AstraZeneca said it expected prescriptions of its COVID-19 therapy to drive sales growth of more than 20 percent this year, as company reported second-quarter profit that topped analyst estimates.
The injection, called Evusheld, which is designed to protect against COVID-19 infection for at least six months, has been deployed in many countries for people with compromised immune systems who see little or no benefit from vaccines.
The long-acting antibody therapy, launched in December last year, generated sales of $445 million in the quarter.
“Real-world evidence has shown that 30 percent to 40 percent of COVID hospitalizations are in immunocompromised patients, so there is a real need for Evusheld right now,” finance chief Aradhana Sarin told Reuters….