an unchanged first interim dividend of $0.90 (69.6 pence, 7.87 SEK) per Ordinary Share.

Dod101 wrote:And payment dates for the dividend

The record date for the first interim dividend for 2020, payable on 14 September 2020, will be 14 August 2020. The ex-dividend date will be 13 August 2020.

Dod