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AstraZeneca

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FY2016 Annual Report · AstraZeneca
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What science can do

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Welcome to the AstraZeneca  
Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016.

We are a global, science-led 
biopharmaceutical business and  
in this Annual Report we report on  
the progress we made in 2016 in 
pushing the boundaries of science  
to deliver life-changing medicines.

AstraZeneca.  
What science can do.

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(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:90)
(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)
(cid:76)
(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)
(cid:15) (cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)
(cid:89)(cid:72)
(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)
(cid:72)
(cid:82)
(cid:89)(cid:72)
(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:74)(cid:92)(cid:92)(cid:92)
(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:92)(cid:17)
(cid:92)(cid:17)

(cid:81)

(cid:75)
(cid:75)

Important information for readers  
of this Annual Report   
For more information in relation to the inclusion of reported 
(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)
exchange rate (CER) growth rates as used in this Annual 
Report, please see the Financial Review on page 64.

 > (cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)
 > Therapy Area Review
 > Business Review
 > Resources Review: including Employees
 > Financial Review: Financial risk management
 > Corporate Governance: including the Audit Committee 

(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86) 
(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)
239 are intended to provide a useful guide to terms and 
(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)
acronyms and abbreviations, used in this Annual Report.

Use of terms   
In this Annual Report, unless the context otherwise 
requires, ‘AstraZeneca’, ‘the Group’, ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ refer 
to AstraZeneca PLC and its consolidated entities.

Cautionary statement regarding  
forward-looking statements 
A cautionary statement regarding forward-looking 
statements and other essential information relating to this 
Annual Report can be found on page 243.

Directors’ Report   
The following sections make up the Directors’ Report, 
(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:98)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)
requirements of the Companies Act 2006: 

Report and Corporate Governance Report

 > Directors’ Responsibility Statement
 > Development Pipeline
 > Sustainability: supplementary information
 > Shareholder Information 
 > Corporate Information

Strategic Report 
The following sections make up the Strategic Report, which 
has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of 
the Companies Act 2006:
 > AstraZeneca at a glance
 > (cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)
 > Strategy: including Risk overview
 > Therapy Area Review
 > Business Review
 > Resources Review
 > Financial Review

Learn about our main therapy areas:

Oncology
Our ambition is to eliminate cancer as a 
(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)
and collaborations.

  See page 25

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease
We address multiple risk factors to reduce 
cardiovascular morbidity, mortality and 
organ damage.

  See page 30

Respiratory
We aim to transform the treatment of 
respiratory disease with our growing 
portfolio of medicines.

  See page 35

Front cover 
Treatment for hyperkalaemia 
Current treatments for hyperkalaemia, a potentially 
life-threatening condition associated with chronic kidney 
disease and chronic heart failure, are poorly tolerated by 
patients. AstraZeneca is developing a treatment which traps 
potassium in the gut and removes it from the body.

Financial highlights

Total Revenue* 
down 7% to $23,002 million at actual rate  
of exchange (down 5% at CER) 

(cid:49)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)
up 25% at actual rate of exchange  
to $4,145 million

2016

2015

2014

$23bn

$23,002m

$24,708m

$26,547m

2016

2015

2014

$4.1bn

(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:3)
up 19% at actual rate of exchange  
to $4,902 million (up 9% at CER)

(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:87)
down 3% at actual rate of exchange  
to $6,721 million (down 7% at CER)

2016

2015

2014

$4.9bn

$4,902m

$4,114m

$2,137m

2016

2015

2014

$6.7bn

Reported EPS 
for the full year up 24% at actual rate of 
exchange to $2.77 (up 9% at CER) 

Core EPS 
for the full year up 1% at actual rate of 
exchange to $4.31 (down 5% at CER) 

2016

2015

2014

$2.77

$2.77

$2.23

$0.98

2016

2015

2014

$4.31

$4,145m

$3,324m

$7,058m

$6,721m

$6,902m

$6,937m

$4.31

$4.26

$4.28

  Financial Review from page 62

*   As detailed on page 142, Total Revenue consists  
of Product Sales and Externalisation Revenue.

For more information within  
this Annual Report

For more information see 
  www.astrazeneca.com

Contents
Strategic Report
AstraZeneca at a glance 
(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)
Strategy 
Therapy Area Review 

 Oncology 

  Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease 

 Respiratory 

  Other Disease Areas 
Business Review 
Resources Review 
Financial Review 

Corporate Governance
Chairman’s Statement 
Corporate Governance Overview 
Board of Directors 
Senior Executive Team 
Corporate Governance Report 
Audit Committee Report 
Directors’ Remuneration Report 

Financial Statements
Auditor’s Reports (Group) 
Consolidated Statements 
Group Accounting Policies 
Notes to the Group Financial  
Statements 
Group Subsidiaries and Holdings 
Auditor’s Report (Company) 
Company Statements 
Company Accounting Policies 
Notes to the Company Financial  
Statements 
Group Financial Record 

Additional Information
Development Pipeline 
Patent Expiries of Key Marketed  
Products 
Risk 
Geographical Review 
Sustainability:  
supplementary information 
Shareholder Information 
Corporate Information 
Trade Marks 
Glossary 
Index 

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This Annual Report is also available on our website,  
www.astrazeneca.com/annualreport2016

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

1

 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
Strategic Report 

AstraZeneca at a glance

A global biopharmaceutical business delivering medicines to patients through 
innovative science and excellence in development and commercialisation.

(cid:50)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3) 
of science to deliver life-changing medicines:

(cid:20)(cid:3) (cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:3)

2  Return to growth

3  Be a great place to work

A science-led, innovation strategy 
Distinctive R&D capabilities: small molecule  
and biologic medicine, including immunotherapies  
and protein engineering, as well as devices,  
biomarkers and translational science

  Strategy and key performance indicators from page 16

Broad R&D platform in three main therapy areas 

12 new molecular entities (NMEs) in Phase III/pivotal 
Phase II or under regulatory review

2016

2015

2014

2013

12

12

15

13

11

Oncology

Cardiovascular  
& Metabolic Disease

Respiratory

 > Our ambition is to eliminate cancer  

(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)
discovery and collaborations. We seek to 
achieve this by means of our combination-
focused pipeline that exploits the power 
(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:86)

 > We push the boundaries of science to 
create life-changing medicines for 
patients that reduce morbidity, mortality 
and organ damage by addressing 
multiple risk factors

 > We aim to transform the treatment of 
respiratory disease with our growing 
portfolio of inhaled and biologic 
(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)
(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)

Portfolio of specialty and primary care products

Oncology

Cardiovascular &  
Metabolic Disease

Respiratory

Other Disease  
Areas

$3,383m 

$8,116m 

$4,753m 

$5,067m 

Product Sales  
2015: $2,825m 
2014: $3,027m

Product Sales  
2015: $9,489m 
2014: $9,802m

Product Sales  
2015: $4,987m 
2014: $5,063m

Product Sales  
2015: $6,340m 
2014: $8,203m

 > Oncology sales represented 16%  

 > CVMD sales represented 38%  

 > Respiratory sales represented 22%  

 > Other sales represented 24%  

of Total Product Sales

of Total Product Sales

of Total Product Sales

of Total Product Sales

 > Lynparza (sales of $218 million) 

 > Sales of Onglyza in the US  

 > Pulmicort sales of $1,061 million,  

available in 31 countries by end 2016

 > Iressa sales of $513 million,  
down 6% (5% at CER), as we 
prioritised Tagrisso

declined 10% to $376 million,  
as we prioritised Farxiga

 > In the US, Crestor sales declined  
(cid:24)(cid:26)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
entry of generic Crestor

up 5% (8% at CER)

 > Bevespi Aerosphere inhalation 
aerosol launched in the US in 
January 2017

 > Nexium sales of $2,032 million,  
down 19% (18% at CER) and 
Seroquel XR sales of $735 million, 
down 28% (27% at CER) following 
loss of exclusivity

(cid:3) (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:23)(cid:24)

2

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Global commercial presence, with strength in Emerging Markets

US

Europe

Established Rest of World 

Emerging Markets

S

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$7,365m 

$5,064m 

$3,096m 

$5,794m 

Product Sales  
2015: $9,474m 
2014: $10,120m

Product Sales  
2015: $5,323m 
2014: $6,638m

Product Sales  
2015: $3,022m 
2014: $3,510m

Product Sales  
2015: $5,822m 
2014: $5,827m

Commercial Highlights: Growth Platforms grew by 4% (5% at CER) in 2016

 > Emerging Markets: Stable (growth of 6% at CER), supported by China, 

 > Brilinta/Brilique sales grew by 36% (39% at CER)

up 4% (10% at CER) to $2,636 million

 > (cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:22)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3) 

 > Diabetes: Growth of 9% (11% at CER), as Farxiga/Forxiga became  

for Symbicort 

our largest-selling Diabetes medicine

 > New Oncology: Strong sales with Tagrisso delivering sales of $423 million  

 > (cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:27)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)

(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)

impact and a biennial price reduction

  Return to growth from page 48

Our talented employees are committed to achieving our Purpose in a sustainable way and our 
Values foster a strong AstraZeneca culture
59,700 

Gothenburg, Sweden 

Cambridge, UK (HQ) 

Employees

California, US

92% 

of employees feel able  
to bring our Values to  
life in their daily work

Cambridge,  
UK (HQ) 

Boston, MA, US

Gaithersburg, MD, US

   Be a great 
place to  
work from 
page 52 and 
Employees 
from page 54

Gothenburg, Sweden 

Osaka,  
Japan

Shanghai,  
China

Gaithersburg, Maryland US

Research centres

Our capital-allocation  
priorities strike a balance  
between the interests of  
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3) 
creditors and shareholders,  
and support our progressive  
dividend policy

  Financial Review from page 62

Distributions to shareholders $m 

Dividends 

Proceeds from issue of shares 

Total

Dividend per Ordinary Share $ 

Dividend per Ordinary Share 

Dividend per Ordinary Share for 2016

First interim dividend

Second interim dividend

Total

$

0.90

1.90

2.80

2016

3,561

(47)

3,514

2016

2.80

Pence

68.7

150.2

218.9 

2015

3,486

(43)

3,443

2015

2.80

2014

3,521

(279)

3,242

2014

2.80

SEK

Payment date

7.81 12 September 2016

16.57 

24.38 

20 March 2017

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

3

 
Strategic Report 

(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)

2017 should be  
a turning point in our 
journey as we bring new 
medicines to patients 
across the globe.”

year with $423 million in Product Sales in  
its first full year. In diabetes, Farxiga/Forxiga  
is a global leader in the SGLT2 class of 
diabetes treatments with a 35% volume 
share. Product Sales of Brilinta/Brilique 
reached $839 million and in many countries 
it is the leading medicine for patients 
discharged with acute coronary syndrome.

While AstraZeneca benefits from realising 
the potential of the new medicines emerging 
from our pipeline, we never forget that the 
main beneficiaries of our life-changing 
medicines are patients. For instance, since 
its launch at the end of 2014, we have 
treated nearly 5,000 cancer patients with 
Lynparza and launched it in 31 countries 
with seven ongoing reviews.

Investing for the future
As we look ahead to 2017 and beyond, 
continued investment in our pipeline keeps 
us on track to return to sustainable growth 
in line with our targets. Examples of how  
we are investing for the future for the benefit 
of patients appear throughout this Annual 
Report. However, none is more significant 
than our investment in Cambridge, UK, as 
illustrated on page 7. Cambridge, along with 
Gaithersburg, MD, US and Gothenburg in 
Sweden, is one of our three strategic R&D 
centres and it also became our global 
corporate headquarters in May 2016.  
Our activities there demonstrate our focus 
on science, collaborative way of working 
and commitment to sustainability.

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)
The panel to the right provides an overview 
of how we performed against each of our 
three strategic priorities in 2016. At the heart 
of our plans to achieve scientific leadership 
is our focus on three therapy areas. 

While challeennges sttiill lie aheaadd, aa new AAstraZeneca is 
eemmergiing andd iitts shaappe iss the result of tthhe strategy we 
announncced in MMaarch 222013. It is an AstraaZeneca built 
on a pippelliine-driveenn trannnsformation aanndd a focus on 
three mmaainn ttherapy aarreass.

A transitional phase
The first phase in our journey ended in 2015 
and was focused on rebuilding our pipeline. 
2016 was a crucial year in the second stage 
of our journey, as we manage a transitional 
period of patent expiries, drive our Growth 
Platforms and roll out our new medicines.

While now largely behind us, the impact of 
the loss of exclusivity on some of our most 
important medicines has been significant 
and will continue in 2017. Between 2011 and 
2016, Product Sales in Established Markets 
of brands that have lost exclusivity, including 
Crestor, a statin, Nexium, a proton pump 
inhibitor and Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, 
have reduced from $20 billion to $6 billion. 
Unfavourable currency movements account 
for $2 billion of this $14 billion reduction. This 
decline represents a significant ‘headwind’, 
but we have made significant progress 
rebuilding our Company for the future and 
preparing for a new period of growth driven 
by our pipeline delivery.

In parallel to managing our legacy brands 
decline, we have launched a significant 
number of new medicines and increased 
revenues from our recently launched 
medicines. For example, Tagrisso was only 
launched in November 2015 and became 
our biggest lung cancer medicine during the 

4

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
2016 Strategic priorities overview

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)
 > 11 approvals of NMEs or major LCM projects in major markets

 – Oncology: Tagrisso – lung cancer (EU, JP) and ctDNA blood test (US, JP)
 – CVMD: Brilinta/Brilique – post myocardial infarction (EU) and acute coronary 
syndromes and post myocardial infarction (JP); Qtern – Type 2 diabetes (EU)

 – Respiratory: Bevespi Aerosphere (PT003) – COPD (US)
 – Other: Zurampic – gout (EU); Zavicefta – serious infections (EU); Pandemic  

(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:57)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:12)

 > 7 Phase III NME investment decisions
 > 14 NME or major LCM regulatory submissions in major markets: Faslodex – 

breast cancer (US, EU, JP); Tagrisso – lung cancer (CN); Tagrisso – lung cancer 
(AURA3 study for full approval) (US, EU); durvalumab – bladder cancer (US); 
(cid:39)(cid:56)(cid:53)(cid:36)(cid:55)(cid:44)(cid:50)(cid:49)(cid:16)(cid:27)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:14)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)
(US, EU); lesinurad+allopurinol FDC – gout (US); three further submissions 
made await regulatory acceptance

 > 10 accelerated reviews included

 – Breakthrough Therapy Designation: durvalumab – bladder cancer (US)
 – Orphan Drug Designation: acalabrutinib – blood cancers (EU); selumetinib – 
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:92)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:39)(cid:44)(cid:16)(cid:24)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:12)
 – Fast Track Designation: Lynparza – ovarian cancer (2nd line) (US), prostate 
(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:21)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:39)(cid:44)(cid:27)(cid:27)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:61)(cid:39)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)
(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:93)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:12)

 – Priority Review Designation: Tagrisso (CN); durvalumab – bladder cancer (US)

 > 22 projects discontinued

Return to growth
 > 7% decrease in Total Revenue to $23,002 million at actual rate of exchange; 

comprising Product Sales of $21,319 million (down 10%) and Externalisation 
Revenue of $1,683 million (up 58%)
 – At CER, Total Revenue declined by 5%

 > 4% increase in Growth Platforms revenue (5% at CER) contributing 63%  

of Total Revenue
 – Emerging Markets: Stable (growth of 6% at CER) to $5,794 million,  

supported by China, up 4% (10% at CER) to $2,636 million

 – Diabetes: Growth of 9% (11% at CER), as Farxiga/Forxiga became our 

largest-selling Diabetes medicine

 – (cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:27)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:27)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)

rate impact and a biennial price reduction

 – Brilinta/Brilique sales grew by 36% (39% at CER) to $839 million
 – (cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:22)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)

pricing pressure for Symbicort 

 – New Oncology: Strong sales of $664 million, with Tagrisso delivering sales  

(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)

 > US revenue was down 22% to $7,365 million; Europe down 5% to $5,064 million; 
and Established ROW rose by 2% to $3,096 million (all at actual rate of exchange)

Be a great place to work
 > (cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:51)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3) 

the business

 > Second in Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Life Sciences industry group  

of Dow Jones Sustainability Index

 > Biggest riser in the Access to Medicine Index since the last survey, moving  

to 7th place in 2016 from 15th in 2014

S

t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

Some of the most exciting science being 
undertaken at the moment is in Oncology as 
we explore the potential for novel therapies. 
As you can see, 2016 was a significant year 
for our Oncology team: we had four regional 
approvals, seven expedited reviews and 
seven regulatory submissions for our 
medicines. Looking ahead, we have the 
potential to deliver our third Oncology 
medicine in 2017 – halfway to our 2020 
target in just four years. 

Of course, pushing the boundaries of 
science means we sometimes encounter 
setbacks. Thus, in 2016, for example,  
we voluntarily withdrew the marketing 
authorisation application submitted to the 
EMA for cediranib in advanced ovarian 
cancer. However, there remain ongoing 
studies to investigate cediranib as a 
combination partner with Lynparza and 
other compounds. In addition, three of our 
Oncology trials failed to meet their primary 
endpoints. Another development showed 
our Values in action. In pushing the 
boundaries of science with clinical trials of 
durvalumab for head and neck squamous 
cell carcinoma, we observed bleeding 
events. Following the precautionary 
principle, we put patients first and placed  
a voluntary hold on the enrolment of new 
patients. This was followed by a partial 
clinical hold from the FDA. However, by 
following the science, we provided a 
comprehensive analysis about the events 
that had been observed and the FDA’s  
hold was subsequently lifted.

In 2016, our Cardiovascular & Metabolic 
Disease team saw three approvals, four 
regulatory submissions and two Brilinta trials 
which failed to meet their primary endpoints. 
We received a complete response letter 
from the FDA for ZS-9 for the treatment of 
hyperkalaemia and subsequently made a 
resubmission. In diabetes, positive results 
from our DURATION-8 trials demonstrated 
the efficacy of Farxiga and Bydureon in 
combination for the treatment of Type 2 
diabetes and should help us maximise  
the value of our Diabetes portfolio.

During the year, Bevespi Aerosphere was 
approved in the US and launched in early 
2017. Our Respiratory team also made  
three regulatory submissions, including  
two in respect of benralizumab for treating 
severe, uncontrolled asthma. We believe 
benralizumab, which would be our first 
Respiratory biologic, will become an 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

5

 
Strategic Report 

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important medicine for patients with severe 
asthma and potentially COPD, as well as an 
important growth driver for our Company, 
broadening and deepening our offering in 
the Respiratory market.

Business development and collaboration 
are at the heart of the way AstraZeneca 
operates. It is particularly evident in our work 
in Other Disease Areas. For example, we 
enter into collaborations to maximise the 
potential of key products that fall outside  
our main therapy areas and bring them to 
patients quicker. Examples in 2016 include 
our development and commercialisation 
agreements with LEO Pharma for 
brodalumab for psoriasis and tralokinumab 
for dermatitis, and with Allergan for 
MEDI2070 for inflammatory diseases. 
In Alzheimer’s disease, together with our 
partner Lilly, we obtained a Fast Track 
Designation for the BACE inhibitor and have 
entered a second collaboration with them 
to co-develop MEDI1814. We are also 
partnering some of our in-line products  
that we believe still have growth potential  
but which cannot receive promotional 
support as we focus our resources on  
our main therapy areas. An example is the 
agreement we reached with China Medical 
System Holdings for the promotion of 
Plendil in China: our partner will manage  
the commercialisation and both companies  
will share the benefits. Finally, we have been 
divesting smaller non-core products that will 
be better managed by companies that can 
focus on them. The value unlocked through 
these deals is reinvested in our pipeline, 
creating more long-term value through 
our main therapy areas.

Prioritised and accelerated pipeline
Since we announced our science-led 
strategy in 2013, we set ourselves some 
ambitious pipeline targets for the end of 
2016. For example, we aimed for nine to 10 
new molecular entities (NMEs) in Phase III 
or registration: by the end of 2016, there 
were 12 such projects. We also set 
ourselves the target of eight to 10 new 
medicines and major line extension 
regulatory approvals in 2015 to 2016 and 
achieved a total of eight. This is a significant 
improvement compared to our historical 
pipeline performance.

We also made substantial progress in 
reshaping our research and early 
development efforts to help us to produce  
a steady stream of new products that will 

support our long-term growth: we believed 
we had the potential for 12 to 16 Phase II 
starts in 2015 to 2016. In fact, we achieved 
25. Looking ahead, we believe we have the 
potential for an unprecedented number of 
submissions in the next 24 months, with 
around half in our Oncology therapy area. 
To ensure we can deliver this potential,  
in April we announced plans to sharpen 
further the prioritisation of investments 
in our main therapy areas, particularly 
Oncology. We also want to increase 
partnering in relation to projects in our 
inflammation, infection and neuroscience 
disease areas. The 10 strategic transactions 
we undertook in 2016 bear witness to the 
progress we have made in that regard. 
We also took action to align costs to our 
changing business shape and streamline 
our operations.

Return to growth
Our Return to growth is underpinned by 
our Growth Platforms, shown in the panel. 
As our strategy has progressed, so our 
Growth Platforms have evolved – New 
Oncology (new products) was added and, 
from January 2017, New CVMD combined 
our Diabetes and Brilinta/Brilique Platforms. 
As the treatment of diabetes becomes more 
focused on cardiovascular risk reduction 
based on recent data, we believe there are 
clear synergies managing diabetes and 
Brilinta/Brilique together. 

The panel shows how our Growth  
Platforms performed in 2016. Despite 
increasing competition, pricing pressures 
and geopolitical instability, they grew by  
4% at actual exchange rates (5% at CER) 
and now represent 63% of all revenues. 
Emerging Markets are particularly important 
in achieving our goals. This importance  
was recognised towards the end of the year 
with the appointment of Leon Wang, our 
Country President in China, as Executive 
Vice-President of Asia Pacific and a 
member of the Senior Executive Team.

Be a great place to work
None of the progress we are making in 
achieving our strategic objectives would 
be possible without our people; we want to 
ensure AstraZeneca is a great place to work 
and I am very grateful to each and every 
employee for all their efforts throughout 
the year.

6

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Employee opinion surveys help us measure 
satisfaction and engagement and how  
we are doing in our aim to be a great place 
to work. Our most recent survey, carried  
out in December 2016, showed a decline 
compared to our very high 2015 score, 
although results are in line with the ‘global 
pharma norm’. This decline might not be 
unexpected given the challenges of the 
strategic journey on which we are embarked 
and the restructuring we undertook in  
2016 as we continued losing sales to  
patent expiries. Nevertheless, we are 
focused on improving performance in  
those areas employees tell us are important 
drivers of employee engagement. These 
include people development and line 
manager communication.

One area in which we made significant 
progress during 2016, and which the 
Chairman reports on in more detail in 
his Statement on page 82, was external 
recognition for our commitment to 
sustainability – whether that be in the 
Dow Jones Sustainability Index or Access  
to Medicine Index, or in the recognition  
of our science-based environmental  
targets. During the year, the Executive  
team also reviewed and refreshed our 
sustainability strategy.

Looking ahead
Our financial results for 2016 were in  
line with expectations and reflected our 
ongoing transition. We brought a sharper 
strategic focus to our three main therapy 
areas, boosting pipeline productivity  
further. Our underlying business is growing 
as the new AstraZeneca emerges,  
driven by competitive franchises and 
Emerging Markets. 

2017 should be a turning point in our journey 
as we bring new medicines to patients 
across the globe. It is an exciting time as  
we approach the inflection point for our 
anticipated return to long-term growth, built 
on the foundations of a science-led pipeline.

Pascal Soriot 
Chief Executive Officer

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Being committed to protecting  
the environment, we are:
 > working towards a Building Research 
Establishment ‘excellent’ rating for 
sustainability performance for our R&D 
centre in addition to delivering a low 
carbon emission facility

 > building the largest ground source heat 

pump system in Europe and a combined 
heat and power station to meet on-site 
energy needs.

To inspire the next generation  
of scientists, we:
 > have three schemes to support more  
than 80 PhD scholarships and eight 
clinical lectureships

 > partner with the Cambridge Science 

Centre to ensure life science education 
activities reach underserved communities 
in the wider Cambridgeshire area
 > have an active community support 
scheme, involving more than 160  
staff volunteers, focused around 
science-based educational events  
for young people. 

Investing for the future: 
Led by science in Cambridge

As we navigate the transitional phase in our strategy, locating
our new R&D centre and corporate headquarters in Cambridge 
demonstrates our strategy in practice – a Company led by science 
(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)
from our collaborative approach.

We announced our move to Cambridge  
in 2013. In doing so, we join MedImmune 
who have been in the city for 25 years. We 
begin the staged occupation of our new 
state-of-the-art building (illustrated above 
and right) in 2018 and already have some 
2,000 staff actively engaged in Cambridge’s 
scientific, academic, clinical and business 
life. They are realising the value of being 
located at a world-leading academic and  
life science hub.

 > shaped the laboratory spaces at our  
R&D centre collaboratively, involving  
our scientists in the design and 
commissioning process, including an 
on-site teaching lab for science outreach.

(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:29)
 > initiated over 130 collaborations with 
Cambridge organisations, including  
over 100 with the University of Cambridge

 > collaborated with Microsoft to develop  

a new cancer treatment modelling system

Key facts

As a global science-led business,  
we have:
 > provided new life science businesses  
with access to more than 60 mentors 
from across AstraZeneca, including 
support for the University of Cambridge 
Judge Business School’s ‘Accelerate’ 
programme

 > established the CRUK MedImmune 

Alliance Laboratory to provide capabilities 
to discover novel biologics and diagnostics 

 > established a world-class mass 
spectroscopy capability with the 
Laboratory of Molecular Biology  
and the University of Cambridge
 > developed the AstraZeneca Medical 
Research Council UK Centre for  
Lead Discovery.

130

Over 130 collaborations  
in Cambridge

2,000 

Around 2,000 employees  
in Cambridge

Watch the video at 
 www.astrazeneca.com

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

7

 
 
Strategic Report    Strategy

Business model and life-cycle of a medicine

AstraZeneca at a glance summarises our business. In this section, we review our 
business model – how we make money, the resources we need and how we add 
value across the entire life-cycle of a medicine.

Why AstraZeneca? 
We are an integrated, science-led biopharmaceutical Company with a strategic focus on three main therapy 
(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:29)(cid:3)
> pipeline
> skills and capabilities
> quality of science
> commercial expertise
> intellectual property

What do we do?
Our business activities span the entire life-cycle 
of a medicine.

How do we make money?

Investment

We invest in the discovery, development, 
manufacturing and commercialisation of our 
pipeline of innovative small molecule and biologic 
prescription medicines, including targeted business 
development through collaboration, in-licensing  
and acquisitions.

Revenue generation

We generate revenue from sales of our mature 
products and Growth Platform launches, as well as 
from our externalisation activities and divestments.

Our focus is on creating products that facilitate 
future revenue generation.

Reinvestment

We reinvest in developing the next generation of 
innovative medicines and in our Growth Platforms 
that provide the platform for future sustainable 
revenues in the face of potential losses of revenue 
from the loss of key product patents.

Investment in disc
Research and dev

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1  

Find potential  
medicine

Reinvest m e n t o f r e t u

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Inputs 
> Applying our resources to 
meet unmet medical need

Outputs 
> Returns to shareholders
> Improved health

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Post- 
exclusivity

Our  
Purpose

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Post-launch 
research and 
development

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5

7

Launch new  
medicine

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5  

Phase III  
studies

6 

Regulatory 
submission  
and pricing

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Pre-clinical 
studies 

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Phase I  
studies

4  

Phase II  
studies

edicin

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Our Purpose

We push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines.  
Our Purpose underpins everything we do. It gives us a reason to come to work 
(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3) 
to patients and create value for shareholders. 

Our Values

We follow the science. 
(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)
We play to win. 
We do the right thing. 
We are entrepreneurial. 

8

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Life-cycle of a medicine

Research and development phases 10–15 years

1 Find potential medicine 
>  Identify unmet medical need aligned with our 
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)
research to identify potential new medicines
>  Initiate process of seeking patent protection

2 Pre-clinical studies 
>  Conduct laboratory and animal studies to 

understand if the potential medicine is safe to 
introduce into humans and in what quantities

(cid:33)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)

and maximum dose estimates

3 Phase I studies 
> Begin clinical studies with small groups of 

healthy human volunteers (small molecules) 
or patients (biologics) to understand how the 
potential medicine is absorbed into the body, 
distributed around it and excreted

> Determine approximate dosage and identify  

(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)

4 Phase II studies
(cid:33)(cid:3) (cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:16)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)
(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
tolerability of the medicine and determine 
optimal dose

>  Design Phase III studies to generate data needed 

for regulatory approvals and pricing/
reimbursement globally

5 Phase III studies
>  Engage in studies in a larger group of patients 
(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
safety of the medicine and evaluate the overall 
(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:18)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:79)(cid:72)

>  Initiate branding for the new medicine in 

preparation for its launch

6 Regulatory submission and pricing
>  Seek regulatory approvals for 

manufacturing, marketing and selling  
the medicine

>  Submit clinical data to regulatory authorities 

(and, if requested, generate further data 
increasingly in real-world settings) to 
(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)
medicine to enable them to decide on 
whether to grant regulatory approvals

Launch phase 5–10 years

Post-exclusivity 20+ years

7 Launch new medicine
(cid:33)(cid:3) (cid:53)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)

8 Post-launch research and development
>  Conduct studies to further understand the 

appropriate use, market and sell medicine
>   Clinicians begin to prescribe medicines and 

(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:18)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3) 
and/or additional patient populations

9 Post-exclusivity
>  Patent expiry and generic entry
>  Reinvestment of returns

(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)

>  Continuously monitor, record and analyse 

(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)
patients’ wellbeing is maintained
(cid:33)(cid:3) (cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:16)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
opportunities to support patients and 
(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:3) 
from the medicine

>  Life-cycle management activities to broaden 
understanding of a medicine’s full potential

>  Consider additional diseases or aspects  
of disease to be treated by or better ways  
of administering the medicine

>  Submit data packages with requests for 

life-cycle management to regulatory authorities 
for review and approval

(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:16)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:87)(cid:98)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)
medicine discovered and/or developed by AstraZeneca, or the probability of success or approval of any AstraZeneca medicine.

Sustainability

Our Values determine how we work 
together and the behaviours that drive 
our success. Our Values guide our 
(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
foster a strong AstraZeneca culture.

We want to be valued and trusted by our stakeholders as a source of great 
medicines over the long term. Our sustainability commitments, which are 
driven by our Purpose and Values, underpin our business model and support  
the delivery of our business strategy.

  Business Review from page 42

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

9

 
Strategic Report    Strategy

Business model and life-cycle of a medicine continued

What does our business model require to be successful?

A talented and diverse workforce

We need to acquire, retain and develop a 
talented and diverse workforce united in 
pursuit of our Purpose and Values and 
fostering a strong AstraZeneca culture.

59,700 employees

  See Employees from page 54

A leadership position in science

(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:3) 
if we are to deliver life-changing medicines. 
To that end, we need to focus on innovative 
science, prioritise and accelerate our  
pipeline and transform our innovation  
and culture model.

Commercialisation skills

We need a strong global commercial  
presence and skilled people to ensure that  
we can successfully launch our medicines, 
that they are available when needed and  
that patients have access to them.

$5.9bn invested  

in our science

(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3) 
leadership from page 45 and  
R&D resources on page 59

>100 countries  

in which we are active

   See Return to growth from  
page 48

Intellectual property

We need to create and protect our IP rights. 
Developing a new medicine requires 
(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)
no guarantee of success. For our investments 
to be viable, we seek to protect new medicines 
from being copied for a reasonable period of 
time through patent protection.

>100 countries where  

we obtain patent protection

   See Intellectual Property from  
page 57

A robust supply chain

We need a supply of high-quality medicines, 
whether from one of the 31 Operations sites 
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:98)(cid:20)(cid:27)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)
the $13 billion we spend on the purchase of 
goods, services and active pharmaceutical 
ingredients (API).

$13bn spent  

with suppliers

   See Manufacturing from page  
58 and Working with suppliers  
from page 52

(cid:40)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:86)

(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)
partnering, which is an important element 
(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:98)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)
(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:17)

600 collaborations 

worldwide

   See Partnering from page 23

Financial strength

(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:98)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)
life-cycle of a medicine.

$4.1bn net cash  

(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3) 
activities

   See Financial Review from page 62

10

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

How do we add value?

Financial value

Revenue from the sale of our medicines 
(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:29)

>   fund our investment in science and Growth 

Platforms to drive long-term value

>  meet our debt service obligations

>   follow our progressive dividend policy.

This involves balancing the interests  
(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
shareholders.

  See Financial Review from page 62

Improved health

(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3) 
to achieving sustainable healthcare which 
creates value by:

>   improving health outcomes and 

transforming patients’ lives

>   enabling healthcare systems to reduce 

(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:92)

>   improving access to healthcare and 

healthcare infrastructure

>   helping develop the communities in  
which we operate through local 
employment and partnering.

Marketplace

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Despite global economic, political and ssoccial 
challenges, the pharmaceutical industry is 
expected to enjoy long-term growth. This is 
due to favourable demographic trenddss aanndd 
(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:17)

Overview

> Global pharmaceutical sales grew by 6.9% in 2016
> The sector remains highly competitive
> Patient populations are expanding and ageing
> Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) kill 39 million people each year
> The costs of developing a new medicine continue to rise
> Priority Reviews and Breakthrough Therapies are becoming more prevalent
> (cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)

quality medicines

> Pricing and reimbursement continue to be challenging
> Patents are expiring on some of the biggest-selling drugs ever produced
> The sector faces challenges in building and maintaining trust
> (cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:86)

2bn

By 2050, the world’s population  
aged 60 years and older is expected  
to total some 2 billion.

$154bn

Global investment in pharmaceutical  
R&D expected to reach an estimated  
$154 billion in 2016, an 11% increase  
from $139 billion in 2012. 

The global context 
The October 2016 World Economic Outlook 
of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 
highlighted the precarious nature of the 
recovery eight years after the global financial 
crisis. It raised the spectre that persistent 
stagnation, particularly in advanced 
economies, could further fuel populist calls 
for restrictions on trade and immigration. The 
IMF went on to observe that such restrictions 
would hamper productivity, growth and 
innovation. In China, a shift from investment 
and industry towards consumption and 
services was expected to slow growth in  
the short term while building the foundations 
for a more sustainable long-term expansion. 
Japan’s economy would be hampered by  
a shrinking population. 

More generally, both political and economic 
uncertainty followed the Brexit vote in the 
UK and the election of Donald Trump to 
president of the US. Instability in a number 
of other European countries has been 
exacerbated by refugees fleeing civil war 
and unrest in the Middle East and from 
further afield.

Against this uncertain background, however, 
the demand for healthcare continues to 
increase. While this is a favourable trend  
for long-term industry growth, challenges 
remain. These include expiring patents, 
competition from and growing use of 
generic medicines, obtaining regulatory 
approval, securing reimbursement for new 
medicines, improving R&D productivity  
and attaining pricing and sales sufficient  
to generate revenue and sustain the cycle  
of innovation.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

11

 
Strategic Report    Strategy

Marketplace continued

Global pharmaceutical sales

World $bn

2016

2015

2014

$967bn (6.9%)

US $bn

2016

2015

2014

$446bn (7.1%)

Europe $bn

2016

2015

2014

$201bn (5.6%)

Established ROW $bn

2016

2015

2014

$120bn (5.1%)

Emerging Markets $bn 

2016

2015

2014

$200bn (9.1%)

967

905

826

446

416

369

201

190

179

120

115

110

200

184

168

Data based on world market sales using AstraZeneca market 
(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:28)(cid:17)(cid:3)
Source: IMS Health, IMS Midas Quantum Q3 2016 (including 
US data). Reported values and growth are based at CER. Value 
(cid:430)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)
percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth. 

Expanding patient populations 
The number of people accessing healthcare 
is increasing, as is healthcare spending, 
particularly by the elderly. For example, 
WHO estimates that, by 2050, the world’s 
population aged 60 years and older is 
expected to total some two billion, up  
from 900 million in 2015 and that, by then,  
80% of all older people will live in low-  
and middle-income countries. As the 
diagram on page 14 shows, we expect 
developing markets to continue to fuel 
pharmaceutical growth.

Unmet medical need
The prevalence of NCDs, such as  
cancer and cardiovascular, metabolic  
and respiratory diseases, is increasing 
worldwide. NCDs are often associated  
with ageing populations and lifestyle 
choices, including smoking, diet and lack  
of exercise. Many NCDs require long-term 
management. WHO estimates that  
NCDs kill 39 million people each year  
and disproportionately affect low- and 
middle-income countries where nearly 
three-quarters of these deaths occur. For 
example, more than 60% of the world’s total 
new annual cancer cases occur in Africa, 
Asia, and Central and South America. 
These regions account for 70% of the 
world’s cancer deaths.

The pharmaceutical sector: 
opportunities and challenges
As shown in the table on the left, global 
pharmaceutical sales grew by 6.9% in 2016. 
Established Markets saw average revenue 
growth of 6.4% and Emerging Markets 
revenue grew at 9.1%. The US, Japan, 
China, Germany and France are the world’s 
top five pharmaceutical markets. In 2016, 
the US had 44.7% of global sales (2015: 
46.0%; 2014: 44.7%). 

Science and technology 
Innovation is critical to addressing  
unmet medical need. The delivery of new 
medicines will rely on a more advanced 
understanding of disease and the use of 
new technology and approaches, including 
personalised healthcare (PHC) and 
predictive science. 

Technological breakthroughs in the  
design and testing of novel compounds 
present fresh opportunities for using small 
molecules as the basis for new medicines. 
The use of large molecules, or biologics,  
has also become an important source of 
innovation. Biologics are among the most 
commercially successful new products.  
By 2020, biologics, excluding vaccines, are 
expected to account for 27% of the global 
pharmaceutical market, having risen from 
14% in 2006. As such, most pharmaceutical 
companies now pursue R&D in both small 
molecules and biologics.

Priority Reviews and Breakthrough 
Therapies are becoming more prevalent. 
Between the inception of the Breakthrough 
Therapy Designation programme in  
October 2012 and the end of 2016, the  
FDA granted more than 150 such requests 
(out of more than 450 applications), and 
one-third of these have already resulted  
in product approvals.

The cost of developing new medicines 
continues to rise. Global R&D investment is 
expected to reach $154 billion in 2016. While 
the growth rate of R&D spend has slowed  
in recent years, pharmaceutical companies 
continue to deliver new medicines. In 
2016, the FDA approved 22 novel drugs 
compared with 45 in 2015 and 41 in 2014.

To ensure sustainable returns on R&D 
investment, the industry is working to 
increase its success rate in developing 
commercially viable new drugs while 
achieving a lower, more flexible cost base. 
Regulators and payers, however, are 
demanding greater evidence of comparative 
effectiveness of medicines. This increases 
development times and costs. 

Fortunately, innovative technology is helping 
accelerate product approvals. A greater 
emphasis on Proof of Concept is also 
helping to improve productivity and reduce 
costs by showing the potential efficacy of 
drugs earlier in the development process.

12

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

the in-progress review of China’s Drug 
Administration Law and Drug Registration 
Regulation are likely to help address this 
issue over the next few years. 

Greater transparency and public access  
to regulatory submissions that support 
approval of new medicines continue to  
be an area of interest. A recent example 
involves the EMA policy 0070 on publication 
of clinical data for medicinal products for 
human use, which provides guidance for the 
publication of clinical reports that underpin 
the EMA’s decision making. Paediatric 
development continues to present 
challenges to the industry as differences 
between study requirements and 
timeframes may vary significantly among 
health authorities. However, there have been 
efforts to provide incentives to stimulate 
paediatric research. An example is the 
EMA’s initiative offering free-of-charge 
meetings focused on paediatric studies 
early in drug development. In addition, the 
industry has appreciated the opportunity 
afforded by the US paediatric rare disease 
voucher programme to encourage 
paediatric drug development. International 
harmonisation is being advanced in this  
area through the revision of the ICH E11 
paediatric guideline, which has facilitated 
discussion between regulators and the 
industry on topics of mutual interest.

Regulatory requirements for the registration 
of biosimilar products continue to develop 
and become better defined, as exemplified 
by the publication of a new pathway for 
China and the approvals of more biosimilar 
products in the US. However, significant 
areas of regulatory policy are still evolving. 
Among these are transparency of data 
regarding level of evidence to support 
approval of claims for biosimilarity in 
labelling, standards for interchangeability 
and pharmaceutical substitution, and 
traceability of pharmacovigilance reports 
through naming conventions that permit 
differentiation of products. 

   For more information about biosimilars,  

please see Patent expiries and genericisation  
on page 15

Regulatory requirements
A highly regulated biopharmaceutical 
industry reflects the public’s expectation of 
safe, effective and high-quality medicines. 
Meeting this expectation requires responsible 
testing, manufacturing and marketing. It  
also relies on maintaining effective working 
relationships with health authorities 
worldwide, including the FDA in the US, the 
EMA in the EU, the PMDA in Japan, and the 
CFDA in China. Increasingly, regulation and 
governmental policy are being introduced  
to stimulate innovation in drug development.  
In the US, for example, the 21st Century 
Cures Act, signed into law on 13 December 
2016, focuses on accelerating the discovery, 
development and delivery of promising  
new treatments for patients. Similarly,  
the Prescription Drug User Fee Act 
reauthorisation legislation that is required to 
be considered by the US Congress in 2017 
is anticipated to contain proposals aimed at 
accelerating innovation and modernising  
the US regulatory environment. Additionally, 
the growing complexity and globalisation  
of clinical studies have led to an increase  
in public-private consortia. Such consortia, 
which include industry, academia and 
government bodies, aim to drive innovation, 
streamline regulatory processes, and define 
and clarify approval requirements for 
innovative drug and biologic products.

Regulatory health authorities continue  
to implement programmes intended to 
address unmet medical need and to  
speed up patient access to transformative 
medicines. This is demonstrated by the 
Breakthrough Therapy programme 
employed by the FDA and the EMA’s 
initiative to implement ‘adaptive pathways’  
to improve timely patient access to new 
medicines. In Japan, the SAKIGAKE 
Designation System has been introduced  
to designate innovative medicines that  
hold the promise for a significant advance  
over currently available therapy. Once 
designated, the PMDA collaborates with 
sponsors to accelerate the development 
and approval of these promising 
unapproved medicines for serious and 
life-threatening diseases. The lengthy review 
process in China extends new medicine 
approval periods to as long as five years. 
This challenges the ability of pharmaceutical 
companies to deliver innovative medicines 
and treat unmet medical need in China. 
However, recent developments, including 

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Pricing of medicines
Pricing and reimbursement remain 
challenging in many markets. We continue  
to see examples where healthcare services 
(including pharmaceuticals) are highly 
regulated by governments, insurers and 
other private payers through various  
controls on pricing and reimbursement. 
Implementation of cost containment reforms 
and shifting market dynamics are further 
constraining healthcare providers, while 
difficult economic conditions burden patients 
who have out-of-pocket expenses relating to 
their medicines. Pharmaceutical companies 
are now expending significant resources to 
demonstrate the economic as well as the 
therapeutic value of their medicines.

In the US, the Affordable Care Act (ACA)  
has directly affected the healthcare system 
by reshaping the market through various 
policies and approaches designed to expand 
insurance coverage, reduce costs, transform 
the delivery system, and improve healthcare 
and patient coverage. We, along with other 
pharmaceutical companies, have continued 
to work with policymakers and regulators to 
increase access, improve outcomes and to 
support an environment that fosters medical 
and scientific innovation and value. 

The new political leadership in the US has 
proposed to repeal and replace the ACA 
and has taken initial steps to that end.  
While it is unclear if some or all of the ACA 
might be repealed or what the scope of 
replacement might entail if implemented,  
it is possible that proposals could require 
the healthcare industry to offset the cost  
of replacement. This may include changes 
to the pharmaceutical industry excise tax, 
Medicaid reform by, for example, granting 
the states greater flexibility in designing  
and funding their Medicaid programmes, 
including the choice of a block grant  
or per capita allotment of federal funds,  
and/or repeal the marketplace exchanges 
that were established under the ACA.  
These changes, whether directly or 
indirectly targeted at drugs or the 
pharmaceutical industry, could impact 
pharmaceutical coverage and patient 
access to healthcare under insurance plans 
and government programmes and could, 
accordingly, significantly affect the 
pharmaceutical industry. 

     Further details on the impact of the ACA  
on our business are contained in Return  
to growth on page 48

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

13

 
Strategic Report    Strategy

Marketplace continued

  We expect developing 
markets to continue to boost 
pharmaceutical growth.”

84.7%

Generics constituted 84.7%  
of prescriptions dispensed 
in the US.

Political leadership in the US has also 
continued to focus on drug pricing.  
Various drug pricing proposals have 
included measures relating to the repeal of 
the Medicare Part D non-interference clause 
that currently prohibits the government  
from negotiating directly with manufacturers 
on drug prices and US drug importation 
policies. In addition, lawmakers and 
policymakers at both the federal and  
state level have developed drug pricing 
transparency proposals that include 
measures relating to the submission  
of proprietary manufacturer data, 
establishment of price parameters that  
are indexed to certain federal programmes, 
and reporting of changes in pricing beyond 
certain thresholds. While the implementation 
timeline and details of such proposals are 
not clear, significant changes to laws and 
regulations regarding drug pricing could 
have a significant impact on the 
pharmaceutical industry.

In Europe, governments continue to 
implement and expand price control 
measures for medicines, including 
mandatory discounts, clawbacks and  
price referencing rules. These measures  
are decreasing drug prices, particularly  
in the challenged economies of Greece, 

Romania and Italy. In France, price 
negotiations are particularly challenging  
due to budgetary pressures. In Germany, 
Europe’s largest pharmaceutical market, 
manufacturers must now prove the added 
benefit of their drug over existing alternatives 
if they are to avoid relegation to an 
unfavourable price reference or face 
non-pricing barriers to market access.

In China, pricing practices remain a priority 
for regulators. New national regulations  
and provincial and hospital tenders continue 
to put increasing pricing pressures on 
pharmaceutical companies. In Russia and 
selected Middle East markets, governments 
are encouraging local manufacturing by 
offering more favourable pricing legislation. 
In Japan, mandated biennial cuts are likely 
to continue as are experimental decisions  
by regulators based on cost effectiveness 
assessments. In Latin America, pricing is 
increasingly controlled by governments as, 
for example, in Colombia and Brazil with 
price referencing regulations.

   For more information about price controls, 

reductions and US healthcare reform, and price 
regulation, please see the Business Review, 
Return to growth from page 48 and Risk from 
page 214

Estimated pharmaceutical sales and market growth – 2020

North America

EU

Other Europe (Non-EU countries)

Japan

$640bn

7.0%

$240bn

3.2%

$23bn

8.7%

$92bn

0.6%

Oceania

$15bn

4.8%

South East and East Asia

Latin America

$202bn

6.5%

$78bn

2.3%

Africa

$28bn

8.1%

CIS

$23bn

Middle East

Indian subcontinent

6.7%

$25bn

6.6%

$38bn

12.1%

   Estimated pharmaceutical sales – 2020. 
Ex-manufacturer prices at CER. Source: 
IMS Health.

   Estimated pharmaceutical market growth 
– 2015 to 2020. Compound annual growth 
rate. Source: IMS Health.

14

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Patent expiries and genericisation
Patent protection for pharmaceutical 
products is finite. Patents are expiring on 
some of the biggest-selling drugs ever 
produced and this means that payers, 
physicians and patients are gaining greater 
access to generic alternatives (both 
substitutable and analogue) in many 
important drug classes. These generic 
alternatives are primarily lower priced 
because generic manufacturers are largely 
spared the costs of R&D and market 
development. As a result, demand for 
generics is high. For prescriptions dispensed 
in the US in 2016, generics constituted 84.7% 
of the market by volume (2015: 84.0%). 

Generic competition can also result from 
patent disputes or challenges before patent 
expiry. Increasingly, generics companies  
are launching products ‘at risk’, for example, 
before resolution of the relevant patent 
litigation. This trend, which is likely to 
continue, creates significant market 
presence for the generic version while the 
litigation remains unresolved. Given the 
unpredictable nature of patent litigation, 
some companies have settled such 
challenges on terms acceptable to the 
innovator and generic manufacturer. While 
competition authorities generally accept 
such agreements as a legitimate way to 
settle these disputes, they have questioned 
some settlements as being anti-competitive. 

Biologics typically retain exclusivity for  
longer than traditional small molecule 
pharmaceuticals, with less generic 
competition. With limited experience to date, 
the substitution of biosimilars for the original 
branded product has not followed the same 
pattern as generic substitution in small 
molecule products and, as a result, erosion 
of the original biologic’s branded market 
share has not been as rapid. This is due to 
biologics’ complex manufacturing processes 
and the inherent difficulties in producing a 
biosimilar, which could require additional 
clinical trials. However, with regulatory 
authorities in Europe and the US continuing 
to implement abbreviated approval pathways 
for biosimilar versions, innovative biologics 
are likely to face increased competition. 
Similar to biologics, some small molecule 

pharmaceutical products are in complex 
formulations and/or require technically 
challenging manufacturing and thus may  
not follow the pattern of generic market 
erosion seen with traditional, tableted 
pharmaceuticals. For those products, the 
introduction of generic alternatives (both 
substitutable and analogue) can be slower. 

Building trust
The pharmaceutical industry faces 
challenges in building and maintaining  
trust, particularly with governments and 
regulators. This reflects the past decade’s 
legal disputes between pharmaceutical 
companies and governmental and 
regulatory authorities. To address this 
challenge, companies are strengthening  
a culture of ethics and integrity, adopting 
higher governance standards and improving 
relationships with employees, shareholders 
and other stakeholders. 

During 2016, there were also 
pharmaceutical industry investigations  
and Congressional hearings in the US 
related to pricing while, in the UK, the 
Competition and Markets Authority  
has been investigating allegations of 
excessive charging and fining companies  
for unfair prices.

Numerous companies, including those  
in the pharmaceutical industry, have been 
investigated by the China Public Security 
Bureau following allegations of bribery,  
and criminal and financial penalties have 
been imposed. Investigations by the DOJ 
and SEC under the Foreign Corrupt 
Practices Act are continuing as are 
investigations by the UK Serious Fraud 
Office under the UK Bribery Act. Information 
about material legal proceedings can be 
found in Note 28 to the Financial Statements 
from page 185.

Strategic responses
Our industry remains highly competitive.  
It includes large, research-based 
pharmaceutical companies (such as 
AstraZeneca) that discover, develop  
and sell innovative, patent-protected 
prescription medicines and vaccines, 
smaller biotechnology and vaccine 

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businesses, and companies that produce 
generic medicines. However, the 
pharmaceutical market is highly competitive. 
For example, our Diabetes franchise 
continues to see pricing pressure. In 
immuno-oncology, the large number of 
clinical trials that are being carried out 
highlight the competitive nature of this  
area and renders speed to market critical.

While many of our peers face similar 
challenges, they tackle them in different 
ways. Some companies have pursued a 
strategy focused on branded prescription 
pharmaceuticals. Others have diversified  
by acquiring or building branded generics 
businesses or consumer portfolios.  
A number of companies are focused on 
improving R&D productivity and operational 
efficiency. Other companies have looked  
to geographic expansion, especially in 
Emerging Markets and Japan.

Across the industry, business development 
deals (including licensing and collaborations), 
and competition for business development 
opportunities, while down over 2015, 
continued in 2016. For example, one report 
estimates that the value of mergers and 
acquisitions announced in the healthcare 
sector during the year amounted to more 
than $270 million, compared with almost 
$400 million in 2015.

As outlined in AstraZeneca at a glance  
from page 2 and our Business model  
from page 8, our strategic response to  
the pharmaceutical marketplace is to  
be a ‘pure-play’, global, science-led 
biopharmaceutical company that focuses  
on the discovery, development and 
commercialisation of prescription medicines, 
primarily for the treatment of diseases in 
three main therapy areas. The strategic 
priorities that follow on from this response 
are outlined in the next section.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

15

 
Strategic Report    Strategy

Strategy and key performance indicators

We are focused on returning to growth through a science-led innovation strategy. 
(cid:50)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:98)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3) 
are based on investing in three therapy areas, building a strong and balanced  
portfolio of primary care and specialty care medicines, and accelerating key R&D 
(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:98)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3) 
global commercial presence.

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)

Strategic priorities

Key performance indicators

Focus on innovative science  
in three therapy areas 
Focus on Oncology, Cardiovascular  
& Metabolic Disease, and Respiratory. 
We are also selectively active in 
Autoimmunity, Infection  
and Neuroscience. 

Work across small molecules and 
biologics, including immunotherapies 
and protein engineering, as well  
as devices, biomarkers and 
translational science.

Prioritise and accelerate  
our pipeline 
Accelerate and invest in key R&D 
programmes. At the end of 2016,  
12 NMEs were in Phase III or under 
regulatory review compared with our 
March 2013 target of nine to 10. 

Against the targets we had set 
ourselves since 2013, by the end of 
2016, we had made 25 Phase II starts 
(2015 to 2016 target: 12 to 16); 14 
NME and major line extension 
regulatory submissions (2015 to 2016 
target: 14 to 16); and eight NME and 
major line extension regulatory 
approvals (2015 to 2016 target:  
eight to 10).

Strengthen our early-stage pipeline 
through novel science and technology.

Transform our innovation  
and culture model 
Focus on novel science, such as 
immune-mediated therapy 
combinations and PHC.

Co-location near bioscience clusters at 
three strategic centres in Cambridge, 
UK; Gaithersburg, Maryland US;  
and Gothenburg, Sweden helps to 
leverage our capabilities and foster 
collaboration with leading scientists 
and research organisations.

Accelerate through business 
development 
Work to reinforce our therapy areas 
and strengthen our portfolio and 
pipeline through targeted business 
development, including collaborations, 
in-licensing and acquisitions. 

Collaborate strategically to broaden 
and accelerate the development of key 
pipeline assets (externalisation) and 
divest non-core assets to realise value.

Phase III investment decisions

NME or LCM project regulatory 
submissions in major markets

Clinical-stage strategic 
transactions

7

2016

2015

2014

14

7

6

9

2016

2015

2014

10

141

12

6

2016

2015

2014

10

10

3

savolitinib (papillary renal cell 
carcinoma); durvalumab+ 
tremelimumab (hepatocellular 
carcinoma); Forxiga (heart failure); 
Forxiga (chronic kidney disease); 
(cid:36)(cid:61)(cid:39)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:37)(cid:36)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:93)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:30)(cid:3)
two further decisions made through 
strategic partnering.

Faslodex – breast cancer (US, EU, JP); 
Tagrisso – lung cancer (CN); Tagrisso 
– lung cancer (AURA3 study for full 
approval) (US, EU); durvalumab – 
bladder cancer (US); DURATION-8 
(cid:11)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:14)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:3)
(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:15)(cid:3)
EU); lesinurad+allopurinol FDC – gout 
(US); three further submissions made 
await regulatory acceptance.

Includes alliances, collaborations and 
acquisitions to enhance our portfolio  
and pipeline in our main therapy areas; 
externalisation activity to maximise the  
value of our assets; and divestments of 
non-priority medicines.

1  13 for determining Annual Bonus.  

See page 108

NME Phase II starts/progressions

NME and major LCM regional 
approvals 

16

2016

2015

2014

11

161

11

13

2016

2015

2014

11

6

12

Tagrisso – lung cancer (EU, JP) and 
ctDNA blood test (US, JP); Brilinta/
Brilique – post myocardial infarction 
(EU) and acute coronary syndromes 
and post myocardial infarction (JP); 
Qtern – Type 2 diabetes (EU); Bevespi 
Aerosphere (PT003) – COPD (US); 
Zurampic – gout (EU); Zavicefta – 
serious infections (EU); Pandemic Live 
(cid:36)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:57)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)
(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:12)(cid:17)

Vidaza and durvalumab for the 
treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia 
and CC486+durvalumab for 
myelodysplastic syndromes (with 
Celgene); MEDI0680+durvalumab for 
solid tumours; MEDI0562 (humanised 
OX40); AZD6738+Lynparza for gastric 
cancer; AZD1775 (Wee1); 
daratumumab+durvalumab for 
multiple myeloma; in collaboration 
with Incyte, epacadostat (IDO)+ 
durvalumab for solid tumours; 
MEDI4166 (PCSK9/GLP-1); MEDI0382; 
AZD4076; abediterol (AZD0548) 
(LABA); AZD1419 (Inhaled TLR9); 
MEDI2070 (IL-23); MEDI3902 
(cid:11)(cid:83)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:51)(cid:86)(cid:79)(cid:16)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:57)(cid:12)(cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:3)
MEDI8897 (RSV).

1  15 for determining Annual Bonus.  

See page 108

  Therapy Area Review from page 23

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  Development Pipeline from page 204

16

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Return to growth

Strategic priorities

Key performance indicators

Focus on Growth Platforms 
Brilinta/Brilique – Work to deliver 
Brilinta/Brilique’s potential to reduce 
cardiovascular deaths through 
ongoing clinical studies.

Diabetes – Work to maximise the 
potential of our broad and innovative 
non-insulin, anti-diabetic portfolio  
to transform patient care.

From January 2017, New CVMD 
Growth Platform combines our 
Diabetes franchise, Brilinta/Brilique 
and any new launches.

Respiratory – Work to maximise 
pipeline value, devices and medicines 
(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:430)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
improve patient outcomes in asthma 
and COPD.

New Oncology – Aim to deliver  
six new cancer medicines to  
patients by 2020. It became our sixth  
Growth Platform in January 2015  
and includes Lynparza, Iressa (US) 
and Tagrisso.

Japan – Strengthen our Oncology 
franchise and work to maximise the 
success of our Diabetes medicines 
and established brands: Symbicort, 
Nexium and Crestor.

Emerging Markets – Focus on 
delivering innovative medicines  
by investing in Emerging Markets 
capabilities, with a focus on China 
and other leading markets, such  
(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:82)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
transformation of our capabilities  
is supporting new products and 
(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:17)

Transform through specialty care, 
devices and biologics 
Biologics now account for about  
half of our NMEs in development, 
potentially enhancing asset longevity. 
A greater focus on innovative and 
(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3) 
(cid:68)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)
ensuring product durability.  
Our new specialty care portfolio is 
expected to balance our strength  
in primary care medicines.

Brilinta/Brilique

Diabetes

Respiratory

$839m 

Product Sales

$2,427m 

Product Sales

$4,753m 

Product Sales

2016

2015

2014

$839m

$619m

$476m

2016

2015

2014

$2,427m

$2,224m

$1,870m

2016

2015

2014

$4,753m

$4,987m

$5,063m

Actual growth
2016  +36%
2015  +30%
2014  +68%

CER growth
2016  +39%
2015  +44%
2014  +70%

Actual growth
2016  +9%
2015  +19%
2014  +138%

CER growth
2016  +11%
2015  +26%
2014  +139%

Actual growth
2016  -5%
2015  -2%
2014  +8%

CER growth
2016  -3%
2015  +7%
2014  +10%

Brilinta delivered Product Sales of 
$839 million. Continued progress was 
seen across the US and Europe with 
45% and 12% growth (15% at CER)  
in the year respectively.

Diabetes Product Sales grew by  
9% (11% at CER) despite intense 
competition in this space with a 
positive contribution from all Regions. 
Our focus in diabetes remains on  
the fastest-growing SGLT2 and  
GLP-1 classes. 

2016 was a challenging year. 
Respiratory Product Sales declined by 
5% (3% at CER), the main driver of this 
being Symbicort, which continued to 
grow volume share, however, Product 
Sales were down by 12% (10% at CER), 
(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
(cid:40)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:428)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
Markets and Established ROW growth.

New Oncology

Japan

Emerging Markets

$664m 

Product Sales

$2,184m 

Product Sales

$5,794m 

Product Sales

2016

2015

2014

$664m

$119m

N/A

2016

2015

2014

$2,184m

$2,020m

$2,227m

2016

2015

2014

$5,794m

$5,822m

$5,827m

Actual growth
2016  n/m
2015  N/A
2014  N/A

CER growth
2016  n/m
2015  N/A
2014  N/A

Actual growth
2016  +8%
2015  -9%
2014  -10%

CER growth
2016  -3%
2015  +4%
2014  -3%

Actual growth
2016  0%
2015  0%
2014  +8%

CER growth
2016  +6%
2015  +12%
2014  +12%

New Oncology Product Sales of 
Lynparza, Iressa (US) and Tagrisso 
were $664 million. Tagrisso continued 
to demonstrate strong uptake in the 
US, Europe and Japan with global 
Product Sales of $423 million and 46 
regulatory approvals. Lynparza Product 
Sales were $218 million.

In Japan, Product Sales were up  
(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:27)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
exchange rate impact and the 
mandated biennial price cuts. We had 
volume growth of about 2%. Our three 
biggest medicines, Crestor, Nexium  
and Symbicort, continued to perform 
well, but Crestor Product Sales were 
impacted by inventory reductions at 
our local marketing partner.

Emerging Markets growth mainly 
driven by Brilinta, Forxiga and our 
Respiratory franchise. China 
represented just under half of the  
total Emerging Markets Product  
Sales in 2016.

  Return to growth from page 48

  Therapy Area Review from page 23

  Geographical Review from page 226

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

17

 
Strategic Report    Strategy

Strategy and key performance indicators continued

Be a great place to work

Strategic priorities

Key performance indicators

Evolve our culture 
Work to improve our employees’ 
(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3) 
and Values and promote greater 
understanding of and belief in 
our strategy.

Invest in and implement tailored 
leadership development programmes.

Simplify our business 
(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)
(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)
organisational structure to encourage 
accountability and improve decision 
making and communication.

Attract and retain the best talent 
(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)
top talent with new capabilities.

Employee belief in our strategy 

Organisational structure – 
percentage of employees within six 
management steps of the CEO

Employees who would recommend 
AstraZeneca as a great place to work

80%

2016

2015

2014

82%

74%

80%1

89%2

86%3

2016

2015

2014

82%

71%

75%

2016

2015

2014

74%1

83%2

82%3

This is a key indicator of employee 
(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3) 
of reshaping the business. 

1   Source: December 2016 Pulse survey 
across a sample of the organisation.
2   Source: January 2016 Pulse survey  
across a sample of the organisation.
3   Source: Global FOCUS all-employee 

survey.

This is a key indicator of our progress 
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)
improved decision making, driving 
accountability to the right level and 
(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:17)

This is a key indicator of whether 
employees believe AstraZeneca is a 
(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)
impact of reshaping the business.

1   Source: December 2016 Pulse survey 
across a sample of the organisation.
2    Source: January 2016 Pulse survey  
across a sample of the organisation.
3   Source: Global FOCUS all-employee 

survey.

  Be a great place to work from page 52

  Employees from page 54

Do business sustainably

Strategic priorities

Key performance indicators

Deliver business success  
over the long term 
Deliver our business strategy in a way 
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)
and the planet. 

Focus on: 

>   maintaining ethics and 

transparency in everything we do
>   increasing access to healthcare for 

more people

>   minimising the environmental 
impact of our products and 
processes.

Align our work with the UN 
Sustainable Development Goals and 
work to integrate our commitments 
into day-to-day business activities.

Dow Jones Sustainability  
Index ranking 

86%

2016

2015

2014

Screening, diagnosis and treatment 
of hypertension as part of Healthy 
Heart Africa programme

2 million 

patients

Operational carbon footprint1 

1,657 kt CO2e

86%

84%

79%

2016

2015

2014

2m

1m

N/A

2016

2015

2014

1,657 kt CO2e

1,743 kt CO2e

N/A

Met the target of maintaining position 
in the Dow Jones Sustainability World 
and Europe Indexes comprising the top 
10% of the largest 2,500 companies 
with a score of 86%.

Healthy Heart Africa was launched  
in October 2014. By the end of 2016,  
we had conducted over two million 
hypertension screenings in the 
community and healthcare facilities.

Our 2016 operational carbon footprint 
met our target emission of 1,708 kt 
CO2e and represents a 5% reduction 
from our 2015 baseline.

  Sustainability from page 43

(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:46)(cid:51)(cid:44)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)
reported on page 52 of the Annual Report.

¹   Operational carbon footprint is emissions  
from all Scope 1, 2, and selected Scope 3 
sources. See page 231.

18

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

S

t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)

Strategic priorities

Key performance indicators

Drive on-market value 
Invest in R&D and on-market  
Growth Platforms to return to 
growth. Our aim is to deliver 
industry-leading productivity by 
restructuring to create scope for 
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:17)

Maintain a progressive dividend 
Policy is to maintain or grow 
dividend per share.

Maintain a strong balance sheet 
Target a strong, investment-grade 
credit rating, operational cash 
balance and periodic share 
repurchases.

Total Revenue1

(cid:49)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
activities

Dividend per share1

$23,002m $4,145m 

$2.80

2016

2015

2014

$23,002m

$24,708m

$26,547m

2016

2015

2014

Actual growth
2016  -7%
2015  -7%
2014  +3%

CER growth
2016  -5%
2015  +1%
2014   +5%

Actual growth
2016  +25%
2015  -53%
2014  -5%

$4,145m

$3,324m

$7,058m

2016

2015

2014

$2.80

$2.80

$2.80

Cash generated from operating 
activities improved cash management 
(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:82)(cid:428)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:17)

Dividend is consistent with the 
progressive dividend policy pursuant 
to which the Board intends to maintain 
or grow the dividend each year.

Total Revenue comprised Product 
Sales of $21,319 million (down by 10% 
at actual rate of exchange and 8% at 
CER) and Externalisation Revenue of 
$1,683 million (up by 57% at actual 
rate of exchange and 59% at CER). 
Decline in Total Revenue at actual 
(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)
weakness of key trading currencies 
against the US dollar. 

1   First and second interim dividend  

for the year.

1   As detailed on page 142, Total Revenue 

consists of Product Sales and 
Externalisation Revenue.

Reported EPS

Core EPS

$2.77

$4.31

2016

2015

2014

$2.77

$2.23

$0.98

2016

2015

2014

$4.31

$4.26

$4.28

Actual growth
2016  +24%
2015  +128%
2014  -52%

CER growth
2016  +9%
2015  +137%
2014  -34%

Actual growth
2016  +1%
2015  0%
2014  -15%

CER growth
2016  -5%
2015  +7%
2014  -8%

Reported EPS of $2.77 represented 
growth of 24% (9% at CER). This 
included a gain of $0.76 on the 
revaluation of acquisition-related 
liabilities.

Core EPS increased by 1% (decreased 
5% at CER), driven by the same rate of 
decline in Total Revenue at CER.

  Financial Review from page 62

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

19

 
Strategic Report    Strategy

Risk overview

Principal Risks 
We face a diverse range of risks and uncertainties and this table provides insight into the Principal Risks that could have a materially  
adverse effect on the business or results of operations. We outline why effective management of these risks is important and relevant  
to the business, how we are managing them and which risks are rising, falling or have remained static during the past 12 months. 

Our approach to risk management is designed to encourage clear decision making on which risks we take and how we manage these 
risks. Fundamental to this process is a sound understanding of every risk’s potential strategic, commercial, financial, compliance, legal  
and reputational implications. 

Risk category and Principal Risks

Context/potential impact

Product pipeline and intellectual property

Delivery of pipeline and new products

The development of any pharmaceutical product candidate is a complex, risky and lengthy process involving 
(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:9)(cid:39)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:77)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3) 
(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:16)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:87)

Meet quality, regulatory and ethical drug  
approval and disclosure requirements

(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)
(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:86)

Secure and protect product IP

Commercialisation

Externally driven demand, pricing,  
access and competitive pressures

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with a reasonable amount of certainty for a reasonable amount of time

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and in individual countries. There can be additional pressure from governments and other healthcare payers  
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Quality and execution of commercial  
strategies

If commercialisation of a product does not succeed as anticipated, or its rate of sales growth is slower than 
anticipated, there is a risk that we may not be able to fully recoup the costs in launching it

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Maintain supply of compliant,  
quality product

Delays or interruptions in supply can lead to recalls, product shortages, regulatory action, reputational harm  
and lost sales

Information technology and data  
security and privacy

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operations. This could lead to regulatory penalties or non-compliance with laws and regulations

Delivery of gains from  
productivity initiatives

Inappropriately managed initiatives could lead to low employee engagement and reduced productivity, increased 
absence and attrition levels, or even industrial action. All could adversely impact the value of the initiative

Attract, develop, engage and retain  
talented and capable employees  
at all levels

Failure to attract and retain highly skilled personnel may weaken our succession plans for critical positions in the 
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the achievement of our strategic objectives

Legal, regulatory and compliance

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Defence of product, pricing  
and practices litigation

Meet regulatory and ethical expectations  
on commercial practices, including  
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exchanges

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Achieve strategic plans and meet  
targets and expectations

20

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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medicines. Failure to do this could adversely impact our reputation, our business and the results of operations,  
and could lead to product liability claims

Investigations or legal proceedings could be costly, divert management attention or damage our reputation  
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Any failure to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including bribery and corruption legislation,  
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(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)
(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategy key

(cid:3)

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)

Be a great place to work

Return to growth

(cid:3)

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)

Trend key

Increasing risk

Decreasing risk

Unchanged

   Further information on our key risk management 
and assurance processes can be found in Risk 
from pages 214 to 225 which also includes  
a description of circumstances under which 
principal and other risks and uncertainties  
might arise in the course of our business and  
their potential impact

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Management actions

Trend versus prior year

 > Prioritise and accelerate our pipeline
 > Strengthen pipeline through acquisitions, licensing and collaborations
 > Focus on innovative science in three main therapy areas

 > Quality management systems incorporating monitoring, training and assurance activities
 > Collaborating with regulatory bodies and advocacy groups to monitor and respond to changes in the 

regulatory environment, including revised process, timelines and guidance

 > Active management of IP rights

Increasing importance of pipeline contribution given loss of 
exclusivity on key brands

 > Focus on Growth Platforms
 > Demonstrating value of medicines/health economics 
 > Global footprint
 > (cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)

Global economic and political conditions placing downwards 
pressure on healthcare pricing and spending, and therefore  
on revenue

 > Focus on Growth Platforms
 > Accelerate and risk share through business development and strategic collaborations and alliances 

Loss of exclusivity on key brands increases challenge to achieve 
our short- to medium-term targets

 > Business continuity and resilience initiatives, disaster and data recovery and emergency response plans
 > Establishment of new manufacturing facilities, creating capacity and technical capability to support new 

Supply chain evolving to incorporate new supply chains and  
to support product launches

product launches, particularly biologics

 > Contingency plans including dual sourcing, multiple suppliers and stock levels 
 > Quality management systems

 > Disaster and data recovery plans 
 > Strategies to secure critical systems and processes

Several key transformational programmes involving large 
IT-related aspects

 > Appropriate project governance structure and oversight 
 > Regular review of strategic initiatives by appropriate senior executive and Board level committees

Ongoing restructuring projects

 > Evolve our culture
 > (cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)
 > Development of our employees

Ongoing restructuring projects

 > (cid:53)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:92)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)

reported risks through regulatory agencies and other parties. This includes a comprehensive 
pharmacovigilance programme supplemented by close monitoring and review of adverse events

The number of new products in our marketed portfolio is growing 
and is anticipated to increase further as our pipeline develops. Our 
(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)
is inherently limited due to relatively short periods of product 
testing and relatively small clinical study patient samples

 > Combined internal and external counsel management

 > Strong ethical and compliance culture 
 > Established compliance framework in place including annual Code of Conduct training for all employees
 > Focus on due diligence and oversight of third party engagements
 > Established new requirements on providing appropriate information about our products
 > Established sustainability framework in place including a refreshed sustainability strategy for 2016

Increasing government and regulatory scrutiny and evolving 
compliance challenges as complexity of business relationships 
increases

 > Focus on Growth Platforms and innovative science in three main therapy areas
 > Strengthen pipeline through acquisitions, licensing and collaborations
 > Appropriate capital structure and balance sheet
 > Portfolio-driven decision making process governed by senior executive-led committees

Increasing challenge to balance long- and short-term investments 
as we navigate a period of loss of exclusivity on key brands

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report    Strategy

Risk overview continued

Managing risk 
We work to ensure that we have effective 
risk management processes in place to 
support the delivery of our strategic 
priorities. This enables us to meet the 
expectations of our stakeholders and 
upholds our Values. We monitor our 
business activities and external and internal 
environments for new, emerging and 
changing risks to ensure that these are 
managed appropriately.

The Board believes that existing processes 
provide it with adequate information on the 
risks and uncertainties we face. Details of 
these risks and the potential impacts on our 
business are contained on pages 214 to 
225. The Board defines those risks which 
have a potential to have a material impact  
on our business or results of operations as 
our Principal Risks. 

Risk management embedded in 
business processes 
We strive to embed sound risk management 
in our strategy, planning, budgeting and 
performance management processes. 

The Board defines the Group’s risk appetite, 
enabling the Group, in both quantitative and 
qualitative terms, to judge the level of risk it 
is prepared to take in achieving its overall 
objectives. The Board expresses the 
acceptable levels of risk for the Group using 
three key dimensions. These are: (i) earnings 
and cash flow; (ii) return on investment;  
and (iii) ethics and reputation. Annually,  
the Group develops a detailed three-year 
bottom-up business plan and 10-year 
long-range projection to support the delivery 
of its strategy. The Board considers these  
in the context of the Group’s risk appetite. 
Adjustments are made to the plan or risk 
appetite to ensure they remain aligned.  
Our risk management approach is aligned 
to our strategy and business planning 
processes. We cross-check financial risks 
and opportunities identified through the 
business planning process and integrate  
our findings into the overall risk management 
reporting. Line managers are accountable 
for identifying and managing risks and for 
delivering business objectives in accordance 
with the Group’s risk appetite. 

The Senior Executive Team (SET) is required 
by the Board to oversee and monitor the 
effectiveness of the risk management 

processes implemented by management. 
Within each SET function, leadership teams 
discuss the risks the business faces. Every 
year, we map these risks to AstraZeneca’s 
risk ‘taxonomy’. This process provides a 
Group-wide assessment for the Board, 
Audit Committee and SET. Quarterly,  
each SET function assesses changes to 
these risks, new and emerging risks, and 
mitigation plans. These are assimilated into 
a Group Risk Report for the Board, Audit 
Committee and SET. Supporting tools are in 
place to assist risk leaders and managers in 
managing, monitoring and planning for risk 
and we continue to work on developing our 
risk management standards and guidelines. 
Global Compliance, Finance and Internal 
Audit Services support SET by advising on 
policy and standard setting, monitoring and 
auditing, communication and training, as 
well as reporting on the adequacy of line 
management processes as they apply to 
risk management.

We have a business resilience framework 
which governs our ability to prevent or 
quickly adapt to situations while maintaining 
continuous business operations and 
safeguarding our people, processes and 
reputation. Within this we have business 
continuity plans to address situations in 
which specific risks have the potential to 
severely impact our business. These plans 
include training and crisis simulation 
activities for business managers.

   More information about our Global Compliance 

function and the Code of Conduct can be  
found in the Corporate Governance Report 
from page 90

Viability statement
In accordance with provision C.2.2 of the 
2014 UK Corporate Governance Code,  
the Board has determined that a three-year 
period to 31 December 2019 constitutes an 
appropriate period over which to provide its 
viability statement. 

The Board considers annually and on  
a rolling basis, a three-year bottom-up 
detailed business plan. The Board also 
considers a 10-year long-range projection 
but, given the inherent uncertainty involved, 
believes that the three-year statement 
presents readers of the Annual Report with 
a reasonable degree of assurance while still 
providing a longer-term perspective.

The three-year detailed business plan 
recognises the significant political 
uncertainty arising from Brexit, the US 
presidential election result and elections  
in other key markets. Risks to the sales  
and cost forecasts are identified at a market 
and SET function level. The plan is used  
to perform central net debt and headroom 
profile analysis. This analysis considers  
a severe but plausible downside scenario 
incorporating the Principal Risks such as 
market pricing and access, delivery of 
pipeline and loss of IP. The resilience of  
the Group to absorb further Principal Risk 
events such as regulatory/litigious fines and 
the need to meet pension fund obligations 
has also been analysed. The Group has 
adequate resilience against these and the 
other Principal Risks due to our diversified 
product portfolio; our global footprint; our 
robust supply infrastructure; our access  
to external financing, which includes 
committed facilities; and our ability to 
manage our cost base.

Based on the results of this analysis, the 
Directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Company will be able to continue  
in operation and meet its liabilities as they  
fall due over the three-year period of  
their assessment.

Brexit
On 23 June 2016, the UK held a remain-or-
leave referendum on the UK’s membership 
within the EU, the outcome of which was  
a decision for the UK to exit from the EU 
(Brexit). A process of negotiation will likely 
determine the future terms of the UK’s 
relationship with the EU, as well as whether 
the UK will be able to continue to benefit 
from the EU’s free trade and similar 
arrangements. Until the Brexit negotiation 
process is initiated and completed, it is 
difficult to anticipate the potential impact  
on AstraZeneca’s market share, sales, 
profitability and results of operations. The 
Group operates from a global footprint  
and retains flexibility to adapt to changing 
circumstances. The uncertainty before, 
during and after the period of negotiation is 
also expected to increase volatility and may 
have an economic impact, particularly in the 
UK and Eurozone. The Board reviews the 
potential impact of Brexit as an integral part 
of its Principal Risks (as outlined on page 20) 
rather than as a stand-alone risk. As the 
process of Brexit evolves, the Board will 
continue to assess its impact.

22

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Therapy Area Overview and Pipeline

Our Therapy Area teams are focused on maximising the value of our pipeline for 
patients and shareholders alike. We adopt a dynamic approach to portfolio management 
(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:17)

S

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Strategy 
We have transformed our drugs portfolio 
by focusing on three main therapy areas: 
Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic 
Disease (CVMD) and Respiratory, while 
selectively pursuing promising therapies in 
Autoimmunity, Infection and Neuroscience. 
Our sales in each of these areas in 2016 are 
shown in the table below.

We are building value by strengthening 
our in-line portfolios through commercial 
excellence, life-cycle management and 
expansion into new patient populations as 
well as by translating our late-stage pipeline 
into differentiated therapies for disease 
areas with high unmet medical need. We 
continue to pursue externalisation where 
it provides an opportunity to focus and 
enhance our portfolio as well as access 
capabilities we do not have internally.

We are seeking to expand our 
comprehensive Respiratory portfolio to 
meet the needs of asthma and COPD 
patients across the severity spectrum of 
these diseases. Building on an ICS/LABA 
foundation with Symbicort, we are evolving 
our mono- and fixed-dose combination 
therapies as well as optimising our delivery 
device platforms.

In CVMD, we are expanding our portfolio 
into the cardiovascular-renal area with late-
stage assets such as ZS-9 and roxadustat, 
as well as investing to explore the potential 
benefits of our SGLT2 and GLP-1 franchises 
in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart 
failure (HF). 

We have completed the transformation 
of our Oncology portfolio where we 
are balancing our efforts across four 
disease areas – lung, ovarian, breast and 
haematology – and investing in immuno-
oncology (IO) which has the potential to 
benefit patients in multiple tumour types  
and different lines of therapy. 

For more information on our potential 
new products and product life-cycle 
developments, please see the Therapy Area 
pipeline tables on pages 26, 31, 36 and 38 
and the Development Pipeline table from 
page 204. For information on Patent Expiries 
of our Key Marketed Products, please see 
from page 211.

As we invest in our main therapy areas 
we continue to build upon our strong 
commercial and medical capabilities 
to ensure that our medicines reach the 
patients who need them most.

Indications for each product described in 
this Therapy Area Review may vary among 
countries. Please see local prescribing 
information for country-specific indications 
for any particular product.

Development pipeline
As shown in the table overleaf, our pipeline 
includes 132 projects, of which 120 are in 
the clinical phase of development, and  
we are making significant progress in 
advancing our late-stage programmes 
through regulatory approval with 14 NME 
or major LCM regulatory submissions 
during 2016, and 11 major approvals. At 
the end of 2016, we had 12 NME projects 
in pivotal studies or under regulatory review 
compared with 15 at the end of 2015. 15 
NMEs progressed to their next phase of 
development, 22 projects were discontinued 
in 2016, 17 for poorer than anticipated 
safety and efficacy results, four as a result of 
strategic shift in the environment or portfolio 
prioritisation, and one because of a change 
in regulatory requirements.

Our products
While this Therapy Area Review 
concentrates on our key marketed 
products, many of our other products are 
crucial to our business in certain countries  
in Emerging Markets.

For those of our products subject to 
litigation, information about material legal 
proceedings can be found in Note 28 to the 
Financial Statements from page 185.

Details of relevant risks are set out in  
Risk from page 214.

Partnering
As outlined in Strategy and key  
performance indicators from page 16, 
business development, specifically 
partnering, is an important element of our 
business. It supplements and strengthens 
our pipeline and our efforts to achieve 
scientific leadership. We partner with  
others around the world, including 
academia, governments, industry, scientific 
organisations and patient groups to access 
the best science to stimulate innovation and 
accelerate the delivery of new medicines  
to target unmet medical need. We currently 
have more than 600 collaborations around 
the world.

Global Product Sales by therapy area

Oncology

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease

Respiratory

Other Disease Areas

Total

Actual
growth
%

2016

CER
growth
%

20

(14)

(5)

(20)

(10)

20

(13)

(3)

(19)

(8)

Sales
$m

3,383

8,116

4,753

5,067

21,319

Sales
$m

2,825

9,489

4,987

6,340

23,641

Actual
growth
%

(7)

(3)

(2)

(23)

(9)

2015

CER
growth
%

7

4

17

(16)

(1)

Sales
$m

3,027

9,802

5,063

8,203

26,095

Actual
growth
%

2014

CER
growth
%

(5)

11

8

(9)

1

(2)

12

10

(7)

3

23

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
Strategic Report    Therapy Area Review

Therapy Area Overview and Pipeline continued

Development pipeline overview (as at 31 December 2016)

Phase I 

Phase II 

Late-stage development* 

Life-cycle management  
projects* 

41

36

27

28

 > 41 projects in Phase I, including:

 > 36 projects in Phase II, including:

 > 27 projects in late-stage 

 > 28 LCM projects

 – 29 NMEs
 – (cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)
projects that have reached Phase III

 – 11 oncology combination projects

 – 25 NMEs 
 – (cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)
for projects that have reached 
Phase III

 – 7 oncology combination projects

development, either in Phase 
III/pivotal Phase II studies or 
under regulatory review:
 – 12 NMEs not yet approved 

in any market

 – 9 projects exploring 

additional indications for 
these NMEs, of which 5 are 
oncology combinations
 – 5 NMEs already approved or 
launched in the EU, China, 
Japan and/or the US

 – (cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)
approval of a launched NME

(cid:13)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)

indications.

*   Only includes material projects 

(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3) 
in all markets.

More generally, our business development 
activity takes many forms and can be 
broadly grouped into:

 > alliances, collaborations and acquisitions 
to enhance our portfolio and pipeline in 
our main therapy areas

 > externalisation activity to maximise  

the value of our assets

 > divestments of non-priority medicines.

This activity creates additional value from 
our existing medicines as well as recurring 
Externalisation Revenue and falls broadly 
into two categories: (a) collaborations that 
help us access therapy area expertise and 
(b) collaborations that help us increase 
the number of patients and the reach of 
medicines in which we maintain an ongoing 
interest, but which sit outside our main 
therapy areas.

We continue to assess opportunities to 
make strategic, value-enhancing additions 
to our portfolio and pipeline in our main 
therapy areas, including through in-licensing 
and acquisitions. Acquisitions completed 
during 2016 included the acquisition of 
Takeda’s respiratory portfolio, in May, 
and the acquisition of a controlling equity 
position in Acerta Pharma, in February,  
both of which were signed in 2015.

Over the past three years, we have 
completed more than 270 major or 
strategically important business development 
transactions, including some 80 in 2016. 
Of these transactions, 55 were related to 
pre-clinical assets or programmes and 11 to 
PHC and biomarkers. 17 transactions helped 
expand our biologics capabilities.

Externalisation is a core component of our 
strategy and has an important role to play in 
the delivery of our ambition as we continue 
to sharpen our focus on developing key 
assets within our main therapy areas.  

Examples of collaborations that help us 
access therapy area expertise include: 

 > in Alzheimer’s disease through our 
partnership with Lilly for the BACE 
inhibitor

 > in dermatology through our agreements 

with Valeant and LEO Pharma for 
brodalumab and LEO Pharma for 
tralokinumab

 > in haematology through our collaboration 

with Celgene for durvalumab.

In each case we are optimising the  
long-term value of each medicine through 
the collaboration.

Examples of collaborations that help us 
increase our reach to a greater number  
of patients include Plendil, an established 
cardiovascular medicine, and the 
anaesthetics portfolio. We partnered  
with Aspen on our anaesthetics portfolio,  
as a company with established expertise 
who can dedicate the right resources to 

24

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

grow the business, while we retain a 
significant proportion of the value, which  
we also book as Externalisation Revenue.

Alongside these externalisation 
opportunities, we also divest medicines  
that sit outside our main therapy areas and 
that can be deployed better by a partner,  
in order to redirect investment and resource 
in our main areas of focus while ensuring 
continued or expanded patient access. 
For example, in 2016, we sold to Pfizer the 
commercialisation and development rights 
to our late-stage small molecule antibiotics 
business in most markets outside the US. 
The agreement reinforces our focus on 
developing transformational medicines 
in our three main therapy areas, while 
realising value through Pfizer’s dedicated 
commercialisation and development 
capabilities in anti-infectives.

The resulting revenue from these activities 
supports our R&D investments in our 
main therapy areas. Ten transactions that 
contribute to Externalisation Revenue and 
a further nine divestments or out-licences 
were completed in 2016.

   More information on our partnering activity in 
2016 can be found in subsequent sections of 
this Therapy Area Review, Business Review 
from page 42, Financial Review from page 62 
and Note 25 to the Financial Statements from 
page 173

Tumour drivers and 
resistance: AstraZeneca  
is investigating a number  
of proteins and signalling 
molecules designed to  
impact tumour growth and 
resistance mechanisms.

Oncology

Our ambition is to eliminate cancer as a 
(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)
and collaborations. We seek to achieve  
this by means of our combination-focused 
pipeline that exploits the power of four 
(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:17)

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

25

Strategic Report    Therapy Area Review

Oncology continued

Following the science  
of oncology

More than eight million lives are lost  
every year to cancer. Even as R&D 
continues to push boundaries in how  
we understand and fight cancer, there  
is still more to do. At AstraZeneca, we  
are committed to advancing the science 
of oncology to deliver life-changing 
medicines to people most in need.

Our strategic priorities
In Oncology, our vision is to respond to 
unmet medical need by redefining the 
cancer treatment paradigm. We are  
doing this through scientific innovation, 
accelerated clinical programmes and 
collaboration. We have a strong heritage – 
more than 40 years – in developing  
cancer drugs. By the end of 2016, several 
submissions were underway and we aim  
to deliver at least four new cancer therapies, 
in addition to Lynparza and Tagrisso, and  
12 new line extensions by 2020. In 2015,  
we decided to consider all new Oncology 
launches, including Lynparza, Iressa (US) 
and Tagrisso, as our sixth Growth Platform, 
under the designation of New Oncology.

Our broad pipeline of next-generation 
medicines is focused on four main  
disease areas: breast, ovarian, lung  
and haematological cancers, using  
four key scientific approaches: 
immunotherapy, tumour drivers and 
resistance mechanisms, DNA damage 
response, and antibody-drug conjugates. 

Oncology – pipeline progressions

Regional approvals

Tagrisso – lung cancer (EU, JP) and ctDNA blood test (US, JP)*

Expedited review

Breakthrough Therapy Designation: durvalumab – bladder cancer (US)

Orphan Drug Designation: acalabrutinib – blood cancers (EU); selumetinib – thyroid cancer 
(US)

Fast Track Designation: Lynparza – ovarian cancer (2nd line) (US), prostate cancer (2nd line) 
(US)

Priority Review Designation: Tagrisso (CN); durvalumab – bladder cancer (US)

Regulatory submissions

Faslodex – breast cancer (1st line) (US, EU, JP)

Tagrisso – lung cancer (CN)

Tagrisso – lung cancer (AURA3 study for full approval) (US, EU)

Durvalumab – bladder cancer (US)

Savolitinib – papillary renal cell carcinoma

Durvalumab+tremelimumab – hepatocellular carcinoma

In collaboration with Celgene, the combination of Vidaza and durvalumab for the treatment 
of acute myeloid leukaemia and CC486+durvalumab for myelodysplastic syndromes; 
MEDI0680+durvalumab for solid tumours; MEDI0562 (humanised OX40) for solid tumours; 
AZD6738+Lynparza for gastric cancer; AZD1775 (Wee1) for solid tumours; 
daratumumab+durvalumab for multiple myeloma; in collaboration with Incyte, epacadostat 
(IDO)+durvalumab for solid tumours

Acquisition of majority stake in Acerta Pharma providing access to acalabrutinib

Phase III investment 
decisions

Phase II starts/progressions

Strategic transactions 
completed

Setbacks and terminated 
projects

FDA placed and subsequently lifted a partial clinical hold on the enrolment of new patients 
with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) for clinical trials of durvalumab

Tremelimumab DETERMINE, Lynparza GOLD, selumetinib SELECT-1 trials failed to meet 
primary endpoint; voluntarily withdrew the marketing authorisation application submitted 
to the EMA for cediranib in advanced ovarian cancer

(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:428)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:16)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)
(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:39)(cid:44)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:39)(cid:44)(cid:16)(cid:24)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:14)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)
haematological malignancies; AZD5312 for solid tumours; AZD8835 for solid tumours; 
Tagrisso(cid:14)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:38)(cid:36)(cid:56)(cid:53)(cid:36)(cid:47)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:426)(cid:21)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:42)(cid:41)(cid:53)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:26)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:54)(cid:38)(cid:47)(cid:38)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:39)(cid:44)(cid:25)(cid:22)(cid:27)(cid:22)(cid:3)
for solid tumours; durvalumab+MEDI6383 for solid tumours; MEDI0639 for solid tumours

(cid:13)(cid:3) (cid:53)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:39)(cid:49)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:17)

26

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Therapy area world market
(MAT/Q3/16) 

$84.2bn

Annual worldwide market value

   Chemotherapy $19.7bn
   Hormonal therapies 
$11.0bn
   Monoclonal antibodies 
(MAbs) $25.0bn
   Small molecule tyrosine 
kinase inhibitors (TKIs)  
$22.6bn
   Immune checkpoint 
inhibitors $5.9bn

Four key scientific platforms are driving our 
efforts to discover new cancer treatments:

 > Immunotherapy: Our ambition is to 

be a scientific leader in immunotherapy,  
a promising therapeutic approach that 
harnesses the patient’s own immune 
system to help fight cancer. We are 
working to understand how cancer 
evades the immune system and to identify 
approaches that enhance the immune 
system’s ability to fight cancer.
 > Tumour drivers and resistance 

mechanisms: Potent inhibition of genetic 
disease drivers is a clinically validated 
approach to shrink tumours and improve 
progression-free survival. Tumours, 
however, eventually develop resistance  
to these therapies. Our programmes seek  
to develop therapies that target resistance 
mechanisms and the mutations that 
cause cancer cells to proliferate. 

 > DNA damage response: Exploiting 
mechanisms that selectively damage 
tumour cell DNA is another clinically 
validated approach to shrink tumours  
and improve progression-free survival. 
Our programmes focus on identifying  
and exploiting vulnerabilities unique to  
tumour cells to kill the tumour cells while 
minimising toxicity to the patient.

 > Antibody-drug conjugates: The use  
of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) is a 
clinically validated, highly potent approach 
that selectively targets cancer cells.  
We seek to combine innovative antibody 
engineering capabilities with cytotoxic 
drug molecules to attack and kill the 
tumour while minimising toxicity to  
the patient. 

Our marketed products

>  Arimidex (anastrozole)

>  Casodex/Cosudex (bicalutamide)

>  Faslodex (fulvestrant)

>  Iressa (gefitinib)

>  Lynparza (olaparib)

>  Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate)

>  Tagrisso (osimertinib)

>  Zoladex (goserelin acetate implant)

  Full product information on page 211

We are also focused on identifying and 
developing combination therapies. Our 
immuno-oncology portfolio, which we 
believe is one of the most comprehensive  
in our industry, enables us to explore and 
exploit scientific and biological synergies  
to pursue combinations that improve 
outcomes and maximise patient benefit. 

Our 2016 focus
In total, our marketed Oncology products 
generated sales of $3.4 billion worldwide in 
2016. Sales from our New Oncology Growth 
Platform, totalled $0.7 billion in 2016, an 
increase of 458% at actual rate of exchange 
(450% at CER) over 2015 ($0.1 billion). We 
continue to explore ways to maximise the 
benefit of our medicines for patients.

Tagrisso is the first approved epidermal 
growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase 
inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) indicated for patients 
with metastatic EGFR T790M mutation-
positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 
This indication was approved in November 
2015 under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval 
Programme based on tumour response rate 
and duration of response. Full approval for 
this indication is dependent on verification 
and description of clinical benefit in the 
confirmatory trial, AURA3, for which positive 
results were presented in December.  
The EMA and FDA accepted the AURA3 
submission in October and November 
respectively, and the FDA has granted  
it a Priority Review.

In February 2016, Tagrisso was approved  
by the EMA for the treatment of adult 
patients with locally advanced or metastatic 
EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC. 
In March 2016, it was approved in Japan 
and, by the end of 2016, Tagrisso had 
received regulatory approval in more than 
40 countries. In September 2016, the  
FDA approved a blood-based companion 
diagnostic test for use with Tagrisso. This 
clinically-validated companion diagnostic 
test uses either tissue or a blood sample to 
confirm the presence of a T790M mutation 
in patients. Japan approved the same test  
in December 2016.

Iressa was the first EGFR-TKI to be 
approved in advanced NSCLC and, as of  
31 December 2016, had been approved in 
90 countries. Indicated for the treatment of 
advanced EGFR mutation NSCLC, it is the 
leading EGFR-TKI outside the US. Iressa 
received approval in the US in July 2015. 

Lynparza is an oral poly ADP ribose 
polymerase (PARP) inhibitor available to 
patients in 31 countries for the treatment  
of adult patients with BRCA-mutated 
high-grade serous epithelial ovarian, 
fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. 
In October 2016, AstraZeneca announced 
positive high level results of SOLO-2,  
a Phase III randomised, double-blind, 
placebo-controlled, multicentre study  
of Lynparza maintenance monotherapy  
in platinum sensitive relapsed BRCA 
gene-mutated ovarian cancer patients  
who are in complete or partial response 
following platinum-based chemotherapy. 
Data from SOLO-2 could form the core 
Phase III component for an FDA NDA 
submission, a Japan NDA submission  
and an EU variation to the MAA in 2017.

Faslodex 500mg is approved in more than 
80 countries, including the EU, the US and 
Japan. In March 2016, the FDA approved  
a new indication expanding the use of 
Faslodex, in combination with palbociclib 
(Pfizer), for the treatment of women with 
hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human 
epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative 
(HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast 
cancer whose cancer has progressed after 

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endocrine therapy. In October 2016, at  
the European Society of Medical Oncology 
Congress, we presented positive results of 
the Phase III FALCON clinical trial comparing 
the efficacy and safety of Faslodex 500mg 
with Arimidex in the 1st line advanced breast 
cancer setting (hormone-naïve patients). 
These positive outcomes will form the basis 
of a continuous expansion of Faslodex in 
metastatic breast cancer. 

Details of litigation relating to Faslodex  
are included in Note 28 to the Financial 
Statements from page 185.

Zoladex continues to be a significant  
asset in our on-market portfolio and a  
driver of our prostate cancer and breast 
cancer portfolios.

14m

Annual cancer cases are expected to rise 
from 14 million in 2012 to an estimated 
22 million within the next two decades.

Source: WHO Factsheet February 2014 (data from 2012).

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

27

 
Strategic Report    Therapy Area Review

Oncology continued

In the pipeline 
Our Oncology pipeline continued to 
progress in 2016. It now includes 32 NMEs 
in development. We also expanded several 
of our projects to incorporate novel 
combinations and various types of cancer. 
Some of our projects from each of our 
platforms are outlined below.

Immuno-oncology franchise
 > Durvalumab (MEDI4736) is an anti-PD-L1 
antibody in Phase III development for 
NSCLC as a monotherapy and in 
combination with tremelimumab, an 
anti-Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-Associated 
protein 4 antibody. The lung cancer 
programme includes studies in the  
1st line, 2nd line and 3rd line setting. 
Additional registration studies are 
progressing in head and neck squamous 
cell carcinoma (1st and 2nd line), and 
bladder cancer (1st line). The development 
programme also includes additional 
Phase I and Phase II studies in a broad 
range of solid tumours and an extensive 
range of combination programmes. In 
February 2016, durvalumab was granted 
Breakthrough Therapy Designation by  
the FDA for the treatment of patients with 
PD-L1 positive inoperable or metastatic 
urothelial bladder cancer and, in 
December 2016, it was additionally 
granted Priority Review status with  
a Prescription Drug User Fee Act set  
for the second quarter of 2017.

 > MEDI0680 is an antiprogrammed cell 

death protein 1 (PD-1) MAb that may help 
promote an effective anti-tumour immune 
response by blocking the interactions 
between PD-1 and its ligands. It could 
also improve the intrinsic functionality of 
T-cells by triggering internalisation of PD-1, 
a mechanism that may be unique to 
MEDI0680. MEDI0680 is in Phase I 
development for solid tumours as a 
monotherapy and in combination with 
durvalumab.

 > Other immuno-oncology agents in early 
development include: MEDI6383, a 
human tumour necrosis factor receptor 
superfamily, member 4 (OX40) agonist; 
MEDI9447 targeting ecto-5’-nucleotidase 
(CD73); and MEDI1873 targeting 
glucocorticoid-induced tumour necrosis 
factor receptor-ligand (GITRL). These 
agents are in Phase I development for  
a range of solid tumours and have the 
potential for combination with other 
molecules in the portfolio.

Tumour drivers and resistance 
mechanisms franchise
 > Tagrisso is a highly selective, irreversible 

inhibitor of the activating sensitising EGFR 
mutation and the resistance mutation 
T790M. The product is being investigated 
in Phase III studies in the adjuvant setting 
for the treatment of patients with EGFRm 
NSCLC and in the advanced setting as a 
1st line treatment of EGFRm NSCLC and 
as a ≥2nd line treatment of EGFRm 
T790M NSCLC. Additionally, studies in 
combination with small molecules are 
under investigation.

 > Selumetinib is a mitogen-activated protein 
kinase inhibitor in Phase III development 
for adjuvant differentiated thyroid cancer. 
In May 2016, selumetinib was granted 
Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for 
differentiated thyroid cancer. In August 
2016, the selumetinib Phase III study 
SELECT-1 in 2nd line KRAS mutant 
NSCLC failed to meet its primary 
endpoint of progression-free survival. 

 > Cediranib is an orally administered 

multi-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 
receptor (VEGFR) inhibitor which is 
currently being tested in combination  
with Lynparza in patients with platinum-
sensitive relapsed (PSR) ovarian cancer 
and platinum-resistant/refractory (PRR) 
ovarian cancer. In September 2016, 
AstraZeneca made the decision to 
withdraw the MAA for cediranib in 
combination with platinum-based 
chemotherapy followed by maintenance 
monotherapy for the treatment of adult 
patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed 
ovarian cancer (ICON6).

 > AZD5363 is a protein kinase B (AKT) 
inhibitor in Phase II development for 
breast and prostate cancer.

 > Savolitinib (AZD6094) is a hepatocyte 

growth factor receptor (c-MET) inhibitor.  
It is in Phase II development for lung and 
renal cancer.

 > Vistusertib (AZD2014) is an inhibitor of the 
mammalian target of rapamycin serine/
threonine kinase (TORC1, TORC2) and is 
in Phase II development for the treatment 
of solid and haematological tumours.

 > AZD9496 is a selective oestrogen 
receptor down-regulator (SERD) in  
Phase I development for the treatment  
of breast cancer.

 > Acalabrutinib is a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase 
(BTK) inhibitor in Phase III development in 
B-cell malignancies and solid tumours. In 
April 2016, acalabrutinib was designated 
as an orphan medicinal product by the 

28

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

EMA for the treatment of chronic 
lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/small 
lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), mantle cell 
lymphoma (MCL) and lymphoplasmacytic 
lymphoma (Waldenström’s 
macroglobulinaemia, WM).

DNA damage response franchise
 > Lynparza is being evaluated in a broad 

range of Phase III trials, including BRCAm 
adjuvant and metastatic breast cancer, 
gBRCAm pancreatic cancer, gBRCAm 
ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. 
Lynparza was granted Breakthrough 
Therapy Designation by the FDA for 
treatment of BRCA1/2 or ATM gene- 
mutated metastatic castration resistant 
prostate cancer. In May 2016, the 
Lynparza GOLD study in 2nd line gastric 
cancer failed to meet its primary endpoint 
of overall survival. In October 2016, results 
from the Phase III SOLO-2 trial 
demonstrated a clinically meaningful and 
statistically significant improvement of 
progression-free survival (PFS) among 
patients treated with Lynparza tablets 
(300mg twice daily) compared to placebo 
and provided additional evidence to 
support the potential use of Lynparza  
as a monotherapy for the maintenance 
treatment of platinum-sensitive relapsed, 
BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer.

 > AZD1775 is a Wee1 inhibitor in Phase II 
development for ovarian and other solid 
tumours in combination with Lynparza.
 > Phase I clinical studies are progressing  
for the ATR inhibitor AZD6738 (2nd line 
gastric cancer with Lynparza and also in 
combination with ionising radiation in solid 
tumours), the ATM inhibitor AZD0156 (for 
the treatment of gastric and colorectal 
cancers) and the aurora b kinase 
AZD2811 (in solid tumours). 

8.2m

Cancer is a leading cause of death 
worldwide and accounted for 8.2 million 
deaths in 2012.

Source: WHO Factsheet February 2014 (data from 2012).

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combination with Incyte’s oral indoleamine 
dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) inhibitor, epacadostat 
(INCB24360).

We also extended our collaboration with 
Moderna to discover, co-develop and 
co-commercialise messenger RNA (mRNA) 
therapeutic candidates for the treatment  
of a range of cancers.

In February 2016, we completed a 
transaction for a majority equity stake 
investment in Acerta Pharma. The 
transaction provides AstraZeneca with a 
potential best-in-class irreversible oral BTK 
inhibitor, acalabrutinib (ACP-196), currently 
in Phase III development for B-cell blood 
cancers and in Phase I/II clinical trials in 
multiple solid tumours.

In June 2016, we signed a definitive 
agreement with Foundation Medicine, Inc. 
to develop a novel companion diagnostic 
assay for Lynparza to support its global 
development programme. The companion 
diagnostic seeks to enable physicians  
to identify those patients most likely to 
benefit from AstraZeneca’s first-in-class 
PARP inhibitor.

In November 2016, CancerLinQ, a non-profit 
subsidiary of the American Society of 
Clinical Oncology, announced a new 
non-exclusive partnership with AstraZeneca, 
which will use CancerLinQ Discovery, a 
groundbreaking offering that aims to provide 
insights through the analysis of real-world 
cancer care data. As a ‘Founding Enterprise 
Partner’, AstraZeneca will be able to gather 
insights on specific cancer care questions 
and provide critical input to maximise 
CancerLinQ Discovery’s utility and usability.

60%

More than 60% of the world’s total new 
annual cancer cases occur in Africa,  
Asia and Central and South America. 
These regions account for 70% of the 
world’s cancer deaths.

Source: WHO Factsheet February 2014 (data from 2012).

Inveveveveestststststtiinining g fof r the e futureeee: 
PePPePeePePePePersrsssonooo alised hheae lthchcara ee e (PPPHCHCHH ) innn 
iiimimimimimmmmumumumm nonono-o-o-oncncncololologogogggy yyy (I((IOOO)O  

AstraZeneca has been at the forefront
of PHC since its inception, with 80% of 
current investigative molecules using a 
PHC approach. This research includes 
investment in understanding the science 
of PD-L1 protein expression, which plays
a role in suppressing the immune system. 
Testing for expression levels of PD-L1
may help to identify patients most likely
(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:50)(cid:16)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)
However, choosing between the many 
PD-L1 diagnostic tests available can be
challenging. We embarked on a series of 
studies to compare the currently available 
PD-L1 tests across various tumour types, 
and demonstrated a strong association – 
concordance – between most of them. 
This research suggests that the tests
might one day be used interchangeably
(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)
patients for IO therapies, thereby driving 
(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:17)

Antibody-drug conjugates franchise
 > Moxetumomab pasudotox, an anti-CD22 

recombinant immunotoxin, is being 
investigated in a Phase III study for adult 
patients with hairy cell leukaemia who 
have relapsed after, or not responded to, 
standard therapy.

 > MEDI4276 is a HER2 bispecific ADC, 

which entered clinical development for  
a range of solid tumours.

Key Oncology collaborations  
and transactions 
Collaboration is key to accessing the best 
science and technology, achieving scientific 
leadership and delivering innovative, 
life-changing medicines. In 2016, we 
continued to strengthen our portfolio and 
accelerate clinical programmes through 
acquisitions and collaborations.

In January 2016, we announced a new 
collaboration with Incyte to evaluate the 
efficacy and safety of Incyte’s Janus-
associated kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor, 
INCB39110, in combination with Tagrisso. 
This builds on an existing collaboration 
between the two companies to explore 
AstraZeneca’s anti-PD-L1 immune 
checkpoint inhibitor, durvalumab, in 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

29

 
Strategic Report    Therapy Area Review

Current treatments for 
hyperkalaemia, a potentially 
life-threatening condition 
associated with chronic 
kidney disease and chronic 
heart failure, are poorly 
tolerated by patients. 
AstraZeneca is developing  
a treatment which traps 
potassium in the gut and 
removes it from the body.

Cardiovascular & 
Metabolic Disease

We push the boundaries of science  
to create life-changing medicines for 
patients that reduce morbidity, mortality 
and organ damage by addressing 
multiple risk factors.

Following the science  
of cardiovascular and 
metabolic disease

AstraZeneca is following the science to 
transform how cardiovascular disease 
(CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 
diabetes are understood, interact and 
impact one another – ensuring the focus  
of treatment is across cardiovascular and 
metabolic disease (CVMD) to slow 
progression and save more lives.

Our strategic priorities
Our strategic focus is on transformative 
medicines that address the high unmet 
medical need in CVMD, including 
thrombosis (blood clotting), atherosclerosis 
(hardening of the arteries), dyslipidaemia 
(abnormal levels of blood lipids), chronic 
heart failure (CHF), diabetes and CKD. 

Currently an estimated 17.5 million people 
die annually from CVD, representing 31%  
of all global deaths, and CVD is the leading 
cause of death in people with CKD and 
people with diabetes. Despite improvements 
in the diagnosis and treatment of CVMD, 
unmet medical need, as well as access and 
affordability challenges, remain high, while 
co-morbidity is common in patients living 
with CVMD. 

We are seeking to unlock the scientific 
potential of our CVMD therapy area by 
investigating disease causes and 
progression, supporting our larger objective 
of innovating to develop novel therapeutic 
approaches. Our efforts aim to reduce 
long-term morbidity and mortality, and  
to ultimately reduce the burden, as well  
as the human, social and economic costs,  
of these diseases. 

Our commitment is demonstrated in both 
our clinical development and life-cycle 
management programmes. More than 
60,000 patients are participating in our 
R&D-led cardiovascular trials at more  
than 6,000 sites worldwide. Our focus  
on diabetes research includes almost  
50 clinical trials worldwide with an  
enrolment target of 56,000 patients.

Our scientific leadership is strengthened by 
developing cutting edge technologies with 
our strategic partners:

 > Participation in the RPC2 consortium 

(renal precompetitive consortium) formed 
with the University of Michigan and Lilly  
to identify new therapeutic targets for the 
treatment of CKD.

 > Alliance with Moderna and Professor Ken 
Chien at the Integrated Cardio Metabolic 
Centre (ICMC), Karolinska Institutet in 
Stockholm, Sweden, to identify targets 
and pathways involved in repairing 
damaged cardiac muscle.

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease – pipeline progressions

Regional approvals

Brilinta/Brilique – post myocardial infarction (EU) and acute coronary syndromes and post 
myocardial infarction (JP)

Qtern(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:18)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:92)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:12)

Expedited review

None

Regulatory submissions

ZS-9 – hyperkalaemia in response to a CRL (US)

(cid:39)(cid:56)(cid:53)(cid:36)(cid:55)(cid:44)(cid:50)(cid:49)(cid:16)(cid:27)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:14)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:12)

Two further submissions await regulatory acceptance

Forxiga – heart failure; Forxiga – chronic kidney disease

Phase III investment 
decisions

Phase II starts/progressions MEDI4166 – diabetes/cardiovascular disease; MEDI0382 – diabetes/obesity; AZD4076 – 

non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Strategic transactions 
completed

Setbacks and terminated 
projects

Partnering with 3SBio Inc. for commercialisation of Bydureon and Byetta in China

Brilinta SOCRATES and EUCLID trials failed to meet primary endpoint; CRL received from 
FDA for ZS-9 for treatment of hyperkalaemia; Epanova/Farxiga combination discontinued 
for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Therapy area world market
(MAT/Q3/16) 

$186.8bn

Annual worldwide market value

S

t
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i
c
R
e
p
o
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t

   High blood pressure 
$37.9bn
   Abnormal levels of  
blood cholesterol 
$26.7bn
   Diabetes $70.9bn
   Thrombosis $8.6bn
   Other $42.7bn

 > Collaboration with the Harvard Stem Cell 
Institute to adapt a technique that creates 
human beta cells from stem cells in the 
search for new, transformative treatment 
options for diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease 
Our 2016 focus
Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is an 
umbrella term for sudden chest pain  
and other symptoms due to ischaemia 
(insufficient blood supply) to the heart.  
ACS is associated with considerable 
mortality and morbidity. There is a  
significant need to improve patient 
outcomes and reduce treatment costs. 

Brilinta/Brilique is an oral antiplatelet 
treatment for ACS. It is approved in over  
100 countries, including the US, Canada 
and Brazil under the trade name Brilinta, 
and in the EU, Iceland and Norway under 
the trade name Brilique. Since it was first 
launched in Europe in December 2010,  
it has been included in 12 major ACS 
treatment guidelines globally.

In February 2016, the European Commission 
granted marketing authorisation for Brilique 
for long-term prevention of cardiovascular 
death, heart attack and stroke for patients 
with a history of heart attack. The EU 
approval was based on the results from  
the PEGASUS TIMI-54 trial, a large-scale 
outcomes trial involving more than  
21,000 patients. 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

31

 
Strategic Report    Therapy Area Review

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease continued

Our marketed products

Cardiovascular disease
 > Atacand1/Atacand HCT/Atacand Plus 

(candesartan cilexetil)

 > Brilinta/Brilique (ticagrelor)

 > Crestor 2 (rosuvastatin calcium)

 > Imdur 3 (isosorbide mononitrate)

 > Plendil 4 (felodipine)

 > Seloken/Toprol-XL5 (metoprolol succinate)

 > Tenormin6 (atenolol)

 > Zestril 7 (lisinopril dihydrate)

Metabolic disease
 > Bydureon (exenatide XR injectable suspension)

 > Byetta (exenatide injection) 

 > Farxiga/Forxiga (dapagliflozin)

 > Kombiglyze XR (saxagliptin and metformin HCl) 

 > Komboglyze (saxagliptin and metformin HCl) 

 > Onglyza (saxagliptin) 

 > Qtern (saxagliptin/dapagliflozin)

 > Symlin (pramlintide acetate)

 > Xigduo (dapagliflozin and metformin HCI)

 > Xigduo XR (dapagliflozin and metformin HCI)

  Full product information on page 211

1  Licensed from Takeda Chemicals Industries Ltd.
2    Licensed from Shionogi. The extension of the global 
licence agreement with Shionogi for Crestor and the 
(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:92)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)
(cid:20)(cid:98)(cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:17)

3   Divested China rights to China Medical Systems 

(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:87)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:98)(cid:50)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:98)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)

4   Divested China rights to China Medical Systems 

(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:87)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)

5(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:93)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)

(cid:39)(cid:36)(cid:38)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)

6   Divested US rights to Tenormin to Alvogen Pharma US 

(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:17)

7   Licensed from Merck. Divested US rights to Zestril to 
(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:89)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:17)

In October 2016, the EUCLID Phase III  
trial in peripheral artery disease (PAD)  
results were announced. Brilinta did not 
demonstrate benefit over clopidogrel in a 
symptomatic PAD patient population and 
did not meet the primary endpoint of the 
trial. However, the safety profile observed in 
both this trial and the SOCRATES trial was 
consistent with the known safety profile of 
Brilinta. Based on the current expectations, 
it is unlikely that we will seek regulatory 
submission of an indication in PAD.

Crestor is approved in 109 countries  
for the treatment of dyslipidaemia and 
hypercholesterolaemia (elevated 
cholesterol). The medicine has been shown 
to effectively lower low-density lipoprotein 
cholesterol (LDL-C) and achieve LDL-C 
goals and to increase high-density 
lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and reduce 
atherosclerotic plaque. Crestor faces 
competition from atorvastatin (Lipitor) and 
other generic products. The substance 
patent protecting Crestor in the US expired 
on 8 January 2016 and the paediatric 
exclusivity period expired on 8 July 2016. 
Watson Laboratories, Inc. and Actavis, Inc. 
began selling generic rosuvastatin in the  
US in May 2016 as the result of a litigation 
settlement with AstraZeneca. Details of 
these matters are included in Note 28  
to the Financial Statements, from page 185. 
Additional manufacturers have made 
generic rosuvastatin available in the  
US in 2016, in line with AstraZeneca’s 
business assumptions. 

Epanova (omega-3-carboxylic acids)  
is the first FDA approved prescription 
omega-3 fatty acid in free fatty acid form.  
It has the potential to help patients with 
severe hypertriglyceridaemia by reducing 
high triglycerides (TG) levels. Epanova is 
approved in the US as an adjunct to diet  
to reduce TG levels in adult patients with 
severe hypertriglyceridaemia (TG levels 
≥500mg/dL). We remain committed to  
the launch of Epanova in the US and other 
key markets.

In March 2016, the SOCRATES trial top-line 
results were announced. The trial assessed 
the efficacy of Brilinta 90mg tablets twice 
daily when compared to aspirin 100mg 
once daily in patients with acute ischaemic 
stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Fewer 
events were observed on Brilinta versus the 
comparator in the overall trial population;  
the trend, however, did not reach statistical 
significance and the primary efficacy 
endpoint of time to first occurrence of  
any event from the composite of stroke 
(ischaemic or haemorrhagic), myocardial 
infarction (MI) and death was not met. 

In March 2016, the American College of 
Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart 
Association (AHA) updated their treatment 
guidelines for ACS and the duration of dual 
antiplatelet therapy. Brilinta is now preferred 
over clopidogrel for the management of 
patients with ACS who have received a 
coronary stent and in non-ST Elevation ACS 
patients treated with medical therapy alone. 
This update was the first time that the  
ACC and AHA have recommended Brilinta 
over clopidogrel for patients who have 
experienced an ST-elevation myocardial 
infarction (STEMI). 

The update was also the first US guideline 
to provide the medical community with 
insights drawn from the PEGASUS TIMI-54 
trial. The guideline supported continuation  
of P2Y12 platelet inhibitor therapy beyond  
12 months in prior MI patients who are not 
at high bleeding risk.

There were three new treatment guidelines 
updated in China in the first half of 2016. 
The ACS Emergency Room Rapid 
Guideline, Chinese PCI Guideline and the 
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Consensus 
(2016) Guideline. These recommended 
Brilinta as ‘first-choice treatment’ over any 
other platelet inhibitor.

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour 
and Welfare approved Brilinta 90mg for 
patients with ACS for whom the use of other 
antiplatelet medicines in combination with 
aspirin is difficult. Brilinta 60mg was also 
approved for patients who have suffered  
a heart attack at least one year prior and  
are at high risk of developing a further 
atherothrombotic event.

32

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

S

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Our 2016 focus
We are focused on redefining the Type 2 
diabetes treatment approach and harnessing 
complementary mechanisms of action, as 
well as evaluating potential CV outcomes 
benefit. Our current portfolio is intended to 
enable combination treatment, and data 
from our Phase III programmes are expected 
to further support the outcomes benefit of 
this new class approach.

In 2016, we saw ongoing approvals  
and launches for Farxiga/Forxiga for the 
treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Starting with 
the EU in 2012, it is now approved in over  
85 countries. It is under regulatory review  
in 12 additional countries.

Xigduo is approved in 55 countries, 
including the US with Xigduo XR with 
ongoing approvals in 2017 expected. In 
2016, we continued to receive approvals 
and launch the Bydureon Pen in new 
markets, which is now either approved  
or launched in 30 countries, including the 
US, Japan and key European countries.  
The Bydureon Pen is a pre-filled, single-use 
pen injector. In the US, we are engaged in 
patent litigation against multiple generic 
companies challenging patents listed in  
the FDA Orange Book with reference to 
Onglyza, and are awaiting the outcome of  
a trial that took place in September 2016.

17.5m

An estimated 17.5 million people die 
annually from CV disease, representing 
31% of all global deaths. More than 
three-quarters of these deaths occur  
in low- to middle-income countries.

Source: WHO Factsheet 2016 (data from 2012).  

Inveeeessststini g for the future:
Patients with chronic kidney ddddissiseeaasesesese 
(C(CCKDKDKD)) ) ananandd d hehearart failure (HF)

 is an SGLT2 inhibitor 

Farxiga/Forxiga
a
//
indicated for the treatment of Type 2 
diabetes. It is also being investigated 
in two Phase IIIb outcome trials for the 
management of CKD and HF in people
with and without Type 2 diabetes. This 
(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)
(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)
an SGLT2 inhibitor in CKD, for which
there are currently few treatment options
(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:17)

Clinical studies
PARTHENON is AstraZeneca’s largest ever 
cardiovascular (CV) outcomes programme 
involving nearly 80,000 patients. It includes 
five key studies covering broad patient 
populations across varying timescales and 
aims to support four new indications for 
Brilinta/Brilique over the next four years. 
Following the SOCRATES and EUCLID 
trials, which failed to meet primary endpoint, 
THEMIS is the next major trial, studying  
the benefit of ticagrelor for the prevention  
of CV events among Type 2 diabetic 
patients. The whole programme continues 
to progress.

To better understand the interplay between 
CKD, CVD and diabetes, AstraZeneca 
recently announced two Phase IIIb 
outcomes trials designed to evaluate the 
potential role of an SGLT2 inhibitor, which  
is currently indicated for the treatment of 
Type 2 diabetes, in the management of both 
CHD and CKD in people with and without 
Type 2 diabetes. This marks the first time  
a major outcome trial will evaluate the effect  
of an SGLT2 inhibitor on CKD.

We are also committed to further evaluating 
the clinical profile of Epanova and identifying 
other patient groups it may benefit. 
AstraZeneca continues to advance its 
large-scale CV outcomes trial (STRENGTH), 
STatin Residual risk reduction with EpaNova 
in hiGh cardiovascular risk paTients with 
Hypertriglyceridaemia, to evaluate the safety 
and efficacy of Epanova on CV outcomes  
in combination with statin therapy for  
the treatment of patients with mixed 
dyslipidaemia who are at increased risk  
of CV disease. 

Metabolic and renal 
diseases
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic progressive 
disease that accounts for more than 90%  
of diabetes cases worldwide. Disease 
prevalence continues to grow, particularly 
among those at a younger age, and many 
patients require multiple medications. 
Various oral generic and branded 
treatments exist and newer classes of 
treatments continue to enter the market.

There are more than 200 million people 
worldwide living with CKD and AstraZeneca 
is working to create an innovative standard 
of care to prevent, treat and manage CKD 
with a long-term ambition of modifying  
the disease itself. Complications of CKD,  
such as hyperkalaemia and anaemia, are 
associated with significant CV risk plus 
morbidity and mortality. 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

33

 
Strategic Report  Therapy Area Review

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease continued

422m

The number of people with diabetes  
has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 
422 million in 2014. Diabetes prevalence 
has been rising more rapidly in middle- 
and low-income countries.

Source: WHO Factsheet November 2016.  

200m

(cid:38)(cid:46)(cid:39)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)
people worldwide.

Source: Ojo A. ‘Addressing the Global Burden of Chronic 
Kidney Disease Through Clinical and Translational Research.’ 
Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological 
Association 2015; 125: 229-246.  

In July 2016, we also saw the approval  
of Qtern (a fixed-dose combination of 
saxagliptin and dapagliflozin) by the 
European Commission for the treatment  
of Type 2 diabetes in European markets – 
the first DPP-4i/SGLT2i combination 
product to be approved in Europe. The 
resubmission for Qtern in the US was 
completed and accepted by the FDA,  
and we anticipate a Prescription Drug  
User Fee Act date in early 2017.

submitted data which it had yet to review.  
In October 2016, the FDA confirmed 
acceptance of the NDA resubmission.  
The resubmission did not require the 
generation of new data and a regulatory 
decision is expected in the first half of 2017. 
Interactions are ongoing with other health 
authorities in the EU and Australia, where 
ZS-9 is currently under separate regulatory 
review. Additional regulatory submissions  
in other markets are planned for 2017.

In September, we saw positive results  
from the Phase III DURATION-8 trial, 
demonstrating that Bydureon (exenatide 
extended-release formulation) 2mg once- 
weekly in combination with Forxiga 
(dapagliflozin) 10mg once-daily, significantly 
reduced blood sugar as measured by 
HbA1c, versus the individual medicines 
alone in patients with Type 2 diabetes 
inadequately controlled on metformin.

In the pipeline
The Phase III programme for a once-weekly 
suspension of Bydureon continues to 
progress and the Bydureon auto-injector  
is due for submission to the FDA in 2017.

Through our strategic collaboration with 
FibroGen and Astellas, we continue to 
develop roxadustat, a potential first-in-class 
oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl 
hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) in Phase III 
development for the treatment of anaemia  
in patients with CKD, including those who 
are dialysis dependent and non-dialysis 
dependent. Roxadustat is in Phase III in the 
US, Europe, Japan and China. The Phase III 
programme consists of 15 studies enrolling 
more than 7,000 patients worldwide.  
To date, roxadustat has been studied in  
over 1,100 subjects in completed Phase I 
and II studies. 

We continue to progress ZS-9 (sodium 
zirconium cyclosilicate), a treatment for 
hyperkalaemia being developed by ZS 
Pharma, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
AstraZeneca which was acquired in 
December 2015.

In May 2016, the FDA issued a complete 
response letter (CRL) regarding the NDA  
for ZS-9. The CRL referred to observations 
arising from a pre-approval inspection at  
the manufacturing facility and the FDA 
acknowledged the receipt of recently-

Verinurad (RDEA3170) is a potent selective 
uric acid reabsorption inhibitor that has been 
in Phase II development as a urate-lowering 
therapy. We will now progress development 
of verinurad for CKD in a Phase II trial, which 
is planned to start during 2017.

   For more information please see Financial 

Review from page 62

Clinical studies
The Dapagliflozin Effect on CardiovascuLAR 
Events (DECLARE) study, a large CV 
outcomes trial to assess the impact of 
Farxiga/Forxiga on CV risk/benefit, when 
added to a patient’s current diabetes 
therapy, continued in 2016. The trial was 
fully enrolled in 2015 with approximately 
17,000 adult patients with Type 2 diabetes 
and is expected to be completed in 2019.

The Exenatide Study of Cardiovascular 
Event Lowering (EXSCEL) study also 
continued during 2016. This study, which 
began in 2010 and is expected to end in 
2018, is evaluating the impact of Bydureon, 
in addition to standard of care, on CV 
outcomes in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

AstraZeneca and FibroGen continue to 
investigate roxadustat for the treatment  
of anaemia in patients with CKD. The 
OLYMPUS and ROCKIES pivotal studies 
evaluate roxadustat for the treatment of 
anaemia in patients with CKD not on dialysis 
and on dialysis, respectively. The initial data 
read-out for our sponsored trials is expected 
to align with the availability of pooled safety 
data in coordination with our partners, 
expected in early 2018, and we anticipate  
a 2018 regulatory filing in the US. 

34

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

One of our key focus areas in 
Respiratory is lung immunity, 
where we are aiming to reset 
immunological dysfunctions 
that may be underlying 
causes of disease.

Respiratory 

We aim to transform the treatment of 
respiratory disease with our growing 
portfolio of inhaled and biologic medicines 
(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:17)

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

35

Strategic Report    Therapy Area Review

Respiratory continued

Following the science  
of respiratory disease 

Our 40-year heritage in respiratory 
medicines is just the beginning  
of our story. The age of targeted  
biologics to address the unmet  
needs of specific patient populations  
has now arrived in asthma, and 
AstraZeneca has three biologics in  
mid- or late-stage development with  
each one targeting different biologic 
pathways that play important roles  
in this heterogeneous disease.

Our strategic priorities 
Respiratory is one of AstraZeneca’s main 
therapy areas, and our medicines reached 
more than 18 million patients in 2016. We 
have a strong pipeline with about 22,000 
patients involved in clinical trials, and we 
expect up to four launches of new 
medicines between 2016 and 2020. 

Our work focuses on transforming the 
treatment of asthma and COPD in three 
areas: (i) inhaled combinations at the core  
of care, (ii) biologic medicines for the unmet 
needs of specific patient populations, and 
(iii) scientific advancements where our 
ambition is to achieve disease modification 
and durable remission. We have 
considerable capabilities in inhalation 
technologies, which span both pressurised 
metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry 
powder inhalers (DPIs), as well as our 
innovative particle Co-Suspension Delivery 
Technology. In our early development 
pipeline, we focus our research on three key 
areas: lung immunity, lung epithelium and 
lung regeneration.

Asthma is one of the most common and 
chronic lung diseases worldwide and a 
serious global health problem, affecting the 
lungs’ airways. Inflammation and narrowing 
of the airways may cause wheezing, 
breathlessness, chest tightness and 
coughing. Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) 
of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with a 
long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) such as 
Symbicort are the cornerstone of treatment, 
helping to treat moderate-to-severe asthma. 
For patients with mild asthma, we are 
investigating the use of Symbicort dosed  
‘as needed’, recognising the variability and 
inflammatory nature of disease in these 
patients. For the approximately 10%  
of asthma patients who have severe, 
uncontrolled asthma despite standard-of-
care medications, we are working to 
develop targeted biologics that address  
the underlying causes of disease. The  
FDA and EMA have accepted regulatory 
submissions for benralizumab, our first 
respiratory biologic, which is being 
developed for severe asthma. 

COPD is a progressive and chronic disease. 
There are unmet needs in the treatment of 
COPD, such as exacerbation and symptom 
control, improving health status and slowing 
the decline of lung function and disease 
progression. We foresee physicians 
increasingly treating earlier and more 
actively with different strategies for 
inflammatory and non-inflammatory 
patients, and both our portfolio and 
development pipeline address these 
different needs in mild and severe disease.

Respiratory – pipeline progressions

Regional approvals

Bevespi Aerosphere (PT003) – COPD (US)

Expedited review

None

Regulatory submissions

(cid:37)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:12)(cid:3)

One further submission awaits regulatory acceptance

Phase III investment 
decisions

None

Phase II starts/progressions

Abediterol (AZD0548) – for asthma/COPD; AZD1419 (inhaled TLR9) – asthma

Strategic transactions 
completed

Setbacks and terminated 
projects

Acquisition of Takeda’s core respiratory business

AZD8999 for COPD; MEDI7836 for asthma; AZD7624 for COPD

36

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Therapy area world market
(MAT/Q3/16) 

$64.8bn

Annual worldwide market value

  Asthma $19.4bn
  COPD $15.4bn
  Other $30.0bn 

Our 2016 focus
We continue to invest in Symbicort,  
which was the number one ICS/LABA 
combination globally in volume terms  
in 2016. In the US, the FDA approved 
Symbicort Inhalation Aerosol 80/4.5 
micrograms for the treatment of asthma  
in paediatric patients aged six to 12 years. 
The FDA approval is based on the CHASE 
(ChildHood Asthma Safety and Efficacy) 
clinical trial programme, which included the 
CHASE 3 Phase III trial. In addition, on 25 
January 2017, the FDA granted six months 
of paediatric exclusivity for Symbicort 
Inhalation Aerosol. Budesonide/formoterol 
was already approved in the US to treat 
asthma in patients 12 years and older and 
for the maintenance treatment of airflow 
obstruction in COPD in adults. 

In the EU, two new indications were 
approved during 2016 – Symbicort pMDI  
for the treatment of COPD and Symbicort 
SMART for adolescents with asthma.  
Also, Pulmicort continues to be a leading 
ICS therapy, with significant sales growth  
in 2016 driven by China and other  
Emerging Markets. 

In April 2016, the FDA approved Bevespi 
Aerosphere inhalation for the long-term 
maintenance treatment of airflow 
obstruction in patients with COPD, including 
chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. 
Bevespi Aerosphere is the first combination 
long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) 
and LABA medicine to be delivered in  
a pMDI and the first medicine using 

S

t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

Our marketed products

 > Accolate (zafirlukast)

 > Bevespi Aerosphere (glycopyrrolate  

and formoterol fumarate)

 > Bricanyl Respules (terbutaline)1 

 > Bricanyl Turbuhaler (terbutaline)2

 > Daliresp/Daxas (roflumilast)

 > Duaklir Genuair (aclidinium/formoterol)2

 > Eklira Genuair/Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium)2

 > Oxis Turbuhaler (formoterol)2

 > Pulmicort Turbuhaler/Pulmicort Flexhaler 

(budesonide)

 > Pulmicort Respules (budesonide)1

 > Symbicort pMDI (budesonide/formoterol)

 > Symbicort Turbuhaler (budesonide/formoterol)2

  Full product information on page 211

1   Inhalation suspension.
2   In a dry powder inhaler.

AstraZeneca’s unique Co-Suspension 
Delivery Technology. The technology is 
designed to enable medicine crystals to  
be evenly distributed in the aerosol allowing 
for more consistent delivery of one or more 
different medicines from a single pMDI.  
The technology is also being applied to a 
range of AstraZeneca respiratory inhaled 
combination therapies currently in clinical 
development, such as the fixed-dose triple 
combination of LAMA/LABA/ICS (PT010).

We have launched the LAMA/LABA 
combination Duaklir for the maintenance 
treatment of COPD symptoms in 25 
countries across Europe, Asia and  
Latin America. Phase III development  
in the US and China is underway with 
anticipated regulatory filings in 2018  
and 2019 respectively.

In May 2016, we completed our acquisition 
of Takeda’s core respiratory business.  
The deal included the acquisition of non-US 
rights to Daliresp, which is known as Daxas 
in certain countries. In December 2016,  
we completed the divestment of the non-US 
rights to Rhinocort Aqua, a nasal spray 
indicated for rhinitis nasal polyps, to  
Cilag GmbH International, an affiliate of 
Johnson & Johnson. 

315m

It is estimated that approximately 
315 million people worldwide 
(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:17)(cid:3)

Source: To T, Stanojevic S, Moores G et al. Global asthma 
(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:16)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)
health survey. BioMed Central Public Health. 2012: 12(204)

In the pipeline 
In COPD, PT010 is a twice-daily triple 
inhaled medicine combination LAMA/
LABA/ICS composed of glycopyrrolate, 
formoterol and budesonide (key 
components of Symbicort and Bevespi 
Aerosphere) in late-stage development. 
PT010 is delivered in a pMDI using the 
Aerosphere Technology. Topline data from 
the KRONOS study will be available in 2017. 

Benralizumab is an anti-eosinophil MAb 
that directly induces cellular apoptosis, 
which results in rapid and near-complete 
depletion of eosinophils. Eosinophils 
are the biological effector cells that 
drive inflammation and airway hyper-
responsiveness in approximately 50% 
of asthma patients. The FDA and EMA 
have accepted regulatory submissions 
for benralizumab, based on our Phase III 
clinical trial programme. The SIROCCO and 
CALIMA studies demonstrated that adding 
benralizumab to standard-of-care medicine 
significantly reduced exacerbations and 
improved lung function and asthma 
symptoms in severe asthma patients with 
an eosinophilic phenotype compared to 
patients taking a placebo. These outcomes 
were demonstrated for the eight week 
dosing regimen, which may support less-
frequent dosing than available medicines. 
An additional Phase III study showed 
benralizumab also reduced dependence on 

oral corticosteroid use in this same  
patient population. Benralizumab is also  
in development for COPD. Phase III results 
and regulatory filings for COPD studies are 
expected in 2018.

Tralokinumab is an investigational MAb 
that binds to IL-13. Blocking IL-13 is a 
potentially important target in the treatment 
of certain types of severe asthma, 
estimated to affect around half the total 
severe asthma population. Analysis of 
the tralokinumab Phase II data suggests 
that IL-13 neutralisation may improve lung 
function and reduce asthma exacerbation 
rate in a subpopulation of moderate-
to-severe asthma patients who are 
uncontrolled with standard-of-care therapy. 
In August 2014, we initiated a Phase III 
programme to evaluate the safety and 
efficacy of tralokinumab in reducing asthma 
exacerbations in adults and adolescents 
with severe, inadequately controlled asthma. 
The Phase III asthma programme is on track 
to deliver results in the second half of 2017.

329m

The global prevalence of COPD is estimated 
to be 329 million people(cid:446) and WHO predicts 
that COPD will become the third leading 
cause of death worldwide by 2030(cid:447). 

1(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:42)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:55)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:57)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)
preferences in severe COPD and asthma: a comprehensive 
literature review. International Journal of COPD. 2015: 10: 
739-744.

2  Source: WHO. Burden of COPD. http://www.who.int/

respiratory/copd/burden/en/. Accessed December 2016.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

37

 
Strategic Report    Therapy Area Review

Other Disease Areas 

In addition to our focus on the treatment of diseases  
in our three main therapy areas, we are also selectively 
active in the areas of Autoimmunity, Infection and 
Neuroscience, as well as Gastroenterology, where  
we aim to develop best-in-class therapies and follow  
an opportunity-driven approach.

Our approach in our other disease areas 
looks to maximise revenue through 
externalisation and on-market products; 
advance the novel product pipeline with 
partnerships where appropriate; and 
preserve a company stake in the most 
promising assets.

Autoimmunity
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 
or lupus, is an autoimmune disease 
that occurs when the immune system 
produces antibodies that attack healthy 
tissue, including skin, joints, kidney, the 
brain and blood vessels. SLE can cause 
a wide range of symptoms. Among these 
are pain, rashes, fatigue, swelling in joints, 
and fevers. SLE is associated with a 
greater risk of death from causes such 

as infection, nephritis and cardiovascular 
disease. Inflammation of the kidneys caused 
by SLE – known as lupus nephritis – can 
lead to significant morbidity and even 
death. Current treatment of SLE focuses 
on suppressing symptoms and controlling 
disease flares and, in the case of lupus 
nephritis, preventing renal failure.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare, life-
threatening autoimmune disease of the 
central nervous system in which the body’s 
immune system attacks healthy cells, most 
commonly in the optic nerves and spinal 
cord, resulting in severe damage. NMO 
causes severe muscle weakness and 
paralysis, loss of vision, respiratory failure, 
problems with bowel and bladder function 
and neuropathic pain.

Other Disease Areas – pipeline progressions

Regional approvals

Zurampic – gout (EU)

Zavicefta (previously CAZ AVI) – serious infections (EU)

(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:57)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:12)

Expedited review

(cid:50)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:39)(cid:44)(cid:16)(cid:24)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:12)

(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:39)(cid:44)(cid:27)(cid:27)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:61)(cid:39)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:93)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)
disease (US)

Regulatory submissions

Lesinurad+allopurinol FDC – gout (US)

Phase III investment 
decisions

(cid:36)(cid:61)(cid:39)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:93)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:55)(cid:48)(cid:16)(cid:36)(cid:57)(cid:44)(cid:13)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:13)(cid:3)
for atopic dermatitis

Phase II starts/progressions MEDI2070 for Crohn’s disease; MEDI3902 for the prevention of nosocomial pseudomonas 

pneumonia; MEDI8897 for RSV

Strategic transactions 
completed

Licensing agreements with Ironwood for the US rights to Zurampic and with Gru¨ nenthal 
GmbH for rights in the EU and Latin America; two licensing agreements with LEO Pharma 
on our dermatology portfolio (brodalumab for EU, and tralokinumab for atopic dermatitis); 
(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:430)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:39)(cid:44)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:30)(cid:3)
agreement with ProStrakan Group (now Kyowa Kirin International plc) for the rights to 
Moventig(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:81)

Setbacks and terminated 
projects

Abrilumab for Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis; MEDI7510 for prevention of RSV disease  
in older patients

 *  Achieved as a result of partnering; will not be progressed by AstraZeneca.

38

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Psoriasis is a chronic disease in which the 
immune system causes skin cells to grow 
rapidly. Instead of being shed, the skin cells 
pile up, causing painful and itchy, red, scaly 
patches that can bleed. Approximately 
100 million people worldwide suffer from 
psoriasis. Despite available treatment 
options for moderate-to-severe plaque 
psoriasis, many patients do not experience 
a resolution of underlying inflammation, 
clearing of symptoms or an improved  
quality of life.

Gout is a serious, chronic, progressive  
and debilitating form of inflammatory arthritis 
that affects more than 15.8 million people 
in major markets. The underlying cause 
of gout is hyperuricemia (elevated serum 
uric acid), which leads to the deposition 
of crystals primarily in the joints and in 
other tissues. This can result in recurrent 
attacks of inflammatory arthritis and, if 
left uncontrolled, can lead to chronic, 
progressive arthritis and tophus (visible soft 
tissue deposits of urate crystals) formation.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune 
disease that affects about 1% of the 
population and causes inflammation in 
the joints, with joint pain and swelling 
symptoms. There is a need for novel 
treatments, since only about a third of 
patients treated with biologics achieve  
their treatment goals.

In the pipeline 
We are strengthening our pipeline and 
improving treatment options and clinical 
outcomes for patients with inflammatory 
and autoimmune diseases. Common 
molecular pathways are often shared  
across multiple autoimmune diseases, 
which provides opportunities to identify  
and work with approaches that could 
become treatments for more than  
one disease.

Anifrolumab is a developmental MAb that 
inhibits the activity of all type I interferon (IFN) 
receptors, which play a central role in lupus. 
A majority of patients with SLE show a high 
interferon gene signature, and increased 
levels of type I IFN have been shown to 
correlate with SLE disease activity and 
severity. Phase II trial results presented  
in November 2015 demonstrated that 
anifrolumab significantly reduced disease 
activity in moderate-to-severe SLE patients 
as measured by several SLE composite 

Investing for the future:
Breaking the lupus code

Recognition of the importance of the role
played by the interferon pathway in lupus 
led to the development of anifrolumab, an
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:16)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:16)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:15)
MAb that inhibits the activity of all type 1
interferons (IFN). Anifrolumab is being
developed with an IFN gene signature 
diagnostic test designed to identify 
(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:3)
from treatment. The role of the interferon
pathway may go beyond lupus; elevated
type 1 IFN signature has been found in
several other autoimmune diseases.

agreement entered into in July 2016. Valeant 
and LEO Pharma assume decision making 
on future development and all development 
costs associated with brodalumab.

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Zurampic inhibits the urate transporter, 
URAT1, which is responsible for the  
majority of the renal reabsorption of uric 
acid. By inhibiting URAT1, Zurampic 
increases uric acid excretion and thereby 
lowers serum uric acid levels. In combination 
with the current standard-of-care, xanthine 
oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) allopurinol or 
febuxostat, Zurampic provides a dual 
mechanism of action to increase  
excretion and decrease production of 
uric acid, enabling more patients with 
inadequately controlled gout to achieve 
target treatment goals.

In April 2016, AstraZeneca entered into a 
licensing agreement with Ironwood for the 
exclusive US rights to Zurampic. Zurampic 
was approved by the FDA in December 
2015, in combination with an XOI, for the 
treatment of hyperuricemia associated with 
gout in patients who have not achieved 
target serum uric acid levels with an XOI 
alone. Ironwood launched Zurampic in the 
US in October 2016. In addition, Ironwood 
has exclusive US rights to the fixed-dose 
combination of lesinurad and allopurinol. 

In February 2016, the European Commission 
granted marketing authorisation for Zurampic 
200mg in combination with an XOI for the 
adjunctive treatment of hyperuricemia in 
gout patients (with or without tophi) who 
have not achieved target serum uric acid 
levels with an adequate dose of an XOI alone.

In June 2016, we licensed out the exclusive 
rights to Zurampic in the EU, Switzerland, 
Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, and in 
all Latin American countries to Grünenthal 
GmbH. The agreement includes rights to 
the fixed-dose combination of lesinurad  
and allopurinol in gout.

Verinurad (RDEA3170) is a potent selective 
uric acid reabsorption inhibitor, also 
intended for use as a combination urate-
lowering therapy with XOIs. Verinurad is in 
Phase II development. We have recently 
initiated plans to study verinurad for CKD  
in a Phase II study.

endpoints. It also improved symptoms of 
lupus such as rash and arthritis. Anifrolumab 
is currently in Phase III development for SLE 
and Phase II for lupus nephritis. A Phase I 
subcutaneous administration study was 
completed in 2016 with plans for further 
studies ongoing. 

In March 2016, the FDA granted Orphan 
Drug Designation for inebilizumab (MEDI-
551) for the treatment of patients with NMO 
as well as neuromyelitis optica spectrum 
disorders (NMOSD). Inebilizumab is an 
anti-CD19 MAb currently in Phase IIb clinical 
development. The FDA’s Orphan Drug 
Designation programme provides orphan 
status to potential medicines intended for 
the safe and effective treatment, diagnosis 
or prevention of rare diseases or disorders 
that affect fewer than 200,000 people  
in the US.

Brodalumab is a human MAb that 
targets the interleukin-17 (IL-17) receptor. 
Brodalumab is currently under regulatory 
review in the US and Europe for adult 
patients with moderate-to-severe plaque 
psoriasis, with decisions anticipated in  
early 2017.

Through a collaboration agreement,  
Valeant, an expert in dermatology, has 
an exclusive licence to develop and 
commercialise brodalumab globally, except 
in Japan and certain other Asian countries 
where rights are held by Kyowa Hakko 
Kirin, and in Europe, where LEO Pharma 
holds exclusive rights to develop and 
commercialise brodalumab based on an 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

39

 
Strategic Report 
Strategic Report    Therapy Area Review

Other Disease Areas continued

Our marketed products

Infection
 > Fluenz Tetra/FluMist Quadrivalent1,2 (influenza 

vaccine live)

 > Synagis3 (palivizumab)

  Full product information on page 211

1  Intra-nasal.
2   Daiichi Sankyo holds rights to Fluenz Tetra/FluMist 

Quadrivalent in Japan. 

3   US rights only. AbbVie holds rights to Synagis outside  

the US.

Neuroscience
 > Movantik/Moventig (naloxegol)

 > Seroquel IR (quetiapine fumarate)

 > Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate)

 >  Vimovo1 (naproxen and esomeprazole  

magnesium)

 > Zomig (zolmitriptan)

  Full product information on page 211

1(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:82)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)

(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:36)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:22)(cid:17)

Gastrointestinal
 > Losec/Prilosec (omeprazole)

 > Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium)

  Full product information on page 211

3-5m

(cid:36)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:432)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3) 
estimated to result in about three  
(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3) 
and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths.

Source: WHO Factsheet November 2016.

Mavrilimumab, an investigational MAb that 
inhibits a key pathway in the development 
of rheumatoid arthritis, achieved its primary 
and secondary endpoints in recently 
completed Phase IIb trials. Results showed 
that mavrilimumab improved signs and 
symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, measures 
of disability and patient-reported outcomes.

Infection
Seasonal influenza is a serious public 
health problem that causes severe illness 
and death in high-risk populations. In 
2016, the US Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC) issued an interim 
recommendation that FluMist Quadrivalent/ 
Fluenz Tetra should not be used in the US 
for the 2016 to 2017 influenza season based 
on concerns regarding low effectiveness 
of the vaccine in the US during the last 
three influenza seasons (2013 to 2016). 
The vaccine remains licensed in the US 
and AstraZeneca/MedImmune remain 
committed to FluMist Quadrivalent and 
supporting it in the US and in the rest of the 
world. The FDA continues to find that the 
benefits of FluMist Quadrivalent outweigh 
any potential risks. We are conducting 
non-clinical and clinical studies in order to 
provide data to help support a renewed 
recommendation for use in the US in future 
seasons. The vaccine continues to be 
recommended for use in many countries 
outside the US based on their respective 
public health authorities’ review of existing 
and recent vaccine effectiveness data. We 
also recently reached an agreement with 
the WHO to donate and supply at reduced 
prices a portion of vaccine production in  
the event of an influenza pandemic.

MEDI8852, an investigational human  
MAb for the treatment of patients 
hospitalised with Type A strain influenza, 
received Fast Track Designation from the 
FDA in March 2016. 

Since its approval in 1998, Synagis has 
helped protect at risk babies globally against 
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is  
a common seasonal virus and the most 
prevalent cause of lower respiratory tract 
infections among infants and young 
children, affecting approximately two-thirds 
of all infants in their first year of life (68%  
by 12 months of age and 97% by 24 months  
of age). It is the leading cause of 

hospitalisations and admissions to 
paediatric intensive care units and leads to 
nearly 200,000 deaths globally in children 
under five years of age, with the majority  
of deaths occurring in developing countries. 
Synagis is approved in more than 80 
countries and is the global standard of care 
for RSV prevention. We continue to work 
with our worldwide partner, AbbVie, to 
protect vulnerable infants.

MEDI8897 is a novel extended half-life MAb 
for the prevention of serious respiratory 
disease caused by RSV in infants. It requires 
dosing only once per RSV season – a 
potential breakthrough in RSV prophylaxis. 
In November 2016, the first patient was 
dosed in a Phase IIb trial. The FDA granted 
Fast Track status to MEDI8897 in April 2015. 

Through a broad collaboration and 
significant funding, AstraZeneca joined in 
a public-private partnership with Vaccines 
Europe, the European Commission, the 
European Federation of Pharmaceutical 
Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and the 
Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) to further 
define the substantial unmet needs of RSV 
in paediatrics and older adults. Funding 
for the partnership, called RESCEU, will 
support the existing MEDI8897 programme 
and further strengthens our relationship  
with IMI. 

In June 2016, the European Commission 
granted marketing authorisation for 
Zavicefta (ceftazidime-avibactam, previously 
known as CAZ AVI), a new combination 
antibiotic for the treatment of patients with 
serious Gram-negative bacterial infections 
requiring hospitalisation.

Zavicefta has been developed in response 
to the urgent need for new antibiotics to 
treat serious infections that are becoming 
increasingly resistant, such as multi-drug 
resistant P. aeruginosa, carbapenem-
resistant Gram-negative pathogens, and 
ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

In December 2016, we confirmed the 
completion of an agreement to sell the 
development and commercialisation rights 
of our late-stage, small molecule antibiotics 
business to Pfizer. The portfolio comprised 
Zinforo, Zavicefta, Merrem, ATM-AVI and 
CXL in all markets where we held the rights.

40

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

S

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We are committed to ensuring that pain 
patients who need to manage the side 
effect of opioid induced constipation 
continue to get access to Movantik/
Moventig. In March 2016, AstraZeneca 
announced an agreement with ProStrakan 
Group, now Kyowa Kirin International 
plc, for the rights to Moventig (naloxegol) 
in the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland 
and Liechtenstein. In December 2016, 
we completed a sub-licence to Knight 
Therapeutics Inc. to commercialise 
Movantik/Moventig in Canada and Israel. 
This follows the 2015 co-commercialisation 
agreement with Daiichi Sankyo for Movantik 
in the US. These agreements are in line  
with delivering on our externalisation 
strategy to create value by partnering on 
pipeline assets that are outside our three 
main therapy areas.

Gastrointestinal
In 2016, use of Nexium continued to grow 
in markets including China and Japan. 
Demand for Nexium in China is expected 
to continue to grow over the next several 
years, based on broader geographic 
expansion as well as anticipated label 
expansions, and has the potential to 
become a top-selling medicine in its class, 
as in Japan. Patent protection for Nexium 
remains in Japan. For the rest of the world, 
Nexium is subject to generic competition.

Investing for the future:  
Searching for a treatment for  
(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:93)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)

(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:93)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)
largest areas of unmet medical need and 
(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)
(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:61)(cid:39)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)
BACE inhibitor in collaboration with Lilly 
received Fast Track Designation by the 
FDA in August 2016.

Neuroscience
Current commercialised AstraZeneca 
neuroscience molecules include 
Zomig (triptan) and Seroquel (atypical 
antipsychotics), which have lost exclusivity 
in all major markets. In November 2016, 
two licensed generics of Seroquel XR 
were launched in the US. In June 2016, 
AstraZeneca announced an agreement  
with Aspen Global Incorporated, part  
of Aspen Group, for the rights to the  
global anaesthetics portfolio outside  
the US. The agreement covered seven 
established medicines – Diprivan (general 
anaesthesia), EMLA (topical anaesthetic) 
and five local anaesthetics (Xylocaine/
Xylocard/Xyloproct, Marcaine, Naropin, 
Carbocaine and Citanest).

AZD3293 is our BACE inhibitor which  
we are progressing in collaboration with  
Lilly for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s 
disease. It experienced several critical 
milestones throughout 2016, including 
continuation of the Phase II/III trial 
AMARANTH into Phase III and the initiation 
of DAYBREAK-ALZ, a new Phase III trial  
to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 
AZD3293 in people with mild Alzheimer’s 
dementia. The investigational treatment  
also received Fast Track Designation by  
the FDA in August 2016.

Further underpinning AstraZeneca’s 
commitment to Alzheimer’s disease, 
in December 2016, we announced 
that MEDI1814, an investigational MAb 
selective for toxic proteins associated with 
Alzheimer’s disease, will be developed 
beyond Phase I, also in collaboration  
with Lilly.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

41

 
 
 
Strategic Report    Business Review

Business Review

(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:74)(cid:92)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:3)
(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:3)
(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)
(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)
(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:92)(cid:17)

Overview

> Focused investment in accelerating late-stage programmes to ensure

new treatments get to patients safely and as quickly as possible
> (cid:51)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)

(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
personalised healthcare

> Six Growth Platforms represented 63% of revenues in 2016, up 4%

at actual exchange rates (5% at CER) over 2015

> In April, announced further focus on our main therapy areas to drive 

greater productivity across the organisation, sharpen the prioritisation 
of investments, increase partnering and streamline our operations
> Began to refresh our sustainability programme and embed it into our 

business practices, with focus on three areas: ethics and transparency; 
broadening access to healthcare; and environmental protection
b oade

g access to ea t ca e; a d e v o

e ta p otect o

> Committed to delivering value in pricing our medicines with policy based

on four principles

> Continued to promote a safe and healthy work environment, coupled
with our commitment to working only with those who share our 
ethical standards

Throughout this Annual Report this symbol 
(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)

42

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Organisation 
Our science is led by our two biotech 
units which conduct innovative discovery 
research and early-stage development 
from initial target selection to Phase II trial 
completion. The Innovative Medicines and 
Early Development (IMED) Biotech Unit 
focuses on scientific advances in small 
molecules, nucleotides and other emerging 
technologies and drug discovery platforms, 
while MedImmune is responsible for global 
biologics R&D. Both units are responsible 
for delivering projects to our Global 
Medicines Development (GMD) unit for  
late-stage development. 

We have three strategic R&D centres: 
Gaithersburg, Maryland US; Gothenburg, 
Sweden; and Cambridge, UK. For more 
information on our move to Cambridge, 
announced in 2013, see page 7.

Our Global Product and Portfolio Strategy 
group (GPPS) leads our therapy area 
activities. GPPS also serves as the bridge 
between our R&D and Commercial 
functions and works to provide strategic 
direction from early-stage research to 
commercialisation. GPPS also works 
closely with healthcare providers, 
regulatory authorities and those who pay 
for our medicines, seeking to ensure those 
medicines help to fulfil unmet medical 
need and provide economic as well as 
therapeutic benefits.

We group our Commercial functions into 
Regions: North America (US and Canada); 
Europe; International East (China, Hong 
Kong, Asia Area, Australia & New Zealand); 
and International West (Russia & Eurasia, 
Middle East & Africa, Latin America and 
Brazil). Japan is categorised separately  
and is one of our Growth Platforms.  

Our Operations function plays a key  
role in the development, manufacturing,  
testing and delivery of our medicines  
to our customers.

Restructuring
Since 2007, we have made significant efforts 
to restructure and reshape our business 
to improve long-term competitiveness. Full 
details are provided in the Financial Review 
from page 62. We have created a leaner 
and simpler organisation, focused on driving 
distinctive science in our main therapy 
areas. To advance our strategy, in April 
2016, we announced plans to:

 > sharpen prioritisation of investments  
and focus in our main therapy areas, 
particularly Oncology

 > increase partnering in relation to projects 

in our inflammation, infection and 
neuroscience disease areas, and to 
products in markets where there is  
a clear rationale

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 > align costs to our changing business 

shape and to streamline our operations  
at a global, regional and country level; 
reshaping manufacturing as we build  
our biologics capacity; to drive 
simplification; and to implement  
small footprint changes.

Restructuring charges of $1,107 million  
were incurred in the year and we remain  
on track to realise the benefits and incur  
the costs we announced.

Sustainability 
We want to be valued and trusted by our 
stakeholders as a source of great medicines 
over the long term. That is why we are 
committed to operating in a way that 
recognises the interconnection between 
business growth, the needs of society and 
the limitations of our planet. This means 
delivering our business strategy in a way 

that broadens access to our medicines, 
minimises the environmental footprint of 
our products and processes, and ensures 
that ethics and transparency underpin 
everything we do. Our commitment to 
growing our business in a sustainable way 
also helps us protect our licence to operate, 
attract and retain talent, manage risk and, 
most importantly, deliver life-changing 
medicines to patients. The SET and Board 
regularly review our sustainability work as 
part of their risk management and business 
review activities.

Refreshed sustainability strategy
In 2016, we embarked on a process to 
refresh and focus our sustainability 
programme and further embed it into our 
business practices and strategic priorities. 
We worked with an independent think-tank 
to complete a sustainability materiality 
assessment to help identify priorities. 

Sustainability framework 
A sustainability framework is embedded in the way we operate: 

Sustainability 
Advisory Board

Established in 2015  
and meets twice annually 
to provide external 
insight, feedback and 
advice to help sharpen 
our understanding of, 
and responses to, 
established and 
emerging sustainability 
issues. The Advisory 
Board also helps identify 
opportunities for further 
innovation and 
collaboration.

Board 
Non-Executive Director, Geneviève Berger, oversees implementation  
of the sustainability framework and reporting to the Board.

SET 
SET is responsible for the framework.

Senior managers throughout the Group are accountable for operating  
in line with the sustainability commitments within their areas, taking  
into account national, functional, and site issues and priorities. 

 Line managers are accountable for ensuring that their teams understand  
the requirements and improvement targets, and that people are clear about 
what is expected of them as they work to achieve our business goals.

Sustainability Council 
The Council is chaired by a SET member, currently Katarina Ageborg. 
Members comprise senior leaders from each relevant SET function. Its 
agenda focuses on driving long-term value creation by, among other things:

>   agreeing sustainability priorities for the Group in line with strategic 

business objectives

>   managing and monitoring the annual process of setting sustainability 
objectives and targets, as well as reviewing performance against KPIs 

>   agreeing appropriate policy positions to support our objectives and 

reputation management.

Sustainability Working Group 
A network of SET function representatives and subject matter experts 
supports the Council. The network reviews issues with the potential to 
impact AstraZeneca’s sustainability agenda and helps deliver the 
substantive elements of our programme.

Stakeholders

Regular engagement 
with external 
stakeholders, which 
takes place with a range 
of socially responsible 
investors and other 
interest groups, provides 
the opportunity for 
sustainable issues or 
concerns to be raised 
and discussed.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

43

  
 
Strategic Report    Business Review

Business Review continued

The assessment process identified  
27 sustainability issues relevant to us.  
These became the basis for benchmarking 
analysis, engagement with external and 
internal stakeholders, and an internal  
review that examined our areas of  
strength, weakness and opportunity,  
and our alignment with the UN  
Sustainable Development Goals.

Through this process, we have identified 
three priority areas that, given their 
alignment with our Purpose and business 
strategy, will allow us to have the most 
impact in benefiting our patients, our 
Company, broader society and the planet. 
We remain committed to managing and 
building our performance in the other 
areas within the scope of AstraZeneca’s 
sustainability programmes, such as human 
rights, diversity, and workplace health and 
safety. We will continue to work across our 
business to integrate these commitments 
into the way we work, engage with 
stakeholders and evaluate our performance. 
The three priority areas are as follows.

1.  Broadening access to healthcare. 
Through collaboration and innovation we 
strive to expand access to our medicines by:

 > Applying sound bioethics to all our work 

and maintaining a strong focus on patient 
safety (see pages 47 and 48).

 > Exploring innovative ways of increasing 
access to healthcare for more people, 
tailored to meet differing patient needs 
and circumstances (see page 51 and 
Healthy Heart Africa on page 49).

 > Making a positive contribution to our local 
communities around the world, through 
community support programmes 
consistent with improving health and 
promoting science (see page 53).

3.  Environmental protection.  
We follow the science to protect the  
planet by:

 > Managing our impact on the environment, 
across all our activities, with a particular 
focus on carbon emissions, waste and 
water use.

 > Minimising the environmental impact of 
our products (see pages 60 and 61).

2.  Ethics and transparency.  
We will maintain integrity in everything  
we do by:

Our focus on these three areas does not 
diminish our commitment to other areas  
of our sustainability agenda. For example: 

 > Working to consistent global standards of 
ethical sales and marketing practices in all 
our markets (see page 52).

 > Working only with suppliers who have 

standards consistent with our own as we 
increase our outsourcing to drive 
business efficiency (see page 52).

 > Working on continued transparency with 
our data in clinical trials, enhancing the 
understanding of how our medicines 
work and benefit patients (see page 47). 

 > Ensuring that diversity in its broadest 

sense is reflected in our leadership and 
people strategies (see page 55).
 > Continuing to develop and embed  
a consistent approach to human  
rights across our worldwide activities  
(see page 56).

 > Promoting the safety, health and 

wellbeing of all our people worldwide  
(see page 53).

Benchmarking and assurance
Our work in sustainability has been recognised by a number of organisations in 2016:

DJSI 
 > Second in Pharmaceuticals, 

Biotechnology and Life Sciences 
industry group.

 > Sector best scores attained for: 

Occupational Health and Safety, 
Code of Conduct, Marketing 
Practices, Climate Strategy and 
Health Outcomes Contribution.

Access to Medicine Index
 > Biggest riser in the Index since the 
last survey, moving to 7th place in 
2016 from 15th in 2014.

 > Recognition for industry best 
practice in a number of areas, 
including transparent approach to 
intellectual property in relation to 
Index Countries: disclosing where 
we will not enforce patents, where 
we would consider granting a 
licence, and disclosing the status  
of our patents for products used  
to treat Index Diseases.

CDP
 > Climate A List – Among the top 9% 
of companies participating in CDP’s 
climate change programme in 
recognition of our actions to reduce 
emissions and mitigate climate 
change.

 > Water A List – Among the leading  

25 companies for our commitment to 
transparency around environmental 
risks and demonstration of pursuing 
best practice. 

 > Supplier Climate A List – Among  
the 3% of companies awarded an  
(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3) 
to combat climate change by 
implementing programmes to 
reduce emissions in both direct 
operations and supply chain.

Bureau Veritas has provided 
independent external assurance to  
a limited level on the sustainability 
information contained within this  
Annual Report. 

   For more information  

on Bureau Veritas’ work and 
benchmarking, please see 
Sustainability: supplementary 
information on page 231 and the 
Sustainability pages on our 
(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:17)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:17)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:17)

44

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Safety, Health and Environment strategy
Throughout 2016, we worked to embed  
our 2016 to 2025 Safety, Health and 
Environment (SHE) strategy and deliver the 
targets we have set ourselves as regards: 

 > eliminating workplace accidents and 

illnesses (see page 53)

 > protecting natural resources (see pages 

60 and 61)

 > ensuring the environmental safety of our 

products (see page 61).

We have made good progress to date, 
attaining independent verification that our 
climate change targets are science-based, 
setting out our RE100 strategy to source 
100% renewable power globally, and 
disclosing our climate information in public 
reports. We have also made a commitment 
to responsible water stewardship as part  
of The Business Alliance for Water and 
Climate partnership. We are working closely 
with our operating sites to agree on specific 
contributions to our 2025 strategy targets. 
More information on our performance in 
2016 can be found in Safety, health and 
wellbeing on page 53 and Environment  
from page 60.

We are proud of the external recognition  
we are receiving for our work. As shown to 
the left, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index 
(DJSI) has scored our climate change 
strategy and occupational health and safety 
performance as best in our industry. Our 
submissions to investor benchmarking 
organisation, CDP achieved an A-list  
ranking for both climate change and water 
stewardship. During 2016, we committed 
approximately $25 million to natural 
resource projects at our sites. These 
projects are expected to accelerate our 
resource efficiency performance and 
include: solvent recovery to reduce 
hazardous waste; a novel heat pump 
system to reduce reliance on natural gas; 
and a number of resource efficiency minor 
works programmes. Site water stress 
assessments and natural resource audits 
continue to identify further opportunities for 
management and investment. We continue 
to hold third party suppliers accountable  
for protecting the environment across our 
supply chains and we are active members 
of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative 
to promote a collaborative approach across 
our industry.

(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3) 
leadership

We are using our distinctive 
(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)
molecules and biologics, including 
immunotherapies and protein 
engineering, as well as investing in 
key programmes and focused 
business development, to deliver 
life-changing medicines. 

Overview
 > Launched six diagnostic tests linked to 

our products in line with our personalised 
healthcare (PHC) strategy

 > Delivered clinical trial data and 

submissions that resulted in 11 approvals 
for brand new medicines in the US, EU, 
China or Japan

 > (cid:54)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
systems, and prioritised resources 
towards late-stage drug development

 > Published 75 manuscripts in ‘high-impact’ 
publications compared to seven in 2010

 > Continued to strengthen early-stage 
portfolio with new drug modalities, 
(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)
areas while maintaining a clear focus on 
disease mechanisms

 > Strive to access the best science, both 

internal and external, in our biotech units, 
and we are open to exploring new and 
(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)

 > Committed to working responsibly and in 
accordance with our global bioethics policy

Early science
We continued to strengthen our early-stage 
portfolio with new drug modalities such as 
modified RNA, anti-micro RNA, antisense 
oligonucleotides, bi-specific monoclonal 
antibodies (MAbs) and antibody-drug 
conjugates (ADC). This is allowing us to 
expand into novel scientific areas while 
maintaining a clear focus on disease 
mechanisms. In 2016, in partnership 
with Regulus Therapeutics Inc., we saw 
AZD4076, an anti-micro RNA targeting 
the miR103/107 gene, being dosed into 
patients. These patients had non-alcoholic 
steatohepatitis or ‘silent-liver disease’, for 
which there are no approved medicines. 
Also in 2016, in partnership with Moderna, 
we filed the clinical trials application for 
AZD8601, a modified RNA for VEGF-A for 

cardiac regeneration. We also extended 
our partnership with Moderna to include 
immuno-oncology programmes, combining 
MedImmune’s protein engineering and 
cancer biology expertise with Moderna’s 
technology. 

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   See Oncology from page 25 for more 
information

Working collaboratively and fostering 
open innovation
Our biotech-style operating model gives  
us access to the best science, both internal 
and external, and we are open to exploring 
new and different kinds of collaborations. 
Our partnership models include in-licensing 
of new chemical modalities and platforms, 
disease understanding, technology 
advances, uncovering novel target 
opportunities, and clinical partnerships. 
For example, two key pieces of scientific 
research were published in high-impact 
journals by scientists at our joint centre for 
cardiometabolic diseases at the Karolinska 
Institutet. We also identify collaborations 
that allow us to out-license our technology 
platforms. For instance, we have expanded 
the utilisation of our ADC technology 
platform through an agreement with 
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., giving them 
access to MedImmune’s ADC technology. 

In 2016, IMED continued to pioneer new 
approaches to open innovation, enabling 
our scientists more freely to share their ideas 
and collaborate on projects with external 
scientists. The IMED Open Innovation portal 
allows external researchers to access the 
full range of open innovation programmes. 
By the end of 2016, our teams had reviewed 
more than 500 proposals for new drug 
projects. Of these, 26 have progressed  
as far as clinical trials, while more than 150 
are at pre-clinical trial stage. 

During 2016, MedImmune continued  
to forge collaborations, including  
a research collaboration with the  
University of California, San Francisco  
US, with an emphasis on basic research 
and translational sciences. We also 
announced an innovative programme  
with Johns Hopkins University, providing  
a first-of-its-kind industry-academic PhD 
programme in the US. Furthermore, in  
late 2016, MedImmune and a consortium  
of UK universities – Cambridge, Leeds, 
Manchester and Sheffield – announced  
that they will be afforded a Collaborative 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

45

 
 
Strategic Report    Business Review

Business Review continued

linked to molecular mechanisms of disease 
across our main therapy areas. The initiative 
includes new collaborations with Human 
Longevity, Inc., US, the Wellcome Trust 
Sanger Institute, UK, and The Institute  
for Molecular Medicine, Finland. We are  
also establishing an in-house Centre for 
Genomics Research led by Professor  
David Goldstein, a leader in genomics.  
This Centre aims to apply genomic  
insight across our entire R&D pipeline by 
developing a bespoke database comprising 
genome sequences from samples donated 
by patients in clinical trials together with 
associated clinical and drug response data.

Late-stage development
GMD designs and delivers clinical trials 
and makes regulatory submissions to 
seek approval for new drugs and line 
extensions. During 2016, we delivered 
clinical trial data and submissions that 
resulted in 11 approvals for brand new 
medicines in the US, EU, China or Japan. 
We also had some setbacks during the 
year, with some disappointing Phase III data 
results – for example, Brilinta for peripheral 
arterial disease, selumetinib for non-small 
cell lung cancer, and tremelimumab for 
mesothelioma – see Cardiovascular & 
Metabolic Disease and Oncology from 
pages 30 and 25 respectively for more 
information. However, this is to be expected 
when we are investigating treatments for 
diseases that are hard to treat.

In order to maintain a focus on our main 
therapy areas and enable us to maximise 
time and resources in accelerating certain 
programmes, we identified opportunities 
to collaborate on developing assets within 
our late-stage pipeline. For example, we 
made an agreement for the development 
of tralokinumab for patients with atopic 
dermatitis (allowing us to focus on its 
development for asthma) and an agreement 
for an accelerated global development 
programme for savolitinib for patients  
with papillary renal cell carcinoma. 

Accelerating the pipeline 
In 2016, we presented scientific rationale 
that resulted in 10 regulatory designations 
for Priority or Fast Track review for new 
medicines which offer the potential to 
address unmet medical need in certain 
diseases, and we also worked to secure 
Orphan Drug status for the development 
of medicines to treat very rare diseases. 
For example, in the US, we were granted 
Breakthrough Therapy Designation for our 

Investstinininng g for the fuututure: 
Listening to patieents

Since 2015, we have introduced over 
60,000 patients from the PatientsLikeMe
network to our research teams to inform 
our R&D programmes. After simulating
a clinical study visit with lupus patients, 
their feedback resulted in 16 changes 
to the way the study was conducted.

That study is now delivering ahead 
of time, demonstrating the value of 
working with patients to deliver more 
(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)
will improve our ability to bring more 
life-changing medicines, more quickly
to more patients.

6

In 2016, launched six diagnostic  
tests linked to our products.

Training Partnership (CTP), structured  
as 12 PhD studentships, from the 
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences 
Research Council (BBSRC). These CTP 
studentships are designed to invest in the 
training of the next generation of scientists, 
providing access to facilities and expertise 
unavailable in an academic setting alone.

Our personalised healthcare strategy 
Personalised healthcare (PHC) allows us  
to tailor both new and existing treatments  
to the needs of individual patients by means 
of diagnostic tests. It is an integral part of 
our plans to achieve scientific leadership 
and we are committed to bringing PHC to 
patients in all main disease areas. Three 
of our products (Iressa, Lynparza and 
Tagrisso) are coupled with companion 
diagnostic tests that select patients based 
on their molecular profiles. In addition, 
80% of our clinical pipeline is following our 
PHC approach and over 50 planned drug 
launches by 2023 require a diagnostic test.

In 2016, we worked with our partners to 
launch six diagnostic tests linked to our 
products increasing our total number of 
diagnostics launched since 2014 to 15. 
Our commitment to bring PHC to patients 
in all main disease areas has resulted in 
our first diagnostic test outside oncology: 
the Nova Biomedical Pro Uric Acid Test. 
It is a hand-held serum uric acid point of 
care test, aligned to Zurampic, which can 
be used to measure a patient’s response 
to gout treatment. We are also developing 
diagnostic tests with Abbott for treating 
asthma and with Qiagen for treating lupus. 

Also in 2016, we announced our integrated 
genomics initiative which focuses on the 
discovery of new targets and biomarkers 

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immunotherapy treatment – durvalumab for 
bladder cancer. We also received Fast Track 
Designation for Lynparza for 2nd line ovarian 
cancer and for MEDI8852 for patients 
hospitalised with Type A strain influenza. 
Orphan Drug Designations were granted 
for acalabrutinib for three haematological 
indications, for selumetinib for differentiated 
thyroid cancer, and for MEDI-551 for treating 
neuromyelitis optica. We are also working 
alongside regulatory authorities to drive 
change within the regulatory environment 
by ensuring that the clinical benefits of 
our medicines for patients are clearly 
understood. For example, using Patient 
Reported Outcomes data can help define 
how oncology medicines are used to  
treat patients with cancer.

With 132 drug projects in the pipeline, 
GMD is prioritising by focusing investment 
to accelerate specific programmes, so 
that new treatments get to patients more 
quickly but still safely. As a result, several 
immuno-oncology clinical trials, including 
some for lung cancer, head and neck 
cancer and bladder cancer, completed 
recruitment in 2016, with read-outs expected 
in 2017. Teams have also been quick to 
turn positive clinical trial data into regulatory 
submissions. In 2016, we made submissions 
in the US and EU for our first respiratory 
biologic treatment, benralizumab, for severe 
asthma and for our lung cancer treatment, 
Tagrisso, in China. We secured a priority 
review for Tagrisso following its accelerated 
development programme and previous 
approvals in the US, EU, Japan and 13  
other countries.

We also work in partnership to advance our 
clinical research – from strategic alliances 
with contract research organisations 
(CROs) for the delivery of clinical trials, to 
academic collaborations. These include 
new partnerships with the Department of 
Medical Statistics at the London School of 
Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and with the 
University of Manchester’s Health eResearch 
Centre. These partnerships aim to deploy 
statistical techniques in examining clinical 
and healthcare data to make medicines more 
personalised and effective for patients, and  
to drive smarter clinical trials. 

(cid:50)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)
Demonstrating the quality of the research 
conducted in our laboratories, through 
publication in high-quality and ‘high-impact’ 
journals, is an essential element in building 
our scientific reputation and achieving 

scientific leadership. It is also critical for 
recruiting and retaining the best scientists 
from around the world. Scientists from IMED, 
MedImmune and GMD have published 75 
manuscripts (a record number) in ‘high-
impact’ peer-reviewed journals, each with 
an impact factor exceeding 15 (Thomson 
Reuters 5yr IF score) and a score exceeding 
1,050 in total. This represents an eleven-fold 
improvement since our drive to publish in 
‘high-impact’ journals began in 2010.

Responsible research 
Our commitment to working in a  
transparent and ethical manner is essential 
to achieving scientific leadership and 
delivering life-changing medicines. Our 
global standards of bioethics apply to all our 
research activity, whether conducted by us 
or third parties on our behalf. The following 
sections summarise our activities in this area 
– for more information, see our website, 
www.astrazeneca.com/sustainability.html 

Patient safety
Patient safety is very important and we 
strive to minimise the risks and maximise 
the benefits of our medicines. Through 
a pharmacovigilance programme, we 
monitor our medicines once they are in the 
marketplace to learn of any side effects not 
identified during the development process 
and provide information concerning the 
safety profile of our medicines to regulators, 
healthcare professionals and, where 
appropriate, patients.

We have a dedicated patient safety team 
to help us fulfil our commitment to patient 
safety. Each developing and marketed 
medicine is allocated a Global Safety 
Physician and a patient safety scientist. 
In addition, each market is supported by 
a dedicated patient safety manager. Our 
Chief Medical Officer is accountable for 
the benefit/risk profiles of our products 
in development and on the market. He 
provides medical oversight and enforces 
risk assessment processes to help us make 
efficient and informed decisions about 
patient safety.

Clinical trials and transparency
In 2016, we conducted a range of clinical 
trials at many sites as shown in the chart 
to the right. This broad span helps ensure 
that study participants reflect the diversity 
of patients for whom our medicines are 
intended and identifies the patients for 
whom the medicine may be most beneficial. 
Our global governance process provides 

the framework for ensuring a consistent, 
high-quality approach worldwide. Protecting 
participants throughout the trial process is 
a priority and we have strict procedures to 
help ensure participants are not exposed  
to unnecessary risks. 

All our clinical studies are designed and 
finally interpreted in-house but some are 
conducted by CROs on our behalf. In 2016, 
approximately 48% of patients in our small 
molecule studies and 44% of patients in our 
biologics studies were monitored by CROs. 
We require these organisations to comply 
with our global standards and we conduct 
risk-based audits to monitor compliance.

We believe that transparency enhances  
the understanding of how our medicines 
work and benefit patients. We publish 
information about our clinical research,  
as well as the registration and results of  
our clinical trials – regardless of whether 
they are favourable – for all products and 
all phases, including marketed medicines, 
drugs in development and drugs where 
development has been discontinued.

In 2016, we implemented new global 
standards which give patients and 
researchers more information about  
our research. Specifically:

 > Every patient who participates in  
a study sponsored by us receives  
a note recognising their contribution  
as well as a copy of the study’s Trial 
Results Summary. 

 > In 2016, we launched a portal (https://

astrazenecagroup-dt.pharmacm.com)  
for external researchers to allow them  
to request our clinical data and reports  
to support additional research. We have 
responded to over 50 requests so far.

   For more information, please see our website, 
(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:17)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:17)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)
(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:17)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)

Clinical trials by region 

Region

Europe

US/Canada

Asia Pacific

Central/Eastern Europe

Japan

Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Small
molecule

Biologics

15%

27%

15%

28%

2%

10%

3%

23%

26%

11%

24%

5%

10%

1%

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Research use of human biological 
samples 
The use of human biological samples, 
such as solid tissue, biofluids and their 
derivatives, plays a vital role in developing  
a deeper understanding of human diseases 
and their underlying mechanisms, which 
helps us develop effective, new and 
personalised medicines.

When we conduct this important research, 
we maintain policies and processes to 
ensure that we comply with the law and 
meet regulatory concerns. We place an 
emphasis on informed consent that protects 
the rights and expectations of donors and 
families throughout the process of our 
acquisition, use, storage and disposal of the 
samples. Protecting the confidentiality of a 
donor’s identity is of the utmost importance, 
and a key part of our process includes the 
coding of biological samples and associated 
data (including genetic data).

In rare circumstances, we may use human 
fetal tissue (hFT) or human embryonic stem 
cells (hESC). In these circumstances, an 
internal review of the scientific validity of the 
research proposal will be conducted and 
permission to use the tissue will be granted 
only when no other scientifically reasonable 
alternative is available. We also insist our 
third party vendors adopt the highest ethical 
standards and we rigorously assess the 
ability of tissue suppliers to meet our quality 
and ethical expectations. We are committed 
to minimising the use of fetal tissue by 
exploring technological alternatives.

To date, seven research proposals that 
include use of cells derived from hFT have 
been received for consideration, but none 
of these has progressed so far, either for 
scientific or other reasons. We continue  
to review our processes for the supply  
of hFT but, at the end of 2016, had yet  
to approve a single source. Currently, four 
projects using three different hESC lines 
have been approved.

Animal research
We are committed to helping the public 
understand our use of animals in research 
and our methods for reducing, refining, or 
replacing this use (3R approach). 

We share our transparency goals externally 
through presentations at conferences and 
workshops throughout the US and EU, and 

we also highlighted our latest refinement 
techniques and approach to implementing 
the 3Rs in a recent blog for the UK National 
Council for the 3Rs. Internally we are 
working to refine our study designs by 
improving access to a refreshed training 
programme on the principles of good 
statistical practice. The objective of this 
training is to ensure that scientists are better 
able to appropriately power their studies, 
account for variability and control bias 
wherever possible.

Animal research use varies depending on 
numerous factors, including our amount of 
pre-clinical research, the complexity of the 
diseases under investigation and regulatory 
requirements. We believe that without our 
active commitment to reducing, refining, or 
replacing animals in research, our animal 
use would be much greater. In 2016, we 
used 193,451 animals in-house (2015: 
182,055). In addition, 25,651 animals were 
used by CROs on our behalf (2015: 33,220). 

2. Return to growth  

We seek to return to growth by 
focusing on our Growth Platforms 
and leveraging our strong global 
commercial presence, particularly  
in Emerging Markets, to ensure the 
right medicines are available and 
that patients have access to them. 

Overview
 > Ongoing scrutiny of pharmaceutical 

pricing in US and Europe

 > Despite biennial price cuts, Japan 
remained an attractive market

 > Third fastest growing top 10 multinational 
pharmaceutical company in Emerging 
Markets

 > Growth rate in China expected to 

moderate due to increased price pressure 
and hospital cost containment

 > Pricing policy based on principles of value, 

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 > Sought to make our medicines more 

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on ability to pay

 > Expanded Healthy Heart Africa 

programme from Kenya to Ethiopia  
and partnered with The US President’s 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

Our plans for growth
Our Commercial teams, which comprised 
around 34,100 employees at the end of 
2016, are active in more than 100 countries. 
In most countries, we sell our medicines 
through wholly-owned local marketing 
companies. We also sell through distributors 
and local representative offices and market 
our products largely to primary care and 
specialty care physicians. 

Even as we continue to be impacted by  
the loss of exclusivity on some of our  
leading medicines, such as Crestor,  
Nexium and Seroquel, we have witnessed 
increasing revenues from our growth  
brands and launches. This return to growth  
is underpinned by our internal Growth 
Platforms which are our growth levers.  
As our strategy has progressed, so our 
Growth Platforms have evolved, as shown  
in Strategy and key performance indicators 
from page 16. Respiratory was joined by 
New Oncology from January 2015 and, 
from January 2017, New CVMD replaced 
Diabetes and Brilinta/Brilique. Our two 
remaining Growth Platforms, Emerging 
Markets and Japan, reflect the importance 
of these markets to growing future revenues. 
Overall, our Growth Platforms grew by 4% 
at actual exchange rates (5% at CER) in 
2016 and now represent 63% of all revenues.

However, the pharmaceutical market 
is highly competitive. For example, our 
Diabetes franchise continues to see pricing 
pressure. In immuno-oncology, the large 
number of clinical trials that are being 
carried out highlight the competitive  
nature of this area and renders speed  
to market critical.

   More information on our performance  

around the world in 2016 can be found in  
the Geographical Review from page 226

US
As the eleventh largest prescription-
based pharmaceutical company in the 
US, we have a 3.9% market share of US 
pharmaceuticals by sales value. 

In 2016, sales in the US decreased by 
22% to $7,365 million (2015: $9,474 
million). Declines in revenue from Nexium, 
Crestor and Synagis were partially offset 
by the strong performance of our Growth 
Platforms, including Farxiga, Bydureon 
and Brilinta, the launches of Lynparza and 

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Tagrisso, and the impact of completing the 
acquisition of Actavis’ rights to Tudorza and 
Daliresp in the US. 

The US healthcare system is complex with 
multiple payers and intermediaries exerting 
pressure on patient access to branded 
medicines through regulatory and voluntary 
rebates. Regulatory rebates are statutorily 
mandated chargebacks and discounts 
paid on government-funded programmes 
such as Medicaid, Department of Defense 
(including TRICARE) and Department 
of Veteran’s Affairs. Voluntary rebates 
are paid to managed care organisations 
and pharmacy benefit managers for 
commercially insured patients, including 
Medicare Part D patients. In the Medicare 
Part D programme, in addition to voluntary 
negotiated rebates, branded pharmaceutical 
manufacturers are statutorily required to pay 
50% of the patient’s out-of-pocket costs 
during the ‘coverage gap’ portion of their 
benefit design. As part of the ACA, we also 
pay a portion of an overall industry Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act Branded 
Prescription Drug Fee. 

In 2016, the overall measurable reduction 
in our profit before tax for the year due to 
discounts on branded pharmaceuticals and 
an industry-wide excise fee was $471 million 
(2015: $786 million; 2014: $714 million).

In the US, there is significant pricing 
pressure driven by payer consolidation, 
restrictive reimbursement policies and 
cost control tools, such as exclusionary 
formularies and price protection clauses. 
Many formularies 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 intermediaries to limit the use 
of branded products and put pressure on 
manufacturers to reduce net prices. In 2016, 
84.7% of prescriptions dispensed in the 
US were generic, compared with 84.0% 
in 2015. In addition, patients are seeing 
changes in the design of their health plan 
benefits and may experience variation, 
including increases, in both premiums and 
out-of-pocket payments for their branded 
medications. The patient out-of-pocket 
spend is generally in the form of a co-
payment or co-insurance, but there is  
a growing trend towards high deductible 
health plans which require patients to pay 
the full list price until they meet certain 

InInvevestss ining gg fofofor r ththee fufuututututurerereerere:
HHealallththhthhy yyyy HeH art AAfrica

Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) was launched 
in Kenya in October 2014 in collaboration 
with the Ministry of Health in support of its 
commitment to combat NCDs. 

HHA aims to reach 10 million hypertensive 
patients across Sub-Saharan Africa by 
2025 and, after two years, it has already:

 > conducted over two million hypertension 
screenings in the community and in 
health facilities

 > trained over 3,000 healthcare workers, 
including doctors, nurses, community 
health volunteers and pharmacists  
to provide education and awareness, 
screening and treatment services for 
hypertension across 31 counties

 > activated 403 health facilities to provide 

hypertension services, including  
the establishment of secure supply 
chains for low-cost, high-quality 
antihypertensive medicines.

Following the success of HHA in Kenya, 
we developed a partnership with the 
Federal Ministry of Health in Ethiopia to 
integrate HHA programming into the 
Ethiopian healthcare system in support of 
the Government National Strategic Action 
Plan for NCDs.

In September, we announced a $10 million, 
(cid:430)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:16)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:3)
with The US President’s Emergency Plan 
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that will expand 
access to HIV/AIDS and hypertension 
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manner at existing PEPFAR-supported 
HIV/AIDS sites, beginning in Kenya. For 
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population to engage for HIV care, and 
HHA’s innovative way of working presents 
an opportunity for the partnership with 
PEPFAR to improve HIV care in this 
hard-to-reach population.

3,000

Trained over 3,000 healthcare workers  
as part of Healthy Heart Africa.

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out-of-pocket thresholds. We understand 
that our medicines will not benefit patients 
if they are unable to afford them, and that 
is why we offer a number of resources 
and programmes that can help patients 
afford their medications by reducing their 
out-of-pocket costs. We focus our formulary 
access on affordability for patients through 
rebate payments as well as savings cards 
for eligible patients when the out-of-pocket 
costs are not affordable.

Ongoing scrutiny of the US pharmaceutical 
industry, focused largely on pricing, 
is placing increased emphasis on the 
value of medicines. This scrutiny is likely 
to continue from many stakeholders, 
including policymakers and legislators. 
Proposed policy and legislative changes 
which are being considered, include 
different approaches to price controls on 
medicines (including price transparency), 
potential changes to government regulated 
programmes (such as Medicare Part 
B, Medicare Part D, Medicaid or other 
provisions under the ACA), and changes 
affecting the commercial importation of 
medicines into the US.

While widespread adoption of a broad 
national price-control scheme in the near 
future is unlikely, we expect the increased 
focus on pharmaceutical prices and their 
impact on healthcare costs to continue for 
the foreseeable future.

   For more information on pricing pressure and 
the ACA, please see Marketplace from page 11

Europe 
The total European pharmaceutical market 
was worth $201 billion in 2016. We are 
the twelfth largest prescription-based 
pharmaceutical company in Europe (see 
Market definitions on page 239) with a  
2.4% market share of pharmaceutical  
sales by value. 

In 2016, our sales in Europe decreased by 
5% at actual rate of exchange (3% at CER) 
to $5,064 million (2015: $5,323 million).  
Key drivers of the decline, leaving aside  
the impact of divestments, such as the 
anaesthetics portfolio, were continued 
competition from Symbicort analogues, 
ongoing volume erosion of Pulmicort, 
Seroquel XR and Nexium following loss of 
exclusivity, and pricing and volume pressure 
for Crestor. The continued macroeconomic 

environment, increased government 
interventions (for example, on price and 
volume) and parallel trade across markets 
also affected sales. Despite these 
conditions, we continue to launch innovative 
medicines across Europe and saw 
significant progress within our Growth 
Platforms, in particular with Forxiga, Xigduo, 
Brilinta, Lynparza and Tagrisso.

moderated while the sales growth from  
new products such as Brilinta and the 
Diabetes portfolio has started to pick up. 
Brilinta and the Diabetes portfolio grew by 
18% (actual and CER) and 57% (actual  
and CER) respectively.

*   Established ROW comprises Australia, Canada,  

New Zealand and Japan.

Established Rest of World (ROW)*
In 2016, sales in Japan increased by 8% at 
actual rate of exchange (decreased 3% at 
CER) to $2,184 million (2015: $2,020 million), 
as a result of the biennial National Health 
Insurance (NHI) price cuts effective from  
1 April 2016. We experienced price cuts 
of approximately 5% on our 2016 revenue. 
Despite the NHI price cuts, across our 
Growth Platforms we saw strong volume 
growth. Particularly strong performance 
from Nexium and Crestor, and the Diabetes 
franchise helped to drive this volume 
growth, offsetting generic competition.  
In addition, in May 2016, we launched 
Tagrisso in Japan which generated 
$82 million of sales and we expect will 
continue to be a major driver of growth. 
We now hold ninth position in the ranking 
of pharmaceutical companies by sales of 
medicines in Japan. Despite the biennial 
government price cuts and increased 
intervention from the government to rapidly 
increase the volume share of generic 
products, Japan remains an attractive 
market for innovative pharmaceuticals.

Canada has a mixed public/private payer 
system for medicines that is funded by the 
provinces, insurers and individual patients. 
It has also now become common for public 
payers to negotiate lower non-transparent 
prices after they have gone through a review 
by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and 
Technology in Health, a health technology 
assessment body. Most private insurers 
pay full price although there is increasing 
pressure to achieve lower pricing. Overall, 
the split for AstraZeneca’s portfolio is 65% 
funded by private payers and 35% with 
public plans.

Our sales in Australia and New Zealand 
declined by 12% at actual rate of exchange 
(10% at CER) in 2016. This was primarily 
due to the continued erosion of Crestor, 
Atacand and Nexium by generic medicines. 
Sales declined less in 2016 than in 2015 
as the pace of generic erosion has been 

Emerging Markets: expansion  
and collaboration
Emerging Markets, as defined in Market 
definitions on page 239, comprise 
various countries with dynamic, growing 
economies. As outlined in Marketplace from 
page 11, these countries represent a major 
growth opportunity for the pharmaceutical 
industry due to strong demand and sound 
economic fundamentals. Emerging Markets 
are not immune, however, to economic 
downturn. Market volatility is higher than in 
Established Markets and various political and 
economic challenges exist. These include 
regulatory and government interventions.

With revenues of $5,794 million, 
AstraZeneca was the fifth largest 
multinational pharmaceutical company,  
as measured by prescription sales, and the 
third fastest-growing top 10 multinational 
pharmaceutical company in Emerging 
Markets in 2016. 

In China, AstraZeneca is the second largest 
pharmaceutical company in the hospital 
sector, as measured by sales. Sales in 
China in 2016 increased by 4% at actual rate 
of exchange (10% at CER) to $2,636 million 
(2015: $2,530 million). We delivered sales 
growth above the growth rate of the hospital 
market sector through strategic brands 
investment, systematic organisational 
capability improvements and long-term 
market expansion programmes in core 
therapy areas. The industry growth rate  
is expected to be moderated to high  
single digits, impacted by increased price 
pressure and hospital cost containment. 
Nevertheless, the healthcare environment  
in China remains dynamic. Opportunities 
are arising from incremental healthcare 
investment, strong underlying demand and 
the emergence of innovative medicines.

Growth drivers for Emerging Markets 
include our new medicines, notably Brilinta 
and Forxiga, and our Diabetes, Respiratory, 
Oncology and CV portfolios. To educate 

50

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

S

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understand their priorities and 
requirements, and play a leading role in 
projects to align better the requirements 
of regulatory and health technology 
assessment (HTA) agencies or other 
organisations that provide value 
assessment of medicines. For example, 
we have a leading role in the European  
IMI ADAPT-SMART programme for 
exploring adaptive licensing.

 > We pursue a flexible pricing approach 
that reflects the wide variation in global 
healthcare systems. We have developed 
patient access programmes that are 
aligned with the ability to pay of patients 
and healthcare systems. We are 
committed to the appropriate use  
of managed entry schemes and the 
development of real world evidence  
and we are investigating innovative 
approaches to the pricing of medicines, 
such as payment for outcomes received 
by the patient and healthcare system.

Pricing and access to healthcare 
We continue to make our medicines 
affordable to more people on a 
commercially and socially sustainable 
basis. As, on average, almost half of 
medicine funding in emerging countries 
is paid for by the user or their families, 
we base our approach in these markets 
on an understanding of their economic 
circumstances and the burden placed 
on them by health costs. Our new pricing 
strategy addressing out-of-pocket funding, 
developed in 2016, focuses on two of our 
therapy areas, Respiratory and CVMD, 
and uses socio-economic evaluation on 
a country-by-country basis to determine 
affordable price points for self-pay patients 
based on ability to pay. 

Our efforts to price medicines affordably 
were seen by the Access to Medicine 
Foundation as an important step and, 
together with our approach to IP and our 
capacity building strategy in markets such 
as Brazil and China, contributed to our rise 
from 15th place in 2014 to 7th place in 2016 
in the Foundation’s biennial Access to 
Medicine Index. For more information on  
our initiatives, see Healthy Heart Africa  
on page 49, affordability programme in  
Brazil on this page, and our Young Health 
Programme on page 53. We will continue  
to work with partners and patients to 
develop sustainable access initiatives for  
as many patients as possible.

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(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:16)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)
(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:79)
(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:92)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)
(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)
(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:16)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:16)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)
(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:90)
(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)
(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)
(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:17)
(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:3)
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(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:17)

2.5m

(cid:50)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)
helped some 2.5 million patients.

physicians about our broad portfolio, we  
are selectively investing in sales capabilities 
where opportunities from unmet medical 
need exist. We are also expanding our  
reach through multi-channel marketing  
and external partnerships. 

Pricing and delivering value
Our medicines help treat unmet medical 
need, improve health and create economic 
benefits. Effective treatments can lower 
healthcare costs by reducing the need for 
more expensive care, preventing more 
serious and costly diseases and increasing 
productivity. Nevertheless, and as outlined 
in Marketplace from page 11, we are acutely 
aware of the economic challenges faced by 
payers and remain committed to delivering 
value. We are committed to a pricing policy 
for our medicines based on four principles:

 > We determine the price of our medicines 

while considering their full value for 
patients, payers and society. The 
agreement on price involves many 
national, regional and local stakeholders, 
reflecting factors such as clinical benefit, 
cost effectiveness, improvement to life 
expectancy and quality of life.

 > We aim to ensure the sustainability  
of both the healthcare system and  
our research-led business model. We 
believe we share a collective responsibility 
with healthcare providers and other 
stakeholders to work together to enable 
an efficient healthcare system for patients 
today and support a pipeline of new 
medicines for patients tomorrow.

 > We seek to ensure appropriate patient 
access to our medicines. We work 
closely with payers and providers to 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

51

 
Strategic Report    Business Review

Business Review continued

3. Be a great place  
to work 

Great people (see Employees from 
page 54) are central to our success 
and being a great place to work is  
(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)
the talents of our people. We promote 
a culture, both for employees and 
those third parties with whom we 
work, that delivers sustainable  
good performance and long-term 
business success. 

Overview
 > We continued to train employees on  
the ethical standards that govern the  
way we operate

 > (cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:430)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)

external sales and marketing regulations 
or codes

 > We carried out 8,977 risk assessments  

on third parties as part of our risk 
management process

 > We are developing a health and wellbeing 
framework based on the WHO Healthy 
Workplace Model

 > (cid:50)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:25)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)
continents were provided with skills and 
information to improve their health

Sales and marketing ethics 
We are committed to employing high ethical 
standards of sales and marketing practice 
worldwide, which are detailed in our Code 
of Conduct and supporting Global Policies 
on Ethical Interactions. Approximately 
34,100 employees are engaged in our 
Commercial activities. We report publicly  
on the number of:

 > confirmed breaches of external sales  

and marketing codes

 > breaches of our Code of Conduct, Global 
Policies or supporting requirements by 
employees and third parties in our 
Commercial Regions, and associated 
corrective actions.

Code of Conduct; one is for new starters 
to introduce the Code, while the other is 
the annual training for all employees, which 
serves as an important reminder of our key 
commitments and principles.

During 2016, we continued to train 
employees on the ethical standards that 
govern the way we operate. We maintain 
a robust compliance programme in our 
efforts to ensure that there is compliance 
with all applicable laws, regulations and 
adopted industry codes, and that our 
business is operating with high ethical 
standards. Our compliance programme 
is delivered by dedicated compliance 
professionals who advise on and monitor 
adherence to our Code of Conduct, Global 
Policies and supporting requirements. 
These professionals also support our line 
managers locally, seeking to ensure that 
their staff meet our high ethical standards. 
A network of nominated signatories 
reviews our promotional materials and 
activities against applicable requirements. 
In 2016, audit professionals in Internal 
Audit Services also conducted compliance 
audits on selected marketing companies. 
When engaging third parties for sales and 
marketing activities or other services, we 
are committed to working with only those 
third parties who embrace high standards of 
ethical behaviour consistent with our own.

We identified six confirmed breaches of 
external sales and marketing regulations  
or codes in 2016 (2015: 11). 

There were 1,729 instances, most of them 
minor, of non-compliance with our Code 
of Conduct, Global Policies or supporting 
requirements in our Commercial Regions, 
including instances by employees and third 
parties (2015: 1,749). 

We removed a total of 222 employees and 
third parties from their roles as a result of 
these breaches (a single breach may involve 
more than one person). We also formally 
warned 429 others and provided further 
guidance or coaching on our policies to 
1,283 more. The most serious breaches 
were raised with the Audit Committee. 

Alongside our Company Values, our Code 
of Conduct guides us on how we can make 
the best day-to-day choices on behalf 
of AstraZeneca and act in a consistent, 
responsible way, worldwide. There are two 
mandatory training courses dedicated to the 

The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 
investigation involving AstraZeneca was 
resolved in 2016 following a civil settlement 
agreed with the SEC; the DOJ closed its 
investigation without taking action against 

the Company. More information about 
material legal proceedings can be found  
in Note 28 to the Financial Statements  
from page 185.

Transparency reporting 
AstraZeneca is committed to the highest 
standards of conduct in all of our operations, 
including transparency in how we partner 
with physicians and medical institutions.  
In the US, our external transparency 
reporting meets the requirements of the 
Physician Payments Sunshine Act (Open 
Payments), as well as relevant state 
transparency laws. In Europe, AstraZeneca’s 
reporting meets the requirements of the 
European Federation of Pharmaceutical 
Industries and Associations (EFPIA) 
Disclosure Code, as well as applicable  
local transparency requirements.

Working with suppliers 
With most of our API manufacturing 
outsourced, we need an uninterrupted 
supply of high-quality raw materials. We 
therefore place great importance on our 
global procurement policies and integrated 
risk management processes. We purchase 
materials from a wide range of suppliers 
and work to mitigate supply risks, such as 
natural or man-made disasters that disrupt 
supply chains or the unavailability of raw 
materials. Contingency plans include using 
dual or multiple suppliers where appropriate, 
maintaining adequate stock levels and 
working to mitigate the effect of pricing 
fluctuations in raw materials. 

We also seek to manage reputational 
risk. Our ethical standards are integral to 
our procurement and partnering activities 
and we continuously monitor compliance 
through assessments and improvement 
programmes. We work only with those 
suppliers whose standards of ethical 
behaviour are consistent with our own.  
We will not use suppliers who are unable  
to meet our standards.

To achieve this, we have an established 
process for third party risk management. 
This process assesses risk based upon 
defined criteria. These include risks related 
to bribery and corruption, data privacy,  
the environment and wages. Each step  
of the process provides an additional level 
of assessment, and we conduct more 
detailed assessments on those relationships 
identified as higher risk. Through this 

52

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
 
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Program. Additionally, we donated over 
$20 million in products across multiple 
therapeutic areas to our NGO partners 
AmeriCares and Direct Relief International  
in support of public health needs and 
disaster relief.

Young Health Programme
We continued to develop the three strands 
of our Young Health Programme (YHP): 
on-the-ground programmes; advocacy; 
and research and evidence generation. 
Our on-the-ground programmes focus 
on the primary prevention of NCDs and 
associated adolescent risk behaviours. 
From 2010 to 2016, the programme has 
provided over 1.6 million young people in 
communities across five continents with 
the skills and information they need to 
improve their health. Over 47,000 of these 
young people have been trained to share 
this health information with their peers and 
the community. The programmes have also 
trained more than 12,600 frontline health 
workers in adolescent health. 2016 saw 
the launch of a programme in Kenya, the 
extension of the India programme to 2020 
and a new programme in Canada. Further 
programmes are in development for 2017.

Further information on YHP can be found on its 
website, www.younghealthprogrammeyhp.com

Disaster relief 
The British Red Cross continues to act as 
our global disaster relief partner, channelling 
the bulk of our disaster relief donations. 
In addition to the charitable donations 
referenced in Community investment above, 
in July 2016 we donated $200,000 via the 
British Red Cross to the Kuala Lumpur 
Emergency Response Unit, and $25,000 to 
replenish stocks of hygiene kits at the British 
Red Cross/Crescent Panama Warehouse 
following Hurricane Matthew.

risk-mitigation process, we seek to better 
understand the partner’s risk approach and 
seek to ensure the partner understands and 
can meet our standards. We conducted a 
total of 8,977 assessments in 2016, taking 
our total number of assessments to 21,622 
since May 2014. Of these, 6,622 were in 
the Asia Pacific region, 6,488 in Europe and 
5,712 in the Americas. The remaining 2,800 
assessments relate to global suppliers and 
those based in the Middle East and Africa.

In 2016, we conducted 66 audits on 
high-risk suppliers, seeking to ensure  
that they employ appropriate practices  
and controls. Thirty two percent of  
suppliers met our expectations, with a 
further 42% implementing improvement 
plans to address minor instances of 
non-compliance. Through our due diligence 
process, we rejected 40 suppliers because 
of reputational concerns.

Safety, health and wellbeing 
We work to promote a safe, healthy and 
energising work environment for employees 
and partners. As outlined in our Safety, 
Health and Environment (SHE) strategy 
on page 45, we have established a set of 
safety, health and wellbeing targets aimed 
at supporting our people and keeping 
AstraZeneca among the sector leaders  
in SHE performance. 

We made good progress against our 
new strategic targets in 2016, achieving a 
16% reduction in the reportable injury rate 
and a 12% reduction in vehicle collision 
rate from 2015 baseline. Building on our 
previous success in establishing a culture 
of health and wellbeing, we are developing 
a health and wellbeing framework, based 

21,000

Carried out more than 21,000  
supplier assessments since May 2014.

on the World Health Organization’s Healthy 
Workplace Model, which will give sites 
and marketing companies a blueprint for 
continuous improvement in this area.

In 2016, we carried out a number of 
activities and initiatives focused on delivery 
of improvements in key areas of concern, 
including driver safety, fall prevention, 
behavioural SHE, risk management, 
industrial hygiene and stress management. 
We also continued to focus on learning from 
incidents, using a dedicated website where 
all employees can access the learning to 
help ensure incidents are not repeated. 

Vehicle collisions 

Year

2016

2015

Reportable injuries

Year

2016

2015

Collisions
per million km

3.62

4.13

Reportable
 injury rate 
per million 
hours worked

1.45

1.73

Target

4.00

5.60

Target

1.64

N/A

Community investment 
Our global community investment strategy 
focuses on healthcare in the community 
and science. For example, 2016 was the 
sixth year of our partnership with the UK 
educational charity Career Ready to support 
increased participation by 16- to 19-year-
olds in science, technology, engineering  
and maths subjects.

In 2016, we spent a total of approximately 
$501 million (2015: approximately  
$680 million) on community investment 
sponsorships, partnerships and charitable 
donations worldwide, including our 
product donation and patient assistance 
programmes which make our medicines 
available free of charge or at reduced prices.

In 2016, we provided more than $466 million 
(2015: over $617 million) in savings to almost 
200,000 patients in the US and Puerto Rico 
through our AZ&Me Prescription Savings 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Resources Review

Iff wwee are to acchhieve our straatteegic priorriitties, we need 
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aarree oour grreeatest asset but we alsso reelly on oour 
intellectuaall property and our R&&D iinnvestmmenntt, our 
manufaaccttuuring resources aanndd oour iinformmaattiioonn serviccees 
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Overview

> 59,700 employees in more than 100 countries
> People strategy built around four key pillars: build and develop

organisations and capabilities; develop a strong and diverse pipeline 
of leaders; drive a vibrant, high-performing culture; and generate a passion 
for people development

> (cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)

and related IP protections for inventions

> 31 sites in 18 countries where we are working on the development, 

manufacture and supply of our products

> Launched our Operations 2020 strategy to enhance supply capabilities

in order to respond better to patient and market needs
g,

hree strategic R&D centres: in the US (Gaithersburg, MD); UK 

g

);

(

> T

(Cambridge); and Sweden (Gothenburg). A total of nine R&D sites in 
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> Our vision for IT focuses on areas that will enable competitive advantage 

for us

> Embedding our 2025 Safety, Health and Environment strategy into 

our business

54

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Employees

To achieve our strategic priorities, 
we continue to acquire, retain and 
develop a talented and diverse 
workforce united in the pursuit  
of our Purpose and Values.

Overview
 > Hired 9,200 permanent employees  

to help us achieve our strategic priorities

 > Piloted an online Leading People 

development experience

 > Established a global target for all 
employees to have a development 
conversation with their manager  
and associated development plan

 > Increased the gender diversity  

of our leadership

 > Piloted a global Women as Leaders 

programme

We value the talents and skills of our 
employees and our people strategy 
supports our strategic priority of being  
a great place to work.

Build and develop organisations  
and capabilities 
During 2016, we hired 9,200 permanent 
employees. An additional 200 employees 
joined us through acquisitions, most  
notably Takeda and Acerta Pharma.  
We are committed to hiring and promoting 
talent ethically and in compliance  
with applicable laws. Our policies and 
procedures are designed to help protect 
against discrimination on any grounds 
(including disability) and cover recruitment 
and selection, performance management, 
career development and promotion, 

transfer, training, retraining (including 
retraining, if needed, for people who have 
become disabled), and reward. To help 
deliver our strategic priorities, we are 
identifying and recruiting emerging talent, as 
well as investing in internships and 
recruitment opportunities globally. For 
example, we conduct a global programme 
to hire recent graduates for our 
procurement, quality, engineering, IT and 
supply chain functions. We also have a 
graduate programme for IMED, which 
complements our established IMED Post 
Doctorate Programme for researcher 
recruitment. Additionally, we offer a 12-week 
internship opportunity for business school 
students to contribute to key initiatives in our 
Oncology therapeutic area. 

Hiring over recent years means that 
employees with less than two years’  
service now represent 30% of our global 
workforce (up from 20% in 2012). This 
provides a greater balance in terms of 
refreshing talent and retaining organisational 
experience. The composition of our 
international workforce has also changed 
with our business focus. This can be seen  
in the Sales and Marketing figures to the 
right, which shows a greater concentration  
in Emerging Markets.

Voluntary employee turnover increased 
marginally to 9.6% in 2016 from 8.6% in 
2015 (restated 2015 number). The voluntary 
employee turnover rate among our high 
performers also increased in 2016 to 6.1%. 
We seek to reduce regretted turnover 
through more effective hiring and induction, 
high-level reviews of resignations, risk 
assessments and retention plans.

Develop a strong and  
diverse pipeline of leaders 
To foster innovation, we seek to harness 
different perspectives, talents and ideas as 
well as ensuring that our employees reflect 
the diversity of the communities in which  
we operate. 

During 2016, we implemented new talent 
management and succession planning 
processes. This focused on the deliberate 
identification, sourcing and accelerated 
development of our highest potential talent, 
seeking to ensure that we have credible 
successors with the capabilities and 
experiences necessary for our business 
critical roles.

Sales and Marketing 
workforce 
composition (%) 

   Emerging Markets 57%
   Established Markets 
43%

S

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We continue to focus on diversity and 
inclusion with a goal to increase the 
presence of women on our leadership 
teams. In 2016, we piloted a European 
Women as Leaders experience to  
support the accelerated development  
of high potential women in AstraZeneca. 
In 2017, this programme will be offered 
globally. As shown in the gender diversity 
figure on the next page, women comprise 
49.9% of our global workforce. There are 
currently three women on our Board (30%). 
Below Board level, the representation of 
women in senior roles (ie roles at Career 
Level F or above which constitute the six 
highest bands of our employee population) 
increased to 43.2% in 2016, which 
exceeded our Scorecard target of 42.5%  
for this measure and compares favourably 
to external benchmarks.

A global business

59,700 

employees by geographical area

13,000 

employees  
in US  
(21.8%) 

700 

employees  
in Canada  
(1.2%) 

6,500
employees  
in UK  
(10.9%)

5,700
employees  
in Sweden  
(9.6%)

1,300 

employees  
in Russia  
(2.1%)

Co-locating around three strategic  
R&D centres
>  Cambridge, UK (2,000 employees) 
> Gaithersburg, Maryland US (2,900 employees)
> Gothenburg, Sweden (2,200 employees)

7,400

employees in 
Other Europe 
(12.4%)

10,800 

employees  
in China  
(18.1%)

2,900

employees  
in Japan 
(4.9%)

Employees by 
reporting region (%) 

  US 21.8%
  Europe 32.9%
  Established  

  Rest of World 7.7%

  Emerging  

  Markets 37.6%

All numbers as at 31 December 2016

3,000
employees in 
Central and  
South America  
(5.1%)

1,700 

employees in  
Middle East  
and Africa  
(2.7%)

5,700 

employees in  
(cid:50)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3) 
(9.6%)

1,000 

employees  
in Australia 
and New Zealand 
(1.6%)

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Strategic Report    Resources Review

Resources Review continued

We continue to develop high-quality leaders. 
In 2016, 15% of the approximately 130 
leadership roles that report to our senior 
leadership team were either promoted into 
the leadership population, or moved roles 
within the leadership population. To ensure 
our senior leadership reflects our diverse 
geographic footprint, we track the country 
of origin of senior leaders and reflect this 
in our diversity targets. In 2016, 14.5% of 
leadership roles that report to our senior 
leadership team have a country of origin 
that is an Emerging Market or Japan (an 
increase from 5% in 2012).

Drive a vibrant, high-performing 
culture
Continuing our emphasis on high 
performance, in 2016, we extended our 
single global performance management 
framework and approach to cover 94% 
of the workforce. We also implemented 
a global annual salary and incentive 
review process which covers 60% of the 
workforce. We require every employee 
to have high quality objectives, aligned to 
our strategy, which we monitor closely. 
Managers are accountable for working with 
their employees to develop individual and 
team performance targets, and for ensuring 
employees understand how they contribute 
to our overall business objectives. 

Equally important are our performance-
related bonus and incentive plans. We 
encourage participation in various employee 
share plans, some of which are described 
in the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
from page 103, and also in Note 27 to the 
Financial Statements, from page 182.

Employee opinion surveys help us measure 
employee satisfaction and engagement  
and how we are doing in our aim of being 
a great place to work. Our most recent 
survey, carried out in December 2016, 
showed a decline compared to the survey  
at the start of the year in scores for all 
10 items common to both surveys. 
Although this might not be unexpected 
given the action we are taking to reshape 
our business to improve long-term 
competitiveness, we are continuing to focus 
on improving areas identified in our surveys 
as being important drivers of employee 
engagement. For example, we are driving 
our agenda around people development, 
encouraging improved dialogue between 
colleagues and their line managers on 
development. We have also continued our 
efforts to simplify the work environment 
for colleagues, whether this be through 
simplifying business processes or improving 
the IT tools we use in the workplace.

Gender diversity

Board of Directors  
of the Company 10

  Male 70%
  Female 30%

SET* 12

  Male 67%
  Female 33%

Directors of the 
Company’s  
subsidiaries* 435 

  Male 71.7%
  Female 28.3%

AstraZeneca 
employees 59,700 

  Male 50.1%
  Female 49.9%

*   For the purposes of section 414C(8)(c)(ii) of the Companies Act 2006, ‘Senior Managers’ are the SET, the directors of all 

of the subsidiaries of the Company and other individuals holding named positions within those subsidiaries.

56

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Generate a passion for  
people development
We encourage employees to take 
ownership of their own development 
and encourage leaders to spend time 
supporting their employees’ development. 
To support this, in 2016 we implemented  
a global platform to increase the visibility 
and accessibility of job opportunities.

We strive to attract talent by offering 
rewarding careers that connect the potential 
of our people with the capabilities required 
by our business. We are focusing on 
ensuring development opportunities are 
available to all employees, alongside our 
investment in our highest potential talent. 
In 2016, we piloted a new best-practice 
technology-enabled leadership experience, 
rooted in social learning, with 180 supply 
and manufacturing leaders based in West 
Chester and Mount Vernon in the US, and 
Vorsino in Russia. This experience can be 
accessed on any device at any time, with 
the goal of implementing global technology 
enabled development programmes in 2017.

Human rights 
We are committed to respecting and 
promoting international human rights – not 
only in our own operations, but also in our 
wider spheres of influence (such as our  
third party providers). To that end, we 
integrate human rights considerations into 
our policies, processes and practices.  
We are also committed to ensuring that 
there is no modern slavery or human 
trafficking in our supply chains or any part  
of our business. Our full statement required 
under section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery 
Act will be published on our website,  
www.astrazeneca.com, later in 2017.

We support the principles set out in the 
United Nations Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights and the International Labour 
Organization’s (ILO) standards on child 
labour and minimum wages. We are also 
members of the United Nations Global 
Compact on Human Rights. 

In 2016, we began conducting our third 
biennial Human Rights labour review in 
all countries where we have a presence. 
The review focuses on ILO core themes, 
including freedom of association and 
collective bargaining, child labour, 

 
discrimination, working hours and wages, 
including questions on the Living Wage. 
Where a gap to ILO minimum standards  
is identified, we will put in place local plans 
to close those gaps. In 2016, AstraZeneca 
became accredited with the Living Wage 
Foundation in the UK and will treat this as 
an experience to be evaluated alongside 
all other associated evidence in respect 
of seeking a global solution, for example, 
monitoring impact on our cost base.

Managing change 
In 2013, we announced plans to invest in 
three strategic R&D centres as outlined 
in Organisation on page 42. This affected 
employees in the US and the UK. We 
encouraged and supported employees to 
relocate and have made good progress. For 
example, as at 31 December 2016, 2,000 
employees were working in Cambridge and, 
of these employees, 500 have relocated 
from other sites in the UK. In addition to the 
750 employees hired in 2015 and 2016, we 
expect to hire a further approximately 350 
employees in Cambridge in 2017. We are 
using interim infrastructure in and around 
Cambridge to house these employees 
until our new site is ready. For employees 
who do not accept offers to relocate to 
Cambridge, we provide career support, 
outplacement support and competitive 
severance packages.

   For more information on Cambridge, see page 
7; on our restructuring programme, please see 
Restructuring from page 69 and Financial 
Review from page 62

Employee relations 
We seek to follow a global approach  
to employee relations guided by global 
employment principles and standards,  
local laws and good practice. We work to 
develop and maintain good relations with 
local workforces and work closely with  
our recognised national trade unions.  
We also regularly consult with employee 
representatives or, where applicable, trade 
unions, who share our aim of retaining key 
skills and mitigating job losses.

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Intellectual Property

Discovering and developing 
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investment of resources by research-
based pharmaceutical companies. 
The process can take a decade or 
more. For this to be a viable 
investment, new medicines must be 
safeguarded from being copied with 
a reasonable amount of certainty for 
a reasonable period of time.

Our industry’s principal economic safeguard 
is a well-functioning patent system that 
recognises our efforts and rewards 
innovation with appropriate protection –  
and allows time to generate the revenue  
we need to reinvest in pharmaceutical 
innovation. Patent rights are limited by 
territory and duration. A significant portion  
of a patent’s duration can be spent during 
R&D, before it is possible to launch the 
protected product. Therefore, we commit 
significant resources to establishing and 
defending our patent and related IP 
protections for inventions.

Patent process
We file patent protection applications  
for our inventions to safeguard the large 
investment required to obtain marketing 
approvals for potential new drugs. As we 
further develop a product and its uses, 
these new developments may necessitate 
new patent filings. We apply for patents 
through government patent offices around 
the world. These assess whether our 
inventions meet the strict legal requirements 
for a patent to be granted. Our competitors 
can challenge our patents in patent offices 
and/or courts. We may face challenges early 
in the patent application process and 
throughout a patent’s life. The grounds for 
these challenges could be the validity of a 
patent and/or its effective scope and are 
based on ever-evolving legal precedents. 
We are experiencing increased challenges 
in the US and elsewhere in the world (such 
as in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, 
Europe and Japan) and there can be no 
guarantee of success for either party in 

patent proceedings. For information about 
third party challenges to patents protecting 
our products, see Note 28 to the Financial 
Statements from page 185. For more 
information on the risks relating to patent 
litigation and early loss and expiry of 
patents, please see Risk from page 214.

The basic term of a patent is typically  
20 years from the filing of the patent 
application with the relevant patent  
office. However, a product protected by  
a pharmaceutical patent may not be 
marketed for several years after filing,  
due to the duration of clinical trials and 
regulatory approval processes. Patent Term 
Extensions (PTE) are available in certain 
major markets, including the EU and the  
US, to compensate for these delays.  
The term of the PTE can vary from zero  
to five years, depending on the time taken  
to obtain any marketing approval. The 
maximum patent term, when including PTE, 
cannot exceed 15 years (EU) or 14 years 
(US) from the first marketing authorisation.

Patent expiries
The tables on pages 211 to 213 set out 
certain patent expiry dates and sales for  
our key marketed products. 

Other exclusivities
In addition to patent protection, regulatory 
data protection (RDP or ‘data exclusivity’) is 
an important IP right, which arises in respect 
of data which is required to be submitted  
to regulatory authorities to obtain marketing 
approvals for our medicines. Significant 
investment is required to generate such  
data (for example, through conducting 
global clinical trials) and this proprietary data 
is protected from use by third parties (such 
as generic manufacturers) for a number of 
years in a limited number of countries. The 
period of such protection, and the extent  
to which it is respected, differs significantly 
among countries. RDP is an important 
protection for our products, and we strive to 
enforce our rights to it, particularly as patent 
rights are increasingly being challenged.

The RDP period starts from the date of the 
first marketing approval from the relevant 
regulatory authority and runs parallel to any 
patent protection. RDP generally expires 
prior to patent expiry in all major markets.  

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57

 
 
 
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Resources Review continued

If a product takes an unusually long time  
to secure marketing approval, or if patent 
protection has not been secured, has 
expired or has been lost, then RDP may be 
the sole IP right protecting a product from 
copying. Generic manufacturers should not 
be allowed to rely on AstraZeneca’s data to 
support the generic product’s approval or 
marketing until the RDP right has expired.  
In the EU, the RDP period is eight years 
followed by two years’ marketing exclusivity. 

In the US, new chemical entities (NCEs) are 
entitled to a period of five years’ exclusivity 
under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic 
Act. This period of exclusivity runs parallel  
to any pending or granted patent protection 
and starts at the approval of the new 
application. As with RDP, there are 
circumstances where this protection could 
be the sole IP right protecting a product 
from being copied. Further, under the 
Biologics License Application process, the 
FDA will grant 12 years’ data exclusivity for a 
new biologic to an innovator manufacturer.

Under Orphan Drug laws in the EU and US, 
exclusivity is granted to an innovator who 
gains approval for a pharmaceutical product 
developed to treat a rare disease. What 
qualifies as a rare condition differs between 
the EU and US. Qualifying Orphan Drugs 
are granted 10 years’ market exclusivity in 
the EU and seven years’ market exclusivity 
in the US.

Manufacturing

Our 2020 strategy provides a focus 
for our investments to help ensure 
we are able to respond to patient and 
market needs for our medicines.

Overview
 > Operations 2020 strategy started with  
a number of global initiatives in 2016

 > Biologics manufacturing footprint 

increased in preparation for new product 
launches

 > The Pharmaceutical Technology & 

Development teams have been integrated 
into Operations to enhance the way we 
design, develop, manufacture and launch 
new products

Strategy 
Operations 2020 strategy was launched in 
2015 to enhance supply capabilities in order 
to respond better to patient and market 
needs. Our strategy focuses on supporting 
the delivery of our new product launches, 
strengthening our science and technology 
capabilities across the globe, creating a 
more agile and flexible supply chain, and 
embedding Lean principles throughout our 
network. Our objective is to be recognised 
as a leader in biopharmaceutical supply 
chain by the end of 2020.

Compulsory licensing
Compulsory licensing (where a Patent 
Authority imposes a licence on the Patentee) 
is on the increase in certain markets in 
which we operate. We recognise the right of 
developing countries to use the flexibilities in 
the World Trade Organization’s Agreement 
on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights (including the Doha 
amendment) in certain circumstances, such 
as a public health emergency. We believe 
this should apply only when all other ways  
of meeting the emergency needs have  
been considered and where healthcare 
frameworks and safeguards exist to ensure 
the medicines reach those who need them.

Quality, regulation and compliance
We are committed to high product 
quality, which underpins the safety and 
efficacy of our medicines. We maintain 
a comprehensive quality management 
system to assure compliance and quality. 
Similarly, we set strict standards for safety, 
health and environment at each of our sites. 
Manufacturing facilities and processes 
are subject to rigorous and continuously 
evolving regulatory standards. They 
are subject to inspections by regulatory 
authorities, who are authorised to mandate 
improvements to facilities and processes, 
halt production and impose conditions for 
production to resume. 

In 2016, we hosted 33 independent 
inspections from 18 regulatory authorities. 
We reviewed observations from these 

inspections together with the outcomes 
of internal audits and, where necessary, 
implemented improvement actions.

We are committed to maintaining the 
highest ethical standards and compliance 
with internal policies, laws and regulations. 
We review and comment upon evolving 
national and international compliance 
regulations through our membership of 
industry associations including IFPMA, 
EFPIA and PhRMA. 

Pharmaceutical Technology & 
Development (PT&D)
In January 2016, the integration of PT&D into 
Global Operations commenced to support 
further and accelerate successive new 
product launches, new device platforms 
and manage an increase in the overall 
product portfolio complexity. The integration 
is also expected to enhance collaboration 
and alignment and our focus on late-stage 
development, adding substantial scientific 
expertise and leadership to Operations.

We are actively working on over 150 drug 
projects across our R&D and Commercial 
portfolios, supporting more than 300 
AstraZeneca clinical studies worldwide  
and an additional 400 External Sponsored 
Research studies. We also support over 100 
in-line brands and small molecule products.

Our continued science and technology 
innovation allows us to enable and 
differentiate products including Lynparza, 
Tagrisso, acalabrutinib, Brilinta and new 
respiratory products such as PT010 as they 
are introduced into the marketplace and 
ultimately into the hands of patients globally.

Manufacturing capabilities 
Our principal tablet and capsule formulation 
sites are in the UK, Sweden, China,  
Puerto Rico and the US, with local/regional 
supply sites in Russia, Japan, Indonesia, 
Egypt, India, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, 
Argentina and Algeria. We also have major 
formulation sites for the global supply of 
parenteral and/or inhalation products in the 
US, Sweden, France, Australia and the UK. 
Most of the manufacture of API is delivered 
through the efficient use of external sourcing 
that is complemented by internal capability 
in Sweden. 

58

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

At the end of 2016, approximately 12,200 
R&D resources
people were employed at 31 Operations 
sites in 18 countries. 
We have approximately 8,400 
employees in our R&D organisation, 
working in various sites around  
the world.

S

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o
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Our small molecule sites are located in 
the UK (Alderley Park, Cambridge and 
Macclesfield), Sweden (Gothenburg), the 
US (Gaithersburg, Maryland, Waltham, 
Massachusetts and California), Japan 
(Osaka) and China (Shanghai). Our biologics 
sites are located in the UK (Cambridge)  
and in the US (Gaithersburg, Maryland  
and California). Our Gaithersburg, Maryland 
US; Cambridge, UK; and Warsaw, Poland 
sites focus on late-stage development for 
small molecules and biologics across our 
entire portfolio. 

In 2016, R&D expenditure was $5,890 
million in our R&D organisation (2015: 
$5,997 million; 2014: $5,579 million), 
including core R&D costs of $5,631 million 
(2015: $5,603 million; 2014: $4,941 million). 
In addition, we spent $821 million on 
acquiring product rights (such as  
in-licensing) (2015: $1,341 million;  
2014: $907 million). We also invested  
$178 million on the implementation of  
our R&D restructuring strategy (2015:  
$258 million; 2014: $497 million). The 
allocations of spend by early-stage and  
late-stage development are presented  
in the R&D spend analysis table below. 

R&D spend analysis 

Discovery and 
early-stage 
development 

Late-stage 
development 

2016

2015

2014

36%

39%

47%

64%

61%

53% 

InInveveeststs ininng g fofor rr thththe ee fufuuututut rere: : ::
MaManuufactctctururining bib olologgogicics

We are investing in our supply network, 
with a focus on increasing production 
capacity to support the growing demand
for biologics. The addition of three new 
high-tech biologics manufacturing 
facilities (Gärtuna in Sweden (above), and
Boulder and Longmont, both in Colorado 
in the US) to our supply network will 
leave us well-positioned for the future.

For biologics, our principal commercial 
manufacturing facilities are in the US 
(Frederick, Maryland; Greater Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania; Boulder and Longmont, 
Colorado), the UK (Speke), and the 
Netherlands (Nijmegen) with capabilities in 
process development, manufacturing and 
distribution of biologics, including global 
supply of MAbs and influenza vaccines. 

We are developing our manufacturing 
capability in biologics and expect our bulk 
manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colorado 
US to be licensed for commercial 
production by the end of 2017. In Sweden, 
we expect our new $285 million biologics 
manufacturing facility to be available for 
clinical trial programmes by the end of  
2018 and fully operational by 2019. These 
projects, in addition to an expansion plan  
at Frederick, Maryland US, will increase 
production capacity to support the growing 
demand for biologics, which represents 
about half of our development pipeline. We 
acquired our facility in Longmont, Colorado 
US, in 2016 which will both support our 
operations in Boulder and provide space for 
additional biologics expansion as required. 

For small molecules we are constructing a 
new small scale development and launch 
facility alongside our existing manufacturing 
facility in Wuxi, China. In addition, regulatory 
validation work continues at Vorsino, Russia, 
which opened in 2015. First commercial 
production commenced in early 2016, 
improving our ability to supply local markets.

At the end of 2016, approximately 12,200 
people were employed at 31 Operations 
sites in 18 countries.

8,400

Around 8,400 employees  
in our R&D organisation.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

59

 
Strategic Report    Resources Review

Resources Review continued

Environment

We follow the science to protect  
the planet by managing our impact 
on the environment across all  
our operations.

Overview
 > (cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)
climate change targets and commitment  
to responsible water stewardship

 > 2016 greenhouse gas footprint reduced  

by 5%

 > 2016 waste management generation 

increased by 1%

 > 2016 water consumption performance 

reduced by 5%

We are working to reduce our greenhouse 
gas emissions by, among other things, 
investment in improving energy and fuel 
efficiency and pursuing lower-carbon 
alternatives to fossil fuels, utilising a 
hierarchy approach of Avoid-Reduce-
Substitute. During 2016, site energy use 
improved to reduce consumption by 0.2% 
and procurement of electricity from certified 
renewable sources increased to represent 
58% of total electricity imports. Our travel 
and freight transport emissions decreased 
due to reduced business air travel, 
increased fuel efficiency of our commercial 
sales fleet and continued achievement in 
switching freighting of goods from air to sea.

Operational greenhouse gas footprint 
emissions (tonnes CO2e)

1,656,917

1,743,199

N/A

37,923

37,510

35,797

3.99

4.21

3.79

(cid:49)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:3)
As outlined in Safety, Health and 
Environment strategy on page 45, we have 
begun work on delivering our 2016 to 2025 
Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) 
targets. Our 2016 natural resource targets 
included reducing:

 > operational greenhouse gas footprint by 

2% to 1,708,335 tonnes CO2e

 > waste generation by 2% to 36,760 tonnes
 > water use by 2% to 4.13 million m3.

2016

2015

2014

Waste production (tonnes)

2016

2015

2014

Water use (million m3)

The table to the right provides data on our 
global greenhouse gas emissions, waste 
production and water consumption for 
2016. The data coverage includes 100%  
of our owned and controlled sites globally. 
2015 data was recalculated to include 
acquired sites that form part of the 2016  
to 2025 strategy baseline.

2016

2015

2014

We continue to integrate environmental 
considerations across a medicine’s entire 
life-cycle, from discovery, R&D to 
manufacturing, commercialisation and 
disposal. This considers the natural 
resources used to manufacture our 
products and the environmental impact of 
our active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). 

Information technology 
and information services 
resources

Our continuing vision for IT is to 
focus on areas that may provide a 
competitive advantage for 
AstraZeneca.

At the end of 2016, we successfully 
completed our three-year IT Transformation 
Programme. The wide-ranging programme 
has delivered improved productivity, 
efficiency, responsiveness and innovation 
allowing us to better support our business 
priorities while at the same time significantly 
reducing cost.

First, to implement our vision for IT, we seek 
to identify, prioritise and drive adoption of 
new technologies to support the business 
and enable our science. Second, we aim  
to make significant investments in data and 
analytics to allow the business to manage 
information more effectively in order to  
drive faster, more effective decision making. 
Finally, we seek to drive operational 
excellence and improvements in the 
performance, stability, security and cost  
of the underlying application landscape  
and infrastructure of our IT.

Protecting our IT systems, IP and 
confidential information against cyberattacks 
is a key concern. Our IT organisation  
seeks continuous improvement of our IT 
protection by developing and implementing 
robust, effective and agile risk-based 
approaches to protect our resources  
and keep pace with the rapidly evolving 
cybersecurity risk landscape. To help guard 
against cybercrime, we have adopted a 
comprehensive cybersecurity process  
and policy, which we regularly review and 
update. We monitor our systems and data 
with sophisticated technology to identify  
and address potential weaknesses in the 
management of cybersecurity risk.

At the end of 2016, our IT organisation 
comprised approximately 3,500 people 
across our sites in the UK, Sweden, the US, 
and our new technology centres in India 
(Chennai) and Mexico (Guadalajara).

60

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
Innveeveeststtstinininining gg g g fofofofofor thhee e ee future:
FoFolllll owowwwinininininggggg thththththe e scscieeienncnnnce to protect 
thhht e e enennvivirorooor nmnmnn enentt

We were one of only four FTSE 350 
companies to have had our climate 
change targets approved by the Science
Based Targets initiative which is a
partnership with CDP, the UN Global 
Compact, World Resources Institute, 
and World Wide Fund for Nature. The
initiative seeks to create a systematic
change in how targets are set, so that 
companies contribute their fair share of 
the challenging emissions reduction
needed to limit global temperature 
increase to under two degrees centigrade.
c ease to u de two deg ees ce t g ade.

S

t
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We recognise the need to use water 
responsibly and, where possible, to 
minimise water use in our facilities.  
In 2016, we targeted a 2% reduction from 
our 2015 water use. In 2016, our water 
footprint was 3.99 million m3, a 5% 
reduction. This was achieved in part by 
investing in water efficiency projects such  
as the reclamation and reuse of water  
at a number of our manufacturing sites  
in Australia and the US. During 2016, our 
major sites completed Water Conservation 
Plans and we standardised the assessment 
of water stress across our network, enabling 
prioritisation of water efficiency in areas 
where water scarcity is of greatest concern.

We are also working on measuring and 
reporting the environmental impact of our 
external manufacturing activity and work  
to set appropriate environmental targets 
with our suppliers. We capture data for 
more than 90% (based on spend) of the 
globally managed outsourced manufacture 
of key intermediates and APIs, formulation 
and packaging for our established brands. 
Understanding and management of  
our external supplier footprint will be a 
continued focus of our SHE commitment 
going forward.

With regard to pharmaceuticals in the 
environment (PIE), we manage the 
manufacturing emissions of our APIs  
in a responsible manner to ensure that  
we do not exceed the safe discharge 
standards set for our own manufacturing 
sites and those of key suppliers. We review 
compliance with these safe discharge 
standards annually. Using a concept  
called ‘ecopharmacovigilance’, we review 
emerging science and literature for new 
information that might change the way we 
assess and manage any environmental risks 
associated with our products. Our proactive 
SHE research also addresses some of the 
key risks posed by PIE. In 2016, we signed 
an industry declaration presented to the 
United Nations General Assembly ensuring 
the responsible use, patient access and 
production of antibiotics to help combat  
the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

   Further information, including environmental 

risk assessment data for our medicines, is 
(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:17)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:17)
com/sustainability/environmental-
sustainability.html

Our pMDI inhaler therapy relies on 
hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants which 
affects our greenhouse gas footprint. While 
HFAs have no ozone depletion potential  
and a third or less of the global warming 
potential than the chlorofluorocarbons they 
replace, they are still potent greenhouse 
gases. During 2016, we continued to 
explore practical opportunities to reduce  
the climate impact of these devices while 
continuing to fulfil patient needs. Including 
emissions from patient use of our inhaler 
therapies, our aim by 2016 was to reduce 
our operational greenhouse gas footprint  
by 2% from our 2015 level. We achieved 
this, with our operational greenhouse gas 
footprint totalling 1,656,917 metric tonnes  
in 2016, a reduction of 5% from our  
2015 baseline. 

   For more information on carbon reporting, 
please see Sustainability: supplementary 
information from page 231

Waste management is another key  
aspect of our commitment to minimise 
environmental impact. In 2016, we targeted 
a 2% reduction in waste generation from our 
2015 baseline. In 2016, our total waste was 
37,923 metric tonnes, a 1% increase on 
2015. Although we initiated waste reduction 
projects, such as major investment to 
enable solvent reuse at a Swedish 
manufacturing site, these were insufficient  
to offset the increase in activity across  
our network. While waste prevention  
is an essential goal, we seek to maximise 
treatment by material recycling and  
avoiding landfill disposal when prevention  
is impractical. 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

61

 
Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review

Product Sales were supplemented by  
$1.7 billion of Externalisation Revenue 
arising from partnerships including the 
global agreement with Aspen for the 
commercial rights to the anaesthetics 
portfolio and local agreements in China for 
Plendil and in the US for Toprol-XL. The level 
of sustainable and ongoing income from 
such partnerships and collaborations has 
continued to increase during 2016.

Excluding the impact of Externalisation 
Revenue, the Reported Gross Profit margin 
was broadly stable in the year, with lower 
restructuring and amortisation charges 
offset by the adverse impact from the mix  
of sales and a write-down of FluMist 
inventory in the US. Excluding the lower 
restructuring and amortisation charges, 
Core Gross Profit margin declined by  
one percentage point to 82%.  

Reported Other Operating Income was  
$1.7 billion in the year and included receipts 
from the divestments of the small molecule 
antibiotics business to Pfizer and Rhinocort 
Aqua to Cilag.

Reported Operating Profit increased by 19% 
(CER: increased by 9%) to $4.9 billion and 
Core Operating Profit declined by 3% (CER: 
declined by 7%) to $6.7 billion. Reported 
earnings per share increased by 24%  
(CER: increased by 9%) to $2.77 and Core 
earnings per share increased by 1% (CER: 
declined by 5%) to $4.31. Both Reported 
and Core EPS included a non-recurring 
benefit of $0.36, following agreements 
between the Canadian tax authority and the 
UK and Swedish tax authorities in respect of 
transfer pricing arrangements for the period 
from 2004 to 2016.

We generated a net cash inflow from 
operating activities of $4.1 billion in the year 
with a continued improvement in working 
capital investment. We maintain a strong, 
investment-grade credit rating and, in May, 
issued a total of $2.5 billion of loans for 
general corporate purposes. We ended  
the year with net debt of $10.7 billion.

Marc Dunoyer 
Chief Financial Officer

(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)
(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:74)(cid:74)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)
(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)Cresttoor(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:75)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3)
(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:26)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:38)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:53)(cid:53)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:8)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:17)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:17)(cid:3)

rr

In 2016, continued growth in Emerging 
Markets and Diabetes, coupled with strong 
sales of our New Oncology medicines and 
further progress for Brilinta, resulted in a 4% 
increase (CER: 5% increase) in our Growth 
Platform Sales.

However, the continued effect of patent 
expiries, in particular the US entry of Crestor 
generic medicines, resulted in a decline in 
Total Revenue of 7% (CER: decline of 5%) in 
the year. Our continued focus on cost 
discipline delivered a decrease of 2% (CER: 
increase restricted to 2%) in Reported R&D 
costs and stable (CER: increase restricted to 
5%) Core R&D costs, despite the absorption 
of Acerta Pharma and ZS Pharma costs. 
The decline of 15% (CER: decline of 12%) in 
Reported SG&A costs, which also benefited 
from fair value adjustments to long-term 
liabilities, and the decline of 12% (CER: 
decline of 9%) in Core SG&A costs, 
reflected the evolving shape of the business 
and efficiency savings. This, combined with 
a non-recurring benefit resulting from 
agreements on transfer pricing between 
various tax authorities, delivered Reported 
EPS of $2.77 and Core EPS of $4.31.

Product Sales in Emerging Markets were 
stable compared to 2015 (CER: grew  
by 6%) in the year at $5.8 billion, against a 
background of challenging macro-economic 
conditions in Latin America. We have 
reduced our activities in Venezuela and 
there were also cuts in healthcare spending 

in Saudi Arabia. However, China maintained 
growth of 4% (CER: growth of 10%), ahead 
of the overall market, and Russia grew at 1% 
(CER: growth of 13%). 

Our Diabetes franchise grew by 9% (CER: 
grew by 11%) to $2.4 billion and Farxiga 
became our largest-selling diabetes 
medicine, consolidating its position as global 
leader in the SGLT2 class. Brilinta sales 
increased by 36% (CER: increased by 39%) 
to $839 million, reflecting updated preferred 
guidelines from the American College of 
Cardiology and the American Heart 
Association. In addition, sales of our New 
Oncology medicines reached $664 million  
in the year, with Tagrisso and Lynparza 
growing strongly. Respiratory declined  
by 5% (CER: declined by 3%) in the year, 
impacted by US pricing pressure on 
Symbicort. Japan Product Sales increased 
by 8% (CER: declined by 3%).

Patent expiries continued to impact 
negatively in our Established Markets and 
more than offset the performance of the 
Growth Platforms. US sales fell by 22% to 
$7.4 billion and reflected the competition 
from generic Crestor medicines that entered 
the US market from July and the continued 
decline of Nexium sales following the loss of 
US exclusivity in 2015. Sales in Europe were 
down by 5% (CER: down 3%) and sales in 
other Established Markets grew by 2% 
(CER: fell by 4%). 

62

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
 
 
Contents

62

63
64

Introduction 
Business background and results  
overview 
Measuring performance 
Results of operations – summary  
analysis of year ended 31 December 2016  65
70
(cid:38)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)
72
Financial position 
76
Capitalisation and shareholder return 
76
Future prospects 
76
Financial risk management 
Critical accounting policies and estimates  77
81
Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 

The purpose of this Financial Review is  
to provide a balanced and comprehensive 
analysis of the financial performance of the 
business during 2016, the cash flow and 
liquidity position of the business, the 
financial position as at the end of the year, 
and the main business factors and trends 
which could affect the future financial 
performance of the business.

Business background and results 
overview 
The business background is covered in 
the Marketplace section from page 11, the 
Therapy Area Review from page 23 and the 
Geographical Review from page 226, and 
describes in detail the developments in both 
our products and the geographical regions 
in which we operate. 

As described earlier in this Annual Report, 
sales of our products are directly influenced 
by medical need and are generally paid for 
by health insurance schemes or national 
healthcare budgets. Our operating results 
can be affected by a number of factors 
other than the delivery of operating plans 
and normal competition, such as:

 > The risk of competition from generics 
following loss of patent protection or 
patent expiry of one of our products or 
an ‘at risk’ launch by a competitor or  
the launch of a generic competitor in the 
same class as one of our products, with 
the potential adverse effects on sales 
volumes and prices. Details of patent 
expiries for our key marketed products 
are included in Patent Expiries of Key 
Marketed Products from page 211.

 > The adverse impact on pharmaceutical 
prices as a result of the macroeconomic 
and regulatory environment. For instance, 
although there is no direct governmental 
control on prices in the US, action from 
federal and individual state programmes 
and health insurance bodies is leading to 
downward pressures on realised prices. 
In other parts of the world, there is a 
variety of price and volume control 
mechanisms and retrospective rebates 
based on sales levels that are imposed 
by governments. 

 > The timings of new product launches, 
which can be influenced by national 
regulators, and the risk that such new 
products do not succeed as anticipated, 
together with the rate of sales growth and 
costs following new product launches. 

 > Currency fluctuations. Our functional  

and reporting currency is the US dollar, 
but we have substantial exposures  
to other currencies, in particular the  
euro, Japanese yen, pounds sterling, 
Chinese renminbi and Swedish krona. 
 > Macro factors such as greater demand 

from an ageing population and increasing 
requirements of Emerging Markets. 

Over the longer term, the success of our 
R&D is crucial and we devote substantial 
resources to this area. The benefits of this 
investment are expected to emerge over the 
long term and there is considerable inherent 
uncertainty as to whether and when it will 
generate future products.

The most significant features of our financial 
results in 2016 are:

 > Total Revenue down 7% to $23,002 

million (CER: down 5%). Product Sales 
were down 10% (CER: down 8%) 
reflecting the entry in the US of multiple 
Crestor generic medicines, as well as 
the reducing impact of Nexium generic 
medicines in the US and the impact of 
pricing pressure in the US on Symbicort. 
Product Sales of Crestor, Nexium  
and Symbicort in the US declined  
by 57%, 39% and 18% respectively. 
 > Revenues of our Growth Platforms 

increased 4% (CER: increased 5%) and 
constituted 63% of our Total Revenue, with

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 – Emerging Markets flat at actual 

exchange rates (CER: 6% growth) 
supported by China, up by 4%  
(CER: up by 10%)

 – Diabetes up 9% (CER: up 11%), which 
included growth of 70% (CER: growth 
of 72%) on Farxiga which became  
our largest-selling diabetes medicine

 – Japan up 8% (CER: down 3%) to 

$2,184 million

 – Brilinta Product Sales up 36% (CER: 

up 39%) to $839 million

 – Respiratory down 5% (CER: down 3%) 
reflecting an 18% fall in US Product 
Sales of Symbicort

 – New Oncology Product Sales of  

$664 million.

 > Reported operating profit was up 19% 
(CER: up 9%) to $4,902 million (2015: 
$4,114 million). The increase reflected 
the reduction in SG&A costs, largely 
due to fair value gains on contingent 
consideration and lower legal charges. 
This reduction in SG&A costs more than 
offset the decline in Product Sales, while 
we continued to invest in our pipeline and 
Growth Platforms. 

 > Revaluations of contingent consideration 
resulted in a reduction of $1,158 million in 
SG&A costs in the year, and included a 
decrease of $999 million relating to the 
acquisition of BMS’s share of the Global 
Diabetes Alliance, based on revised 
milestone probabilities, and revenue and 
royalty forecasts. Total restructuring costs 
associated with the global programme  
to reshape the cost base of our business 
were $1,107 million in 2016.

 > Core operating profit was down 3% 

(CER: down 7%) to $6,721 million (2015: 
$6,902 million). 

 > Reported operating margin of 21.3% of 
Total Revenue was up 4.6 percentage 
points (CER: 2.6 percentage points).  
Core operating margin was 29.2% of  
Total Revenue (2015: 27.9%).

 > Reported EPS was up 24% (CER: up 9%) 
to $2.77. Core EPS for the full year was 
$4.31, up 1% (CER: down 5%).

 > Dividends paid amounted to $3,561 

million (2015: $3,486 million). 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

63

 
Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

Measuring performance
The following measures are referred to in 
this Financial Review when reporting on our 
performance both in absolute terms, but 
more often in comparison to earlier years:

 > Reported performance. Reported 

performance takes into account all the 
factors (including those which we cannot 
influence, such as currency exchange 
rates) that have affected the results of 
our business, as reflected in our Group 
Financial Statements prepared in 
accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the EU and as issued by the IASB (IFRS). 

 > Core financial measures. These are 

non-GAAP measures because, unlike 
Reported performance, they cannot be 
derived directly from the information in  
the Group Financial Statements. These 
measures are adjusted to exclude certain 
significant items, such as
 – amortisation and impairment of 

intangibles, including impairment 
reversals but excluding any charges 
relating to IT assets

 – charges and provisions related to our 
global restructuring programmes (this 
includes such charges that relate  
to the impact of our global restructuring 
programmes on our capitalised  
IT assets) 

 – other specified items, principally 
comprising legal settlements and 
acquisition-related costs which include 
fair value adjustments and the imputed 
finance charge relating to contingent 
consideration. 

 In determining the adjustments to arrive  
at the Core result, we use a set of 
established principles relating to the 
nature and materiality of individual  
items or groups of items, excluding, for 
example, events which (i) are outside the 
normal course of business, (ii) are incurred 
in a pattern that is unrelated to the trends 
in the underlying financial performance of 
our ongoing business, or (iii) are related  
to major acquisitions, to ensure that 
investors’ ability to evaluate and analyse 
the underlying financial performance  
of our ongoing business is enhanced.  
See the 2016 Reconciliation of Reported 
results to Core results table on the 
opposite page for a reconciliation  
of Reported to Core performance. 
 > Constant exchange rate (CER) growth 

rates. These are also non-GAAP 
measures. These measures remove  
the effects of currency movements  

(by retranslating the current year’s 
performance at previous year’s  
exchange rates and adjusting for other 
exchange effects, including hedging).  
A reconciliation of the Reported results 
adjusted for the impact of currency 
movements is provided in the 2016 
Reported operating profit table on  
the page opposite. 

 > Gross and operating margin percentages. 
These measures set out the progression 
of key performance margins and illustrate 
the overall quality of the business. 

 > Prescription volumes and trends for key 

products. These measures can represent 
the real business growth and the 
progress of individual products better and 
more immediately than invoiced sales. 
 > Net funds/debt. This represents our cash 
and cash equivalents, current investments 
and derivative financial instruments less 
interest-bearing loans and borrowings. 

We strongly encourage readers of the 
Annual Report not to rely on any single 
financial measure but to review our financial 
statements, including the notes thereto,  
and our other publicly filed reports, carefully 
and in their entirety.

CER measures allow us to focus on the 
changes in revenues and expenses driven 
by volume, prices and cost levels relative to 
the prior period. Revenues and cost growth 
expressed in CER allows management to 
understand the true local movement in 
revenues and costs, in order to compare 
recent trends and relative return on 
investment. CER growth rates can be used 
to analyse revenues in a number of ways 
but, most often, we consider CER growth  
by products and groups of products, and by 
countries and regions. CER revenues growth 
can be further analysed into the impact of 
revenues volumes and selling price. Similarly, 
CER cost growth helps us to focus on the 
real local change in costs so that we can 
manage the cost base effectively.

We believe that disclosing Core financial  
and growth measures, in addition to our 
Reported financial information, enhances 
investors’ ability to evaluate and analyse 
the underlying financial performance of  
our ongoing business and the related key 
business drivers. As detailed in our 2012 
Annual Report, we revised our definition  
of Core financial measures in 2013, with 
consistent application thereafter. The 
adjustments are made to our Reported 
financial information in order to show Core 

financial measures that illustrate clearly,  
on a year-on-year or period-by-period basis, 
the impact on our performance caused by 
factors such as changes in revenues and 
expenses driven by volume, prices and cost 
levels relative to such prior years or periods.

Readers of the Annual Report should  
note that Core results cannot be achieved 
without incurring the costs that the Core 
measures exclude such as: 

 > Amortisation of intangible assets which 

generally arise from business combinations 
and individual licence acquisitions.  
We adjust for these charges because 
their pattern of recognition is largely 
uncorrelated with the underlying 
performance of the business. However,  
a significant part of our revenues could 
not be generated without owning the 
associated acquired intangible assets.
 > Charges and provisions related to our 

global restructuring programmes which 
can take place over a significant period  
of time, given the long life-cycle of our 
business. We adjust for these charges 
and provisions because they primarily 
reflect the financial impact of change  
to legacy arrangements, rather than  
the underlying performance of our 
ongoing business. However, our Core 
results do reflect the benefits of such 
restructuring initiatives.

It should also be noted that other costs 
excluded from our Core results, such  
as finance charges related to contingent 
consideration will recur in future years  
and other excluded items such as 
impairments and legal settlement costs, 
along with other acquisition-related costs, 
may recur in the future.

As shown in the 2016 Reconciliation of 
Reported results to Core results table  
on the page opposite, our reconciliation  
of Reported financial information to Core 
financial measures includes a breakdown  
of the items for which our Reported financial 
information is adjusted and a further 
breakdown by specific line item as such 
items are reflected in our Reported income 
statement. This illustrates the significant 
items that are excluded from Core financial 
measures and their impact on our Reported 
financial information, both as a whole and  
in respect of specific line items.

Management presents these results 
externally to meet investors’ requirements 

64

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
for transparency and clarity. Core financial 
measures are also used internally in the 
management of our business performance, 
in our budgeting process and when 
determining compensation.

Core financial measures are non-GAAP 
measures. All items for which Core financial 
measures are adjusted are included in  
our Reported financial information as they 
represent actual costs of our business in  
the periods presented. As a result, Core 
financial measures merely allow investors  

to differentiate between different kinds  
of costs and they should not be used  
in isolation. You should also refer to our 
Reported financial information in the 2016 
Reported operating profit table below and 
our reconciliation of Core financial measures  
to Reported financial information in the 
Reconciliation of Reported results to Core 
results table below for our discussion of 
comparative Actual growth measures that 
reflect all factors that affect our business. 

Our determination of non-GAAP measures, 
and our presentation of them within this 

financial information, may differ from  
similarly titled non-GAAP measures  
of other companies.

The SET retains strategic management  
of the costs excluded from Reported 
financial information in arriving at Core 
financial measures, tracking their impact  
on Reported operating profit and EPS, with 
operational management being delegated 
on a case-by-case basis to ensure clear 
accountability and consistency for each 
cost category.

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Results of operations – summary analysis of year ended 31 December 2016 
2016 Reported operating profit

2016

2015 Percentage of Total Revenue

2016 compared with 2015

Growth
due to
exchange
effects
$m

(332)

(18)

(350)

188

(162)

17

257

326

(23)

415

CER
growth
$m

(1,990)

634

(1,356)

332

(1,024)

(4)

(150)

1,373

178

373

Product Sales

Externalisation Revenue

Total Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Distribution costs

Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Operating profit

Net finance expense

Share of after tax losses of joint ventures and associates

Profit before tax

Taxation

Profit for the period

Basic earnings per share ($)

Reported
$m

21,319

1,683

23,002

(4,126)

18,876

(326)

(5,890)

(9,413)

1,655

4,902

(1,317)

(33)

3,552

(146)

3,406

2.77

Reported
$m

Reported
2016
%

Reported
2015
%

Actual
growth
%

CER
growth1
%

(10)

58

(7)

(11)

(6)

(4)

(2)

(15)

10

19

(8)

59

(5)

(7)

(5)

1

2

(12)

12

9

(17.9)

82.1

(1.5)

(25.6)

(40.9)

7.2

21.3

(18.8)

81.2

(1.4)

(24.3)

(44.9)

6.1

16.7

23,641

1,067

24,708

(4,646)

20,062

(339)

(5,997)

(11,112)

1,500

4,114

(1,029)

(16)

3,069

(243)

2,826

2.23

1(cid:3) (cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:25)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:17)

2016 Reconciliation of Reported results to Core results

Gross profit

Product Sales gross margin %2

Total Revenue gross margin %

Distribution costs

Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Operating profit

Operating margin as a % of Total Revenue

Net finance expense

Taxation

Basic earnings per share ($)

2016
Reported
$m

Restructuring
costs
$m

Intangible 
amortisation
and
impairments
$m

BMS’s share 
of diabetes 
alliance 
$m 

Legal 
provisions 
and other
$m

18,876

80.8%

82.1%

(326)

(5,890)

(9,413)

1,655

4,902

21.3%

(1,317)

(146)

2.77

130

124

–

178

823

(24)

1,107

–

(232)

0.69

–

81

1,000

86

1,291

–

(307)

0.78

–

–

–

(627)

–

(627)

389

23

(0.17)

–

–

–

48

–

48

267

4

0.24

2016 
Core1
$m

19,130

82.0%

83.2%

(326)

(5,631)

(8,169)

1,717

6,721

29.2%

(661)

(658)

4.31

Actual
growth 
%

(7)

Core1 2016 

CER
growth
%

(6)

(4)

–

(12)

13

(3)

1

5

(9)

14

(7)

1  Each of the measures in the Core column in the above table are non-GAAP measures.
2(cid:3) (cid:42)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

65

 
Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

Total Revenue
Total Revenue for the year was down 7% to 
$23,002 million, comprising Product Sales 
of $21,319 million (down 10%) and 
Externalisation Revenue of $1,683 million  
(up 58%). At CER, Total Revenue declined 
by 5% in the year. 

Product Sales
The decline in Product Sales primarily 
reflected the entry in the US of multiple 
Crestor generic medicines. 

By Geography
US Product Sales were down 22% to 
$7,365 million, reflecting the competition 
from multiple generic Crestor medicines 
that entered the US market from July 2016 
as well as lower Product Sales of Nexium 
and Symbicort. In Europe, strong growth in 
Product Sales of Forxiga and Brilique were 
more than offset by a decline in Symbicort, 
leading to a decrease of 5% (CER: decrease 
of 3%) in the region in total to $5,064 million. 

Established Markets were up 2% (CER: 
down 4%) at $3,096 million including an 
increase of 8% in Japan (CER: decrease 
of 3%) to $2,184 million, with Crestor 
Product Sales in Japan stable at $521 
million. Product Sales in Emerging Markets 
were flat (CER: up 6%) at $5,794 million in 
2016 despite growth in China of 4% (CER: 
growth of 10%) to $2,636 million, as we 
encountered challenging macro-economic 
conditions in Latin America, where full-year 
Product Sales declined by 20% (CER: 
declined by 7%) to $516 million. 

By Product
Our largest selling products in 2016 were 
Crestor ($3,401 million), Symbicort ($2,989 
million), Nexium ($2,032 million) and Pulmicort 
($1,061 million). Global Product Sales of 
Crestor declined in the year by 32% (CER: 
declined by 32%), which primarily reflected 
the market entry of multiple Crestor generic 
medicines. Symbicort global Product Sales 
declined by 12% (CER: down 10%) including 

a reduction of 18% in the US due to the 
impact of a competitive environment on net 
pricing. Nexium Product Sales were down 
19% (CER: down 18%), including a 39% 
decrease in the US, reflecting lower demand 
and inventory de-stocking as a result of the 
loss of exclusivity in 2015. Strong underlying 
volume growth in Emerging Markets drove a 
5% Global Product Sales increase (CER: 8% 
increase) in Pulmicort, with 66% of Product 
Sales of the medicine coming from that 
region in the year.

Growth Platforms
In the periods under review, our Growth 
Platforms included products in our three 
main therapy areas, and a focus on 
the Emerging Markets and Japan. Our 
Growth Platforms grew by 4% (CER: 5%), 
representing 63% of Total Revenue after 
removing the effect of certain Product  
Sales which are included in more than  
one Growth Platform. 

Growth Platforms

Respiratory

Brilinta

Diabetes

Emerging Markets

Japan

New Oncology1

Total Growth Platform Product Sales2

2016
Product Sales
$m

2015
Product Sales
$m

Actual 
growth 
%

CER 
growth 
%

4,753

839

2,427

5,794

2,184

664

4,987

619

2,224

5,822

2,020

119

14,491

14,003

(5)

36

9

–

8

n/m

4

2016
$m

520

298

175

115

100

–

–

–

–

356

1,564

119

1,683

(3)

39

11

6

(3)

n/m

5

2015
$m

–

–

–

–

50

450

200

100

123

57

980

87

1,067

1  New Oncology comprises Lynparza, Iressa (US) and Tagrisso.
2  Certain Product Sales are included in more than one Growth Platform. Total Growth Platform sales represents the net total sales for all Growth Platforms.

Externalisation Revenue

Milestones

Global non-US anaesthetics portfolio (Aspen) – upfront

Plendil (China Medical System Holdings) – upfront

Toprol-XL (Aralez) – upfront

tralokinumab (LEO Pharma) – upfront

AZD3293 (Lilly) – milestone

durvalumab (Celgene) – upfront

Movantik (Daiichi Sankyo) – upfront

brodalumab (Valeant) – upfront

Nexium (Daiichi Sankyo) – milestone

Others

Total upfront/milestones

Royalties

Total Externalisation Revenue

66

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Product Sales of our Respiratory  
medicines declined by 5% (CER: declined 
by 3%) reflecting pricing pressure in the  
US for Symbicort.

Sales of Brilinta in the year were $839 
million, an increase of 36% (CER: increase of 
39%). Brilinta sales in the US were up 45% 
to $348 million, as it remained the branded 
oral anti-platelet market leader in the US. 

Our Diabetes Product Sales were 9%  
higher than in 2015 (CER: 11% higher), 
driven primarily by growth of 70% (CER: 
growth of 72%) on Farxiga with global sales 
of $835 million as it became our largest-
selling Diabetes medicine. 

Product Sales in Emerging Markets were  
flat compared to 2015 (CER: increase of 
6%). Product Sales in China increased 
by 4% in 2016 (CER: increased by 10%) 
representing 45% of Emerging Markets 
Product Sales in the year.

Japan Product Sales increased by 8% 
(CER: declined by 3%).

Product Sales of New Oncology medicines 
were up to $664 million in 2016 (2015: $119 
million), $423 million of which came from 
Tagrisso (2015: $19 million) which became 
our leading medicine for the treatment  
of lung cancer in the year. 

Externalisation Revenue
Externalisation Revenue, alongside 
Product Sales, is included in Total 
Revenue. Externalisation Revenue includes 
development, commercialisation and 
collaboration revenue, such as royalties and 
milestone receipts. Income is recorded as 
Externalisation Revenue when we have a 
significant ongoing interest in the product 
and/or it is repeatable business and there 
is no derecognition of an intangible asset. 
Disposals of assets and businesses, where 
we do not retain an interest, are recorded in 
other operating income. 

Details of our significant business 
development transactions which give rise  
to Externalisation Revenue are given below: 

 > In October 2016, we announced an 
agreement with Aralez for the rights  
to the branded and authorised generic 
(marketed by Par Pharmaceuticals) for 
Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate) in the 
US. Aralez paid us $175 million upon 
completion of the transaction. Aralez will 
also pay us up to $48 million in milestone 
and sales-related payments, as well as 
mid-teen percentage royalties on sales. 
We will continue to manufacture and 
supply Toprol-XL and the authorised 
generic medicine to Aralez. We will retain 
a significant ongoing interest in Toprol-XL 
in the rest of the world, and significant 
interest in the US through the ongoing 
manufacture and supply of the product. 
 > In June 2016, we entered into a licence 
agreement with LEO Pharma for the 
global development and commercialisation 
of tralokinumab in dermatology 
indications. We will continue to develop 
tralokinumab in asthma, and will 
manufacture and supply tralokinumab  
to LEO Pharma at a mark-up of 10%  
on cost. LEO Pharma have been granted 
an exclusive licence to the global 
dermatology rights to tralokinumab,  
which has completed Phase IIb for  
atopic dermatitis. LEO Pharma paid an 
upfront payment to us of $115 million  
for the exclusive licence. LEO Pharma  
will also pay us up to $1 billion in 
commercially-related milestones  
and up to mid-teen tiered percentage 
royalties on Product Sales.

 > In June 2016, we announced that we  
had entered into a commercialisation 
agreement with Aspen for rights to its 
global anaesthetics portfolio outside  
the US. The agreement covers seven 
established medicines – Diprivan, EMLA 
and five local anaesthetics (Xylocaine, 
Marcaine, Naropin, Carbocaine and 
Citanest). Under the terms of the 
agreement, Aspen acquired the 
commercialisation rights for an upfront 
consideration of $520 million ($410 million 
paid on completion and $110 million  
to be paid in 2017). Additionally, Aspen  
will pay us up to $250 million on a Product 
Sales-related payment, as well as double 
digit percentage trade mark royalties on 

Product Sales. For an initial period of 10 
years, we will manufacture and supply  
the products to Aspen at cost plus 20%. 
Aspen have assumed responsibility for all 
activities relating to the sale of the portfolio 
in all relevant markets.

 > In February 2016, we entered into a 

S

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licensing agreement with China Medical 
System Holdings Ltd (CMS) for the 
commercialisation rights in China to  
our calcium channel blocker, Plendil 
(felodipine). Plendil achieved Product 
Sales in China of $189 million in 2015. 
Under the terms of the agreement, CMS 
paid us $155 million in 2016 for the licence 
to sell Plendil in China, and committed to 
pay us a further $155 million in 2017 
(recognised as Externalisation Revenue  
in 2016 after applying a discount factor  
of 8%). We will manufacture and supply 
the medicine to CMS and retain the  
global rights to Plendil outside China. The 
transaction did not include the transfer of 
any of our employees or facilities. Over the 
term of the licence, we will supply finished 
product to CMS for a supply value 
equivalent to approximately 40% of the 
net sales value booked by CMS for Plendil 
in each given year and will sit on the  
Joint Steering Committee governing the 
commercialisation of the product in China. 

 > In September 2015, we announced  

that we had entered into a collaboration 
agreement with Valeant under which  
we will grant an exclusive licence for 
Valeant to develop and commercialise 
brodalumab. Under the agreement, 
Valeant will hold the exclusive rights to 
develop and commercialise brodalumab 
globally, except in Japan and certain  
other Asian countries where rights are 
held by Kyowa Hakko Kirin under a prior 
arrangement with Amgen. Valeant  
will assume all development costs 
associated with the regulatory approval 
for brodalumab. Under the terms of  
the agreement, Valeant made an upfront 
payment to us of $100 million and  
may also pay pre-launch milestones  
of up to $170 million and further sales 
related milestone payments of up to  
$175 million. If approved, we will share 
profits with Valeant.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

67

 
Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

 > In April 2015, we signed a Collaboration 
and License Agreement with Celgene,  
a global leader in haematological  
cancers, to develop and commercialise 
durvalumab across a range of blood 
cancers including non-Hodgkin 
lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes 
and multiple myeloma. Under the terms of 
the agreement, Celgene made an upfront 
payment of $450 million to us in relation to 
durvalumab, which is recorded within 
Externalisation Revenue. Celgene will lead 
on development across all clinical trials 
within the collaboration and took on all 
R&D costs until the end of 2015, after 
which they now take on 75% of these 
costs. Celgene will also be responsible  
for global commercialisation of approved 
treatments. We will manufacture and 
record all sales of durvalumab and will 
pay a royalty to Celgene on worldwide 
sales in haematological indications. The 
royalty rate will start at 70% and will 
decrease to approximately half of the 
sales of durvalumab in haematological 
indications over a period of four years.

 > In March 2015, we announced a 

co-commercialisation agreement with 
Daiichi Sankyo, for Movantik in the US. 
The drug was launched on 31 March 
2015. Under the terms of the agreement, 
Daiichi Sankyo paid a $200 million upfront 
fee and will pay subsequent sales-related 
payments of up to $625 million. $200 
million was recorded in Externalisation 
Revenue in 2015. We will be responsible 
for manufacturing, will record all sales  
and will make sales-related commission 
payments to Daiichi Sankyo. Both 
companies will be jointly responsible  
for commercial activities.

 > In September 2014, we entered into an 
agreement with Lilly to jointly develop  
and commercialise AZD3293, an oral 
beta secretase cleaving enzyme (BACE) 
inhibitor currently in development as  
a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s 
disease. Under the terms of the 
agreement, Lilly will pay us up to $500 
million in development and regulatory 
milestone payments. We received the  
first milestone payment of $50 million in 
2015, and a further $100 million in 2016. 
The companies will equally share all  
future costs for the development and 
commercialisation of AZD3293, as well  
as net global revenues post-launch. Lilly 
lead the clinical development, working 
with researchers from our Innovative 
Medicines Unit for neuroscience, while  

we will be responsible for manufacturing. 
The companies are jointly responsible for 
the commercialisation of AZD3293.

As detailed in Risk from page 214, the 
development of any pharmaceutical product 
candidate is a complex and risky process 
that may fail at any stage in the development 
process due to a number of factors 
(including items such as failure to obtain 
regulatory approval, unfavourable data from 
key studies, adverse reaction to the product 
candidate or indications of other safety 
concerns). The potential future milestones 
quoted above are subject to these risks. 

Gross margin, operating margin  
and earnings per share
Reported gross margin as a percentage of 
Product Sales was 80.8% in the year, 0.5 
percentage points higher than last year. 
Excluding the impact of Externalisation 
Revenue, the Reported gross margin was 
broadly flat compared to 2015 at CER, 
with lower restructuring and amortisation 
charges offset by an adverse impact from 
the mix of sales, the market entry of multiple 
Crestor generic medicines in the US and a 
write-down of FluMist inventory in the US.

Reported R&D expense in the year was 
down 2% (CER: up 2%) to $5,890 million,  
as we continued our focused investment  
in the pipeline. Adjusting for exchange  
rate movements, the full-year increase 
at CER reflected the number of potential 
medicines in pivotal trials as well as the 
inclusion of the R&D costs of ZS Pharma 
and Acerta Pharma. These costs were 
partially offset by lower restructuring  
costs and impairment charges. 

Reported SG&A costs declined by 15% 
(CER: declined by 12%) to $9,413 million 
reflecting the fair value adjustment to 
acquisition-related liabilities based on 
revised milestone probabilities and  
revenue and royalty forecasts relating 
to the acquisition of BMS’s share of 
the Global Diabetes Alliance and the 
acquisition of Almirall. The decline was 
also driven by the movement to a more 
even split between the sale of primary and 
specialty care medicines and efficiency 
savings in sales and marketing operations 
and further reductions in IT costs. These 
actions included a material reduction in the 
sales and head-office structure in the US 
marketing business.

68

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Reported other operating income in  
the year was up 10% (CER: up 12%) at  
$1,655 million which, in addition to royalty 
income of $165 million for Crestor and  
$134 million for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 
vaccine, includes $368 million on the sale 
of our small-molecule antibiotics business 
to Pfizer, $321 million on the sale of our 
non-US rights to Rhinocort Aqua to Cilag, 
$183 million on the sale of our non-US rights 
to Imdur and $148 million (after deduction 
of $83 million payable to Amgen) on the 
disposal of global rights to MEDI2070 to 
Allergan. As these elements of our income 
arose from product divestments, where 
we no longer retain a significant element of 
continued interest, in accordance with our 
Externalisation Revenue definition and the 
requirements of IFRS, proceeds from these 
divestments continue to be recorded as 
other operating income.

In 2015, Reported other operating income 
included $380 million for the divestment  
of rights to the Entocort business in the  
US to Elan Pharma International Limited,  
part of the Perrigo Group, $215 million  
for the divestment of the rights to sell and 
develop Entocort capsules and enema 
formulations outside the US to Tillotts 
Pharma AG, $193 million gain on the 
divestment of the global rights to develop, 
manufacture and commercialise Myalept 
subject to an existing distributor licence with 
Shionogi covering Japan, South Korea, and 
Taiwan with Aegerion and $165 million for the 
divestment of Caprelsa in an agreement with 
Genzyme Corporation, part of Sanofi S.A.

Reported operating profit increased  
by 19% (CER: increased by 9%) to  
$4,902 million in the year. The Reported 
operating margin increased by 4.6 
percentage points (CER: 2.6 percentage 
points) to 21.3% of Total Revenue. The 
increase reflected the reduction in SG&A 
costs which more than offset the decline  
in Product Sales and Externalisation 
Revenue, while we continued to invest in  
our pipeline and Growth Platforms. 

Core operating profit declined by 3%  
(CER: declined by 7%) in the year to  
$6,721 million. Fair value adjustments  
to acquisition-related liabilities reduced 
SG&A costs and increased Reported 
operating profit by $1,158 million in the 
current year (2015: $432 million). These fair 
value movements reflected estimates for 
future liabilities that can change materially 
over time. 

Reported net finance expense was  
$1,317 million (2015: $1,029 million). The 
increase of $288 million was largely due  
to an increase in Net Debt that was driven 
by the acquisition of ZS Pharma and the 
majority investment in Acerta Pharma. 
Excluding the discount unwind on 
acquisition-related liabilities and other 
adjustments, Core Net Finance Expense 
increased by 31% (CER: increased by  
46%) in the year to $661 million.

Profit before tax amounted to $3,552 million 
in 2016 (2015: $3,069 million). Pre-tax 
adjustments to arrive at Core profit before 
tax amounted to $2,475 million in 2016 
(2015: $3,312 million), comprising $1,819 
million adjustments to operating profits 
(2015: $2,788 million) and $656 million to 
net finance expenses (2015: $524 million). 
Excluded from Core results were: 

 > Restructuring costs totalling $1,107 million 

(2015: $1,034 million), incurred as we 
continued to enhance productivity 
through the implementation of our 
restructuring initiatives. To continue the 
focus on cost discipline, in 2016 we 
announced plans to advance our strategy 
through sharper focus by streamlining 
operations, primarily in Commercial and 
Manufacturing, to redeploy investment to 
key therapy areas, particularly Oncology. 
We incurred restructuring costs totalling 
$555 million relating to this programme in 
2016. We also disposed of our R&D 
facility in Bangalore, India in the period 
and announced plans to bring together 
five of our San Francisco Bay Area, US 
sites into one location.

 > Amortisation totalling $1,247 million  

value decrease of $999 million reflecting 
lower expected Diabetes portfolio 
revenues in line with latest forecasts  
was partially offset by $372 million of 
amortisation charges and $389 million  
of interest charges relating to a discount 
unwind on contingent consideration 
arising on the acquisition. 

 > Net legal provisions and other charges of 
$315 million (2015: $211 million), including 
$267 million discount unwind charges, 
offset by $199 million of net fair value 
adjustments relating to contingent 
consideration arising on our other 
business combinations as detailed in 
Note 18 to the Financial Statements from 
page 164. The net charge of $315 million 
also included legal charges relating to the 
unsuccessful defence of the validity of 
Crestor-related patents in Australia, 
damages claims in Europe relating to 
Seroquel XR and other matters. Further 
details of legal proceedings we are 
currently involved in are contained within 
Note 28 to the Financial Statements from 
page 185.

Reported EPS of $2.77 in the year 
represented growth of 24% (CER: growth 
of 9%), partly reflecting the revaluation 
of acquisition-related liabilities described 
above. Core EPS in the year increased  
by 1% (CER: declined by 5%) to $4.31.  
The CER decline of 5% mirrored the  
rate of decline in Total Revenue. Both 
Reported and Core EPS in the year  
included a non-recurring benefit of  
$0.36, following agreements between  
the Canadian tax authority and the UK  
and Swedish tax authorities. 

(2015: $1,460 million) relating to intangible 
assets, except those related to IT and  
to our acquisition of BMS’s share of  
our Global Diabetes Alliance (which  
are separately detailed below). Further 
information on our intangible assets is 
contained in Note 9 to the Financial 
Statements from page 157.

The Reported taxation charge for the year 
of $146 million (2015: $243 million) consisted 
of a current tax charge of $370 million 
(2015: $633 million) and a credit arising from 
movements on deferred tax of $224 million 
(2015: $390 million). The current tax charge 
included a prior period current tax credit of 
$14 million (2015: $404 million). 

 > Intangible impairment charges of $44 

million (2015: $143 million) excluding those 
related to IT. Further details relating to 
intangible asset impairments are included 
in Note 9 to the Financial Statements from 
page 157.

 > Net credit associated with our acquisition 
of BMS’s share of our Global Diabetes 
Alliance in February 2015 amounting  
to $238 million (2015: net cost of $463 
million). A contingent consideration fair 

The Reported tax rate for the year was 4% 
(2015: 8%). The Reported tax rate of 4% 
benefited from a $453 million adjustment 
following agreements between the 
Canadian tax authority and the UK and 
Swedish tax authorities. Excluding these 
effects, the Reported tax rate for the year 
was 17%. The Core tax rate for the year 
was 11%. Excluding the benefit following 
agreements between the Canadian tax 

authority and the UK and Swedish tax 
authorities in respect of transfer pricing 
arrangements for the 13-year period from 
2004-2016, the Core tax rate was 18%. 

S

t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

The tax paid for the year was $412 million 
(12% of Reported profit and 7% of Core 
profit). The cash tax paid for the year was 
$266 million higher than the tax charge 
for the year as a result of certain items 
with no cash impact including a $453 
million adjustment following the agreement 
between the Canadian tax authority and the 
UK and Swedish tax authorities referred to 
above, other net reductions in provisions for 
tax contingencies of $52 million, $244 million 
of deferred tax credits, net cash refunds 
received following agreement of prior period 
tax liabilities and audit settlements of $274 
million and other cash tax timing differences.

Reported post-tax profit for the year was 
$3,406 million, an increase of 21% (CER: 
increase of 6%). Reported earnings per 
share was up 24% (CER: up 9%) to $2.77.

Total comprehensive income decreased by 
$860 million from the prior year, resulting 
in a net income of $1,628 million for 2016. 
This was driven by the increase in profit 
for the year of $580 million being more 
than offset by a reduction of $1,440 million 
in other comprehensive income. The 
decrease in other comprehensive income 
arose principally from losses recorded on 
the remeasurement of our defined benefit 
pension liability of $575 million (2015:  
gains of $652 million) due to a decrease  
in the discount rate applied to our pension 
liabilities reflecting an increase in corporate 
bond yields and other reference interest 
rate instruments, and foreign exchange 
losses arising on consolidation of the Group 
numbers of $1,050 million (2015: losses 
of $528 million) as a result of the strong 
performance of the US dollar against  
other major currencies in 2016.

Restructuring 
Since 2007, we have undertaken 
significant efforts to restructure and 
reshape our business to improve long-term 
competitiveness, the first two phases of 
which were completed in 2011. 

In 2013, we announced our Phase 4 
restructuring programme, which was 
subsequently expanded in 2014. This 
consisted of centralisation of our global R&D 
footprint into three strategic centres, 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

69

 
Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

transformation of the IT organisation,  
closure of a number of manufacturing 
facilities and other activities to simplify  
and streamline the organisation. At the  
time of the announcement, the Phase 4 
programme was estimated to incur $3.2 
billion of costs and deliver $1.1 billion of 
annualised benefits by 2016. By the end of 
2016, the Phase 4 programme had incurred 
costs of $3.3 billion and realised annual 
benefits of $0.9 billion, creating headroom 
for investment in our pipeline and launch 
capability. The Phase 4 programme is now 
expected to complete in 2018 with total 
programme costs estimated to be  
$3.6 billion and annualised benefits  
$1.2 billion. During the latter part of 2015,  
we implemented further targeted 
restructuring of our Commercial business. 

This resulted in $102 million of restructuring 
costs in 2015, with a further $47 million 
incurred in 2016. Furthermore, as part  
of our ongoing commitment to improve 
productivity, we initiated multi-year 
transformation programmes within our  
G&A functions (principally Finance and  
HR) with anticipated costs by the end of 
2018 of $258 million. Once complete, we 
expect these transformation programmes  
to deliver annualised benefits of $100 million 
by the end of 2018. By the end of 2016,  
these programmes had incurred costs  
of $124 million. 

In 2016, we announced plans to advance 
our strategy through sharper focus by 
streamlining operations, primarily in 
Commercial and Manufacturing, to  
redeploy investment to key therapy areas, 

particularly Oncology. Restructuring costs 
associated with this programme are 
expected to be $1.5 billion by the end of 
2017 and generate net annualised benefits 
of $1.1 billion by 2018. We incurred 
restructuring costs totalling $555 million 
relating to this programme in 2016. 

The aggregate restructuring charge incurred 
in 2016 across all our restructuring 
programmes was $1,107 million. Final 
estimates for programme costs, benefits 
and headcount impact in all functions are 
subject to completion of the requisite 
consultation in the various areas. Our priority 
as we undertake these restructuring initiatives 
is to work with our affected employees on 
the proposed changes, acting in accordance 
with relevant local consultation requirements 
and employment law.

(cid:38)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:347)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)
Summary cash flows

Net (debt)/funds brought forward at 1 January 

Profit before tax

Sum of changes in interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, impairment, and share of after tax losses  
on joint ventures and associates

Movement in working capital and short-term provisions

Tax paid

Interest paid 

Gains on disposal of intangible assets

Fair value movements on contingent consideration arising from business combinations

Non-cash and other movements

Net cash available from operating activities 

Disposal/(purchase) of intangibles (net)

Upfront payments on business acquisition

Payment of contingent consideration from business combinations

Other capital expenditure (net)

Investments 

Dividends

Share proceeds

Distributions 

Other movements

Net debt carried forward at 31 December 

Net debt/funds reconciliation

Cash and cash equivalents

Other investments1

Net derivative financial instruments

Cash, short-term investments and derivatives

Overdraft and short-term borrowings

Finance leases

Current instalments of loans

Loans due after one year

Loans and borrowings

Net debt

1  Other investments in 2016 includes $14 million of non-current investments which is not separately disclosed on the Statement of Financial Position.

70

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

2016
$m

(7,762)

3,552

3,707

926

(412)

(677)

(1,301)

(1,158)

(492)

4,145

559

(2,564)

(293)

(1,405)

(3,703)

(3,561)

47

(3,514)

177

(10,657)

2016
$m

5,018

898

235

6,151

(451)

(93)

(1,769)

(14,495)

(16,808)

(10,657)

2015
$m

(3,223)

3,069

3,897

(49)

(1,354)

(496)

(961)

(432)

(350)

3,324

(330)

(2,446)

(579)

(1,326)

(4,681)

(3,486)

43

(3,443)

261

(7,762)

2015
$m

6,240

613

438

7,291

(849)

(95)

–

(14,109)

(15,053)

(7,762)

2014
$m

39

1,246

4,173

2,508

(1,201)

(533)

–

512

353

7,058

(1,740)

(3,804)

(657)

(924)

(7,125)

(3,521)

279

(3,242)

47

(3,223)

2014
$m

6,360

795

465

7,620

(1,486)

(108)

(912)

(8,337)

(10,843)

(3,223)

Bonds issued in 2016 and 2015

Bonds issued in 2016:
0.25% Euro bond

0.75% Euro bond

1.25% Euro bond

Total 2016

Bonds issued in 2015:
Floating rate notes

1.750% Callable bond

2.375% Callable bond

3.375% Callable bond

4.375% Callable bond

Total 2015

S

t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
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t

Repayment 
dates

Face value
of bond 
$m 

Net book 
value of 
bond at 
31 December 
2016 
 $m 

2021

2024

2028

2018

2018

2020

2025

2045

566

1,016

897

2,479

400

1,000

1,600

2,000

1,000

6,000

522

937

827

2,286

399

998

1,589

1,976

979

5,941

Net cash generated from operating activities 
was $4,145 million in the year ended 31 
December 2016, compared with $3,324 
million in 2015. The increase of $821 million 
reflected improved cash management 
performance and one-off tax refunds in 
2016 compared to an increase of $49 million 
in working capital and short-term provisions 
in the prior year. 

Gains on disposal of intangible assets of 
$1,301 million included $368 million on  
the disposal of our late-stage antibiotics 
business, $321 million on the sale of our 
rights to Rhinocort Aqua outside of the US, 
$231 million on the out-licence agreement 
for MEDI-2070, and $183 million for the 
divestment of the global rights to Imdur 
outside the US. 2015 included $380 million 
on the disposal of US rights to Entocort, 
$215 million on the disposal of Rest of  
World rights to Entocort, $193 million on  
the disposal of global rights to Myalept and 
$165 million on the disposal of global rights 
to Caprelsa. Fair value adjustments on 
acquisition-related liabilities were a credit  
of $1,158 million in 2016 (2015: a credit of 
$432 million) including $999 million on our 
acquisition of BMS’s share of our Global 
Diabetes Alliance in February 2015. Other 
non-cash movements amounted to $492 
million in 2016 (2015: $350 million).

Investment cash outflows of $3,703 million 
(2015: $4,681 million) included $2,383 million 
relating to the majority investment in Acerta 
Pharma. This compared to cash payments 
relating to business acquisitions in 2015  

of $2,446 million, primarily related to the  
ZS Pharma acquisition. Further details of 
business combination acquisitions and  
their impact on our cash flows and balance 
sheet are given in the table on page 73. 
Investment cash outflows also include $293 
million (2015: $579 million) of payments 
against contingent consideration arising on 
business combinations and $868 million 
(2015: $1,460 million) for the purchase of 
other intangible assets, which included  
$561 million on the purchase of the  
core respiratory assets of Takeda. The 
comparative period of 2015 included $684 
million on the acquisition of the rights to 
Actavis’ branded respiratory portfolio in the 
US and Canada. 

Investment cash inflows include $1,427 
million (2015: $1,130 million) from the sale of 
intangible assets, including $552 million for 
the disposal of our late-stage antibiotics 
business, $330 million for the sale of our 
rights to Rhinocort Aqua outside of the US 
and $250 million on the out-licence 
agreement for MEDI-2070. The comparative 
period in 2015 included the divestments of 
Entocort in the US for $380 million, and in 
the Rest of World for $215 million and of 
Myalept for $325 million. 

Net cash distributions to shareholders  
were $3,514 million (2015: $3,443 million) 
including dividends of $3,561 million (2015: 
$3,486 million). Proceeds from the issue of 
shares on the exercise of share options 
amounted to $47 million (2015: $43 million). 

In May 2016, we issued €2.2 billion of  
bonds in the euro debt capital markets  
with maturities of 5, 8 and 12 years.

In November 2015, we issued bonds  
worth $6 billion to fund the acquisition of ZS 
Pharma, to repay certain of our outstanding 
commercial paper obligations and for 
general corporate purposes. The bonds  
are listed in the table above.

In 2015, we repaid a 5.125% non-callable 
euro bond which had a 31 December 2015 
carrying value of $912 million.

At 31 December 2016, outstanding  
gross debt (interest-bearing loans and 
borrowings) was $16,808 million (2015: 
$15,053 million). Of the gross debt 
outstanding at 31 December 2016, $2,307 
million is due within one year (2015: $916 
million). Net debt at 31 December 2016 was 
$10,657 million, compared to $7,762 million 
at the beginning of the year, as a result of 
the net cash outflow as described above.

Off-balance sheet transactions and 
commitments 
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements 
and our derivative activities are non-
speculative. The following table on page 
72 sets out our minimum contractual 
obligations at the year end.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

71

 
Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

Payments due by period

Bank loans and other borrowings1

Finance leases

Operating leases

Contracted capital expenditure

Total 

Less than 
1 year 
$m 

1-3 years 
$m 

3-5 years 
$m

2,829

3,421

3,843

42

98

629

3,598

40

145

–

13

102

–

Over
5 years 
$m

14,796

–

96

–

2016
Total
$m

2015
Total 
$m 

24,889

23,263

95

441

629

141

409

518

3,606

3,958

14,892

26,054

24,331

1  Bank loans and other borrowings include interest charges payable in the period, as detailed in Note 26 to the Financial Statements on page 178.

In 2016, net assets decreased by $1,840 
million to $16,669 million. The decrease in 
net assets is broadly as a result of dividends 
of $3,540 million and adverse movements 
on exchange taken to reserves of $1,641 
million, partially offset by the Group profit  
of $3,406 million.

Business combinations 
In 2016, we acquired a majority equity stake 
in Acerta Pharma. In 2015, we completed 
the acquisition of ZS Pharma. During 2016 
we revised our assessment of the fair values 
of the assets and liabilities acquired with  
ZS Pharma, as a result of new information 
obtained about facts and circumstances 
that existed at the date of acquisition that 
impact the value of deferred tax. This has 
resulted in a reduction to both deferred tax 
liabilities and goodwill of $68 million. Further 
details of our business combinations are 
contained in Note 25 to the Financial 
Statements from page 173.

Fair values of assets and liabilities acquired, 
and consideration for the acquisitions in 
2016 and 2015, as at the acquisition date, 
are summarised on the opposite page. 

Contingent consideration
The majority of our acquisitions in  
recent years have included elements of 
consideration that are contingent on future 
development and/or sales milestones,  
with both the diabetes and respiratory 
acquisitions in 2014 also including royalty 
payments linked to future revenues. The 
acquisitions of ZS Pharma in 2015 and 
Acerta Pharma in 2016 had no contingent 
consideration element.

Our agreement with BMS provides for 
potential further payments of up to $0.7 
billion for future regulatory, launch and 
sales-related milestones, and various 
sales-related royalty payments up until 2025. 
Our transaction with Almirall includes further 
payments of up to $1.0 billion for future 
development, launch, and sales-related 
milestones and various other sales-related 

payments as detailed in Note 18 to the 
Financial Statements on page 164. All these 
future payments are treated as contingent 
consideration on our balance sheet, and  
are fair valued using decision-tree analyses, 
with key assumptions, including the 
probability of success, the potential for 
delays and the expected levels of future 
revenues. The fair value is updated at each 
balance sheet reporting date to reflect our 
latest estimate of the probabilities of these 
key assumptions. Given the long-term 
nature of our contingent consideration 
payments, the fair value calculation includes 
the discounting of future potential payments 
to their present value using discount rates 
appropriate to the period over which 
payments are likely to be made. Over time, 
as the target date of a consideration 
payment approaches, the discount in 
absolute terms of such future potential 
payment to its present value decreases. 
Therefore, in each period we take a 
corresponding charge reflecting the 
passage of time. We refer to this charge  
as ‘discount unwind’.

Financial position – 31 December 2016 
All data in this section is on a Reported basis.

Summary statement of financial position

Property, plant and equipment

Goodwill and intangible assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other payables

Provisions

Net income tax payable

Net deferred tax liabilities

Retirement benefit obligations

Non-current other investments (excluding Treasury investments of $14 million in 2016)

Investment in associates and joint ventures

Net debt

Net assets

1(cid:3) (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:17)

72

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

2016
$m

Movement
$m

2015
As restated1
$m

6,848

39,244

2,334

5,474

(19,974)

(1,418)

(954)

(2,854)

(2,186)

713

99

(10,657)

16,669

435

4,798

191

(2,055)

(854)

(176)

142

(1,483)

(212)

255

14

(2,895)

(1,840)

6,413

34,446

2,143

7,529

(19,120)

(1,242)

(1,096)

(1,371)

(1,974)

458

85

(7,762)

18,509

Movement
$m

403

1,915

183

(815)

757

(135)

929

(794)

977

(44)

26

(4,539)

(1,137)

2014
$m

6,010

32,531

1,960

8,344

(19,877)

(1,107)

(2,025)

(577)

(2,951)

502

59

(3,223)

19,646

Business combinations 

Assets acquired:
Non-current assets  
Property, plant and equipment

Goodwill

Intangible assets

Current assets

Current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities

Non-controlling interests

Total assets 

Consideration:
Upfront consideration

Deferred consideration

Total consideration

Contingent consideration arising on business combinations 

At 1 January

Settlements

Fair value adjustments

Discount unwind

Foreign exchange

At 31 December

S

t
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a
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i
c
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o
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t

2016
Acerta 
Pharma
$m

2015
ZS Pharma
As Restated
$m

–

19

7,307

253

(90)

(1,777)

(1,903)

3,809

2,477

1,332

3,809

Acquisition of 
BMS’s share 
of Diabetes 
Alliance
$m

Other
 business 
combinations
$m

5,092

1,319

(242)

(999)

389

–

(51)

(159)

108

–

2016

Total
2016
$m

6,411

(293)

(1,158)

497

–

Acquisition of 
BMS’s share of 
Diabetes 
Alliance
$m

Other
 business 
combinations
$m

5,386

(325)

(378)

409

–

1,513

(254)

(54)

115

(1)

21

388

3,162

169

(50)

(990)

–

2,700

2,700

–

2,700

2015

Total
2015
$m

6,899

(579)

(432)

524

(1)

4,240

1,217

5,457

5,092

1,319

6,411

Both the discount unwind and any 
movements of the fair value of the 
underlying future payments can result in 
significant income statement movements. 
As detailed in the Results of operations 
section above, these movements are treated 
as non-Core items in our income statement 
analysis. In 2016, we recorded an interest 
charge of $497 million on the discount 
unwind on contingent consideration arising 
on our business combinations, and a net fair 
value decrease on contingent consideration 
of $1,158 million (which resulted in a credit to 
our income statement for the same amount) 
driven, principally, by revised forecasts 
for revenues for our Diabetes franchise 
reflecting the competitive marketplace. 
At 31 December 2016, our contingent 
consideration balance held on the balance 
sheet amounted to $5,457 million (2015: 
$6,411 million) with the movements of the 
balance detailed in the table above. 

Further details of our business combinations 
in the past three years are contained in  
Note 25 to the Financial Statements from 
page 173. Further information on our 
business combinations can also be found 
in the Investments, divestments and capital 
expenditure section of the Financial Review 
from page 75.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment increased 
by $435 million to $6,848 million. Additions 
of $1,449 million (2015: $1,422 million) were 
offset by depreciation of $609 million (2015: 
$677 million), impairments of $2 million 
(2015: $28 million) and disposals of $74 
million (2015: $70 million). 

Goodwill and intangible assets
Our goodwill of $11,658 million (2015: 
$11,800 million) principally arose on the 
acquisition of MedImmune in 2007, the 

restructuring of our US joint venture 
with Merck in 1998 and the acquisition 
of BMS’s share of the Global Diabetes 
Alliance. Goodwill of $19 million arising 
on the acquisition of Acerta Pharma was 
capitalised in 2016.

Intangible assets amounted to $27,586 
million at 31 December 2016 (2015: $22,646 
million). Intangible asset additions were 
$8,205 million in 2016 (2015: $4,640 million), 
including product rights acquired in the 
acquisition of Acerta Pharma of $7,307 
million ($3,162 million on the acquisition of 
ZS Pharma in 2015). Amortisation in the year 
was $1,701 million (2015: $1,999 million). 
Impairment charges in the year amounted 
to $45 million (2015: $148 million), including 
$15 million for RDEA119. Disposals of 
intangible assets totalled $331 million  
in the year (2015: $169 million).

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

Further details of our additions to intangible 
assets, and impairments recorded, 
are included in Note 9 to the Financial 
Statements from page 157. 

Receivables, payables and provisions
Trade and other receivables decreased 
by $2,055 million with trade receivables 
reduced by $2,050 million to $2,583 million 
as a result of more factored invoices during 
the year and lower gross invoiced sales 
in the US. Non-current other receivables 
decreased by $6 million to $901 million, the 
majority of which is the Shionogi Crestor 
royalty prepayment as detailed in Note 13  
to the Financial Statements on page 161.

Trade and other payables increased by 
$854 million in 2016 to $19,974 million, 
including a $1,901 million put option, and 
$1,332 million deferred consideration on 
the majority investment in Acerta Pharma, 
partially offset by reductions in contingent 
consideration of $954 million, a decrease 
in trade payables of $479 million, and a 
decrease of $495 million on rebates and 
chargebacks driven by reduced Product 
Sales in the US. Further details on the 
put option are included in Note 25 to the 
Financial Statements from page 173. 

The increase in provisions of $176 million 
in 2016 included $988 million of additional 
charges recorded in the year, partially 
offset by $686 million of cash payments. 
Included within the $988 million of charges 
for the year were $578 million for our global 
restructuring initiatives and $223 million in 
respect of legal charges. Cash payments 
included $433 million for our global 
restructuring programmes. Further details 
of the charges made against provisions 
are contained in Notes 19 and 28 to the 
Financial Statements on page 165, and  
185 to 191, respectively.

Tax payable and receivable
Net income tax payable has decreased 
by $142 million to $954 million, principally 
due to a $453 million adjustment following 
agreements between the Canadian tax 
authority and the UK and Swedish tax 

authorities in respect of transfer pricing 
arrangements for the 13-year period from 
2004-2016, partially offset by net cash 
refunds received following agreement 
of prior period tax liabilities and audit 
settlements of $274 million. The tax 
receivable balance of $426 million (2015: 
$387 million) comprises tax owing to us 
from certain governments expected to be 
received on settlements of transfer pricing 
audits and disputes of $161 million (see  
Note 28 to the Financial Statements from 
page 185) and cash tax timing differences  
of $265 million. 

Net deferred tax liabilities increased by 
$1,483 million in the year mainly due to 
deferred tax liabilities arising from the 
acquisition of Acerta Pharma. Additional 
information on the movement in deferred 
tax balances is contained in Note 4 to the 
Financial Statements from page 150.

Retirement benefit obligations
Net retirement benefit obligations increased 
by $212 million in 2016 (2015: decrease 
of $977 million) to $2,186 million. Net 
remeasurement adjustments of $575 
million in the UK, Sweden and Germany 
arising from reductions in discount rate 
assumptions were partially offset by a  
$312 million impact of exchange rate 
movements in the year as the US dollar 
strengthened against pound sterling, 
euro and Swedish krona and employer 
contributions to the pension scheme of 
$192 million. Benefits paid amounted to 
$500 million (2015: $580 million).

Approximately 92% of our obligations 
are concentrated in the UK, the US 
and Sweden. In recent years, we have 
undertaken several initiatives to reduce our 
net pension obligation exposure. For the UK 
defined benefit pension scheme, which is 
our largest defined benefit scheme, these 
initiatives have included agreeing funding 
principles for cash contributions to be paid 
into the UK pension scheme to target a  
level of assets in excess of the current 
expected cost of providing benefits, and,  
in 2010, amendments to the scheme to 

freeze pensionable pay at 30 June 2010 
levels. During 2016, we realised a credit 
of $74 million on our Pensions Increase 
Exchange (‘PIE’) exercise which offered 
certain pensioner members the option of 
taking a higher amount of pension right 
away, in exchange for giving up any potential 
future inflation linked increases on all or part 
of their pension. 

From 2017, for our largest pension plans, 
we will move to a multiple discount rate 
approach. This will result in separate 
discount rates for defined benefit 
obligations, service cost and interest 
cost. This change had no effect on the 
2016 expense, and will not affect the 
future measurement of the defined benefit 
obligations, but will impact the service cost 
and interest cost in future years.

Further details of our pension schemes 
are included in Note 20 to the Financial 
Statements from page 165.

Commitments and contingencies
We have commitments and contingencies 
which are accounted for in accordance 
with the accounting policies described 
in the Financial Statements in the Group 
Accounting Policies section from page 142. 
We also have taxation contingencies. These 
are described in the Taxation section in the 
Critical accounting policies and estimates 
section on page 81 and in Note 28 to the 
Financial Statements from page 185.

Research and development  
collaboration payments
Details of future potential R&D collaboration 
payments are also included in Note 28 to 
the Financial Statements on page 185. 

As detailed in Note 28, payments to our 
collaboration partners may not become 
payable due to the inherent uncertainty in 
achieving the development and revenue 
milestones linked to the future payments.  
As part of our overall externalisation 
strategy, we may enter into further 
collaboration projects in the future that  
may include milestone payments and, 

74

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

S

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therefore, as certain milestone payments  
fail to crystallise due to, for example, 
development not proceeding, they may  
be replaced by potential payments under 
new collaborations.

Investments, divestments and  
capital expenditure 
We have completed over 270 major 
or strategically important business 
development transactions over the past 
three years, five of which were accounted 
for as business acquisitions under IFRS 3 
‘Business Combinations’, being the majority 
investment in Acerta Pharma in 2016, 
the acquisition of ZS Pharma in 2015, the 
acquisition of BMS’s share of our Global 
Diabetes Alliance, the rights to Almirall’s 
respiratory franchise and the acquisition  
of Definiens in 2015. 

In addition to the business development 
transactions detailed under Externalisation 
Revenue from page 67 of this Financial 
Review, the following significant collaborations 
remain in the development phase:

 > In April 2015, we entered into two 
oncology agreements with Innate 
Pharma, firstly, a licence which provides 
us with exclusive global rights to 
co-develop and commercialise IPH2201 
in combination with durvalumab, and 
secondly, an option to license exclusive 
global rights to co-develop and 
commercialise IPH2201 in monotherapy 
and other combinations in certain 
treatment areas. Under the terms of  
the combination licence, we assumed 
exclusive global rights to research, 
develop, and commercialise IPH2201 in 
combination with durvalumab. We jointly 
fund Phase II studies with Innate Pharma 
and we lead the execution of these studies. 
Under the terms of the agreements, we 
made an initial payment to Innate Pharma 
of $250 million, which included the 
consideration for exclusive global rights to 
co-develop and commercialise IPH2201 
in combination with durvalumab, as well 
as access to IPH2201 in monotherapy 
and other combinations in certain 
treatment areas. The agreement includes 

a Phase III initiation milestone of $100 
million, as well as additional regulatory 
and sales-related milestones. We record 
all sales and will pay Innate Pharma 
double digit royalties on net sales. The 
arrangement includes the right for Innate 
Pharma to co-promote in Europe for a 
50% profit share in the territory.

 > In July 2013, we entered into a strategic 
collaboration with FibroGen to develop 
and commercialise roxadustat (FG-4592), 
a first-in-class oral compound in 
late-stage development for the treatment 
of anaemia associated with chronic 
kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal 
disease (ESRD). This broad collaboration 
focuses on the US, China and all major 
markets excluding Japan, Europe, the 
CIS, the Middle East and South Africa, 
which are covered by an existing 
agreement between FibroGen and 
Astellas. Under the arrangement, we 
agreed to pay FibroGen upfront and 
subsequent non-contingent payments 
totalling $350 million, as well as potential 
development-related milestone payments 
of up to $465 million, and potential future 
sales-related milestone payments, in 
addition to tiered royalty payments on 
future sales of roxadustat in the low  
20% range. Additional development 
milestones will be payable for any 
subsequent indications which the 
companies choose to pursue. We will be 
responsible for the US commercialisation 
of roxadustat, with FibroGen undertaking 
specified promotional activities in the 
ESRD segment in this market. The 
companies will also co-commercialise 
roxadustat in China where FibroGen will 
be responsible for clinical trials, regulatory 
matters, manufacturing and medical 
affairs, and we will oversee promotional 
activities and commercial distribution. 
 > In March 2013, we signed an exclusive 
agreement with Moderna to discover, 
develop and commercialise pioneering 
medicines based on messenger RNA 
Therapeutics for the treatment of serious 
cardiovascular, metabolic and renal 
diseases, as well as cancer. Under the 
terms of the agreement, we made an 
upfront payment of $240 million. We will 

have exclusive access to select any target 
of our choice in cardiometabolic and renal 
diseases, as well as selected targets in 
oncology, over a period of up to five years 
for subsequent development of messenger 
RNA Therapeutics. In addition, Moderna 
is entitled to an additional $180 million  
for the achievement of three technical 
milestones. Through this agreement, we 
have the option to select up to 40 drug 
products for clinical development and 
Moderna will be entitled to development 
and commercial milestone payments as 
well as royalties on drug sales. We will 
lead the pre-clinical, clinical development 
and commercialisation of therapeutics 
resulting from the agreement and 
Moderna will be responsible for designing 
and manufacturing the messenger RNA 
Therapeutics against selected targets.  
We are currently progressing 19 projects 
across CVMD and Oncology. Utilising 
both companies’ expertise, significant 
progress has also been made to the 
technology platform, with the focus on 
formulation, safety, and drug metabolism 
and pharmacokinetics.

We determine the above business 
development transactions to be significant 
using a range of factors. We look at the 
specific circumstances of the individual 
externalisation arrangement and apply 
several quantitative and qualitative 
criteria. Because we consider business 
development transactions to be an 
extension of our R&D strategy, the expected 
total value of development payments 
under the transaction and its proportion 
of our annual R&D spend, both of which 
are proxies for overall R&D effort and cost, 
are important elements of the significance 
determination. Other quantitative criteria we 
apply include, without limitation, expected 
levels of future sales, the possible value of 
milestone payments and the resources used 
for commercialisation activities (for example, 
the number of staff). Qualitative factors we 
consider include, without limitation, new 
market developments, new territories, new 
areas of research and strategic implications.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

Capitalisation and shareholder return 
Dividends for 2016

First interim dividend

Second interim dividend

Total 

Capitalisation
The total number of shares in issue at  
31 December 2016 was 1,265 million  
(2015: 1,264 million). 1.1 million Ordinary 
Shares were issued upon share option 
exercises for a total of $47 million. 
Shareholders’ equity decreased by  
$3,636 million to $14,854 million at the  
year end. Non-controlling interests were 
$1,815 million (2015: $19 million), with 
the increase in the year as a result of the 
acquisition of a 55% equity stake in  
Acerta Pharma.

Dividend and share repurchases
The Board has recommended a second 
interim dividend of $1.90 (150.2 pence, 
16.57 SEK) to be paid on 20 March  
2017. This brings the full-year dividend to 
$2.80 (218.9 pence, 24.38 SEK). Against 
Core earnings per share the Group has  
a dividend cover ratio of 1.5 in 2016  
(2015: 1.5).

This dividend is consistent with the 
progressive dividend policy, by which the 
Board intends to maintain or grow the 
dividend each year.

The Board regularly reviews its distribution 
policy and its overall financial strategy to 
continue to strike a balance between the 
interests of the business, our financial 
creditors and our shareholders. Having 
regard for business investment, funding  
the progressive dividend policy and 
meeting our debt service obligations, the 
Board currently believes it is appropriate 
to continue the suspension of the share 
repurchase programme which was 
announced in October 2012.

Future prospects 
As outlined earlier in this Annual Report, our 
strategy is focused on innovation, returning 
to growth and building a sustainable, 
durable and more profitable business.  
In support of this, we made certain choices 
around our three strategic priorities. 

$

0.90

1.90

2.80

Pence

68.7

150.2

218.9

SEK

Payment date

7.81

12 September 2016

16.57

24.38

20 March 2017

As we experience a period of patent 
expiries: 

 > Our immediate priorities are to continue  
to drive Product Sales of our on-market 
medicines through investment in our 
Growth Platforms and our portfolio of 
legacy medicines outside of the Growth 
Platforms. The Growth Platforms include 
products in our three main therapy areas, 
and a focus on the Emerging Markets and 
Japan. We are also pursuing business 
development and investment in R&D.  
We have already accelerated a number  
of projects and progressed them into 
Phase III development.

 > Our late-stage pipeline is progressing 
ahead of plans. Our science-driven, 
collaborative culture is driving increased 
R&D productivity.

 > Our long-term aspiration, in line with our 
strategic ambition, is to achieve scientific 
leadership and sustainable growth.

We expect 2017 Total Revenue to decline 
by low to mid single-digit percent at CER 
compared to 2016. Core R&D costs as a 
percentage of Total Revenue are expected 
to be broadly in line with 2016. We are also 
anticipating a further reduction in Core 
SG&A costs in 2017 versus 2016. Core 
earnings per share is expected to decrease 
in 2017 by low to mid teens percent at CER. 
This guidance reflects a significantly higher 
expected effective Core tax rate of 16 to 
20% (2016: 11%). 

Financial risk management
Financial risk management policies
Insurance
Our risk management processes are 
described in Risk overview from page 20. 
These processes enable us to identify 
risks that can be partly or entirely mitigated 
through the use of insurance. We negotiate 
the best available premium rates with 
insurance providers on the basis of our 
extensive risk management procedures. 

We focus our insurance resources on the 
most critical areas, or where there is a 
legal requirement, and where we can get 
best value for money. Risks to which we 
pay particular attention include business 
interruption, directors’ and officers’ liability, 
and property damage. Insurance for 
product liability has not been available on 
commercially acceptable terms for several 
years and we have not purchased in the 
market product liability insurance since 
February 2006.

Taxation
Our approach to managing tax risk is 
integrated with our broader business  
risk management and compliance 
framework. Our approach is to manage  
tax risks and tax costs in a manner 
consistent with applicable regulatory 
requirements and with shareholders’ best 
long-term interests, taking into account 
operational, economic and reputational 
factors. We manage tax risks in the context 
of substantive business transactions.

Treasury
The principal financial risks to which we  
are exposed are those arising from liquidity, 
interest rate, foreign currency and credit.  
We have a centralised treasury function to 
manage these risks in accordance with 
Board-approved policies. Specifically, 
liquidity risk is managed through maintaining 
access to a number of sources of funding  
to meet anticipated funding requirements, 
including committed bank facilities and cash 
resources. Interest rate risk is managed 
through maintaining a debt portfolio that  
is weighted towards fixed rates of interest. 
Accordingly, our net interest charge is not 
significantly affected by movements in 
floating rates of interest. We monitor the 
impact of currency on a portfolio basis  
(to recognise correlation effect), and may 
hedge to protect against significant adverse 
impacts on cash flow over the short- to 
medium-term. We also hedge the currency 

76

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

exposure that arises between the booking 
and settlement dates on non-local currency 
purchases and sales by subsidiaries and  
the external dividend. 

Credit risk is managed through setting and 
monitoring credit limits appropriate for the 
assessed risk of the counterparty.

Our capital and risk management objectives 
and policies are described in further detail  
in Note 26 to the Financial Statements  
from page 177 and in Risk overview from 
page 20. Sensitivity analysis of the Group’s 
exposure to exchange rate and interest rate 
movements is also detailed in Note 26 to  
the Financial Statements from page 177.

Critical accounting policies  
and estimates
Our Financial Statements are prepared in 
accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the 
EU (adopted IFRS) and as issued by the 
IASB, and the accounting policies employed 
are set out in the Group Accounting Policies 
section in the Financial Statements from 
page 142. In applying these policies, we 
make estimates and assumptions that 
affect the Reported amounts of assets and 
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets 
and liabilities. The actual outcome could 
differ from those estimates. Some of these 
policies require a high level of judgement 
because the areas are especially subjective 
or complex. We believe that the most critical 
accounting policies and significant areas of 
judgement and estimation are in:

 > revenue recognition 
 > research and development 
 > business combinations and contingent 

consideration

 > impairment testing of goodwill and 

intangible assets 

 > litigation 
 > post-retirement benefits 
 > taxation.

Revenue recognition
Product Sales are recorded at the invoiced 
amount (excluding inter-company sales 
and value-added taxes) less movements 
in estimated accruals for rebates and 
chargebacks given to managed-care and 
other customers and product returns – a 
particular feature in the US. It is the Group’s 
policy to offer a credit note for all returns  
and to destroy all returned stock in all 
markets. Cash discounts for prompt 
payment are also deducted from sales. 
Revenue is recognised at the point of 
delivery, which is usually when title passes 
to the customer, either on shipment or 
on receipt of goods by the customer 
depending on local trading terms. 

Rebates, chargebacks and returns  
in the US
When invoicing Product Sales in the US, we 
estimate the rebates and chargebacks that 
we expect to pay. These rebates typically 
arise from sales contracts with third party 
managed-care organisations, hospitals, 
long-term care facilities, group purchasing 
organisations and various federal or 
state programmes (Medicaid contracts, 
supplemental rebates etc). They can be 
classified as follows:

 > Chargebacks, where we enter into 
arrangements under which certain 
parties, typically hospitals, long-term care 
facilities, group purchasing organisations, 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, Public 
Health Service Covered Entities and the 
Department of Defense, are able to buy 
products from wholesalers at the lower 
prices we have contracted with them.  
The chargeback is the difference between 
the price we invoice to the wholesaler  
and the contracted price charged by  
the wholesaler to the other party. 
Chargebacks are credited directly to  
the wholesalers.

 > Regulatory, including Medicaid and other 
federal and state programmes, where we 

S

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pay rebates based on the specific terms 
of agreements with the US Department  
of Health and Human Services and with 
individual states, which include product 
usage and information on best prices  
and average market prices benchmarks.
 > Contractual, under which entities such as 
third party managed-care organisations 
are entitled to rebates depending on 
specified performance provisions,  
which vary from contract to contract.

The effects of these deductions on our 
US pharmaceuticals revenue and the 
movements on US pharmaceuticals revenue 
provisions are set out overleaf.

Accrual assumptions are built up on a 
product-by-product and customer-by-
customer basis, taking into account specific 
contract provisions coupled with expected 
performance, and are then aggregated 
into a weighted average rebate accrual 
rate for each of our products. Accrual rates 
are reviewed and adjusted on a monthly 
basis. There may be further adjustments 
when actual rebates are invoiced based 
on utilisation information submitted to us 
(in the case of contractual rebates) and 
claims/invoices are received (in the case 
of regulatory rebates and chargebacks). 
We believe that we have made reasonable 
estimates for future rebates using a similar 
methodology to that of previous years. 
Inevitably, however, such estimates involve 
judgements on aggregate future sales 
levels, segment mix and the customers’ 
contractual performance.

Overall adjustments between gross and net 
US Product Sales amounted to $12,275 
million in 2016 (2015: $14,167 million) with 
the decrease driven by an overall reduction 
in our US Product Sales.

Cash discounts are offered to  
customers to encourage prompt  
payment. Accruals are calculated based  
on historical experience and are adjusted  
to reflect actual experience.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

Gross to net Product Sales – US pharmaceuticals

Gross Product Sales

Chargebacks

Regulatory – Medicaid and state programmes

Contractual – Managed-care and Medicare

Cash and other discounts

Customer returns

US Branded Pharmaceutical Fee

Other

Net Product Sales

Movement in provisions – US pharmaceuticals

Chargebacks

Regulatory – Medicaid and state programmes

Contractual – Managed-care and Medicare

Cash and other discounts

Customer returns

US Branded Pharmaceutical Fee

Other

Total 

Chargebacks

Regulatory – Medicaid and state programmes

Contractual – Managed-care and Medicare

Cash and other discounts

Customer returns

US Branded Pharmaceutical Fee

Other

Total 

Chargebacks

Regulatory – Medicaid and state programmes

Contractual – Managed-care and Medicare

Cash and other discounts

Customer returns

US Branded Pharmaceutical Fee

Other

Total 

78

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

2016
$m

19,640

(3,449)

(1,903)

(5,219)

(358)

(130)

(145)

(1,071)

7,365

2015
$m

23,641

(2,985)

(1,714)

(7,543)

(472)

(333)

(174)

(946)

2014
$m

23,414

(2,794)

(1,389)

(7,730)

(436)

(295)

(113)

(537)

9,474

10,120

Brought 
forward at 
1 January 
2016 
$m

Provision for
current year 
$m

Adjustment in 
respect of 
prior years 
$m

Returns and
payments 
$m

Carried 
forward at 
31 December
2016
$m

324

777

2,206

44

467

264

186

4,268

Brought 
forward at 
1 January 
2015 
$m
457

707

2,366

33

318

245

163

3,470

1,976

5,517

358

130

195

1,071

12,717

(21)

(73)

(298)

–

–

(50)

–

(3,211)

(1,873)

(5,982)

(396)

(124)

(149)

(1,096)

562

807

1,443

6

473

260

161

(442)

(12,831)

3,712

Provision for
current year 
$m
3,019

Adjustment in 
respect of 
prior years 
$m
(34)

Returns and
payments 
$m
(3,118)

Carried 
forward at 
31 December
2015
$m
324

1,809

7,666

464

349

206

947

(95)

(123)

8

(16)

(32)

(1)

(1,644)

(7,703)

(461)

(184)

(155)

(923)

777

2,206

44

467

264

186

4,289

14,460

(293)

(14,188)

4,268

Recognition of 
US Branded 
Pharmaceutical 
Fee as a 
revenue 
deduction
$m
–

Brought 
forward at 
1 January 
2014 
$m
355

784

1,714

32

222

–

74

3,181

–

–

–

–

132

–

132

Provision for
current year 
$m
2,838

Adjustment in 
respect of 
prior years 
$m
(44)

Returns and
payments 
$m
(2,692)

Carried 
forward at 
31 December
2014
$m
457

1,544

7,703

436

295

113

537

(155)

27

–

–

–

–

(1,466)

(7,078)

(435)

(199)

–

(448)

707

2,366

33

318

245

163

13,466

(172)

(12,318)

4,289

Industry practice in the US allows 
wholesalers and pharmacies to return 
unused stocks within six months of, and 
up to 12 months after, shelf-life expiry. 
The customer is credited for the returned 
product by the issuance of a credit note. 
Returned products are not exchanged for 
products from inventory and once a return 
claim has been determined to be valid and a 
credit note has been issued to the customer, 
the returned products are destroyed. At 
the point of sale in the US, we estimate the 
quantity and value of products which may 
ultimately be returned. Our returns accruals 
in the US are based on actual experience. 
Our estimate is based on the preceding 12 
months for established products together 
with market-related information, such as 
estimated stock levels at wholesalers and 
competitor activity, which we receive via 
third party information services. For newly 
launched products, we use rates based on 
our experience with similar products or a 
pre-determined percentage.

For products facing generic competition,  
we may lose the ability to estimate the  
levels of returns from wholesalers with the 
same degree of precision that we can for 
products still subject to patent protection. 
This is because we may have limited or no 
insight into a number of areas: the actual 
timing of the generic launch (for example, a 
generic manufacturer may or may not have 
produced adequate pre-launch inventory); 
the pricing and marketing strategy of the 
competitor; the take-up of the generic; and 
(in cases where a generic manufacturer has 
approval to launch only one dose size in  
a market of several dose sizes) the likely  
level of switching from one dose to another. 
Under our accounting policy, revenue  
is recognised only when the amount  
of the revenue can be measured reliably.  
Our approach in meeting this condition  
for products facing generic competition  
will vary from product to product depending 
on the specific circumstances.

The adjustment in respect of prior years 
increased 2016 net US pharmaceuticals 
revenue by 6.0% (2015: 3.1%; 2014: 
1.7%). However, taking into account the 
adjustments affecting both the current and 
the prior year, 2015 revenue would have 
been increased by 1.6% and 2014 revenue 
would have been increased by 1.2%, by 
adjustments between years.

S

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We have distribution service agreements 
with major wholesaler buyers which serve 
to reduce the speculative purchasing 
behaviour of the wholesalers and reduce 
short-term fluctuations in the level of 
inventory they hold. We do not offer 
any incentives to encourage wholesaler 
speculative buying and attempt, where 
possible, to restrict shipments to underlying 
demand when such speculation occurs.

Component revenue accounting
A consequence of charging all internal 
R&D expenditure to the income statement 
in the year in which it is incurred (which 
is normal practice in the pharmaceutical 
industry) is that we own valuable intangible 
assets which are not recorded on the 
balance sheet. We also own acquired 
intangible assets which are included on the 
balance sheet. As detailed on page 67, our 
externalisation business model means that, 
from time to time, we sell such assets and 
generate income. Sales of product lines 
are often accompanied by an agreement 
on our part to continue manufacturing the 
relevant product for a reasonable period 
(often about two years) while the purchaser 
constructs its own manufacturing facilities. 
The contracts typically involve the receipt 
of an upfront payment, which the contract 
attributes to the sale of the intangible assets, 
and ongoing receipts, which the contract 
attributes to the sale of the product we 
manufacture. In cases where the transaction 
has two or more components, we account 
for the delivered item (for example, the 
transfer of title to the intangible asset) as 
a separate unit of accounting and record 
revenue on delivery of that component, 
provided that we can make a reasonable 
estimate of the fair value of the undelivered 
component. Where the fair market value of 
the undelivered component (for example, 
a manufacturing agreement) exceeds the 
contracted price for that component, we 
defer an appropriate element of the upfront 
consideration and amortise this over the 
performance period. However, where 
the fair market value of the undelivered 
component is equal to or lower than the 
contracted price for that component, we 
treat the whole of the upfront amount 
as being attributable to the delivered 
intangible assets and recognise that part 
of the revenue upon delivery. No element 
of the contracted revenue related to the 
undelivered component is allocated to the 
sale of the intangible asset. This is because 
the contracted revenue relating to the 

undelivered component is contingent on 
future events (such as sales) and so cannot 
be anticipated.

Research and development
Our business model includes investment 
in targeted business developments to 
strengthen our portfolio, pipeline and 
capabilities. These business development 
transactions include collaborations, asset 
in-licences and business acquisitions.

Each transaction is considered to 
establish whether it qualifies as a business 
combination by applying the criteria 
assessment detailed in IFRS 3 ‘Business 
Combinations’. 

On the acquisition of a business, fair values 
are attributed to the identifiable assets and 
liabilities and contingent liabilities unless 
the fair value cannot be measured reliably, 
in which case the value is subsumed into 
goodwill. Goodwill is the difference between 
the fair value of the consideration and the fair 
value of net assets acquired. Fair value is the 
price that would be received to sell an asset 
or pay for a liability in an orderly transaction 
at the date of acquisition. The price may 
be directly observable but in most cases is 
estimated using valuation techniques which 
normally involve predicting future cash flows 
and applying a market participant discount 
rate. Further details of our recent business 
acquisitions are included in Note 25 to the 
Financial Statements from page 173.

Future contingent elements of consideration, 
which may include development and launch 
milestones, revenue threshold milestones 
and revenue-based royalties, are fair valued 
at the date of acquisition using decision-tree 
analysis with key inputs including probability 
of success, consideration of potential 
delays and revenue projections based on 
the Group’s internal forecasts. Unsettled 
amounts of consideration are held at fair 
value within payables with changes in fair 
value recognised immediately in profit. 
Several of our recent business combinations 
have included significant amounts of 
contingent consideration. Details of 
the movements in the fair value of the 
contingent consideration in the year, and the 
range of possible contingent consideration 
amounts that may eventually become 
payable are contained in Note 18  
to the Financial Statements on page 164.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

79

 
Strategic Report    Financial Review

Financial Review continued

Where not all of the equity of a subsidiary 
is acquired, the non-controlling interest 
is recognised either at fair value or at the 
non-controlling interest’s proportionate 
share of the net assets of the subsidiary, 
on a case-by-case basis. Put options over 
non-controlling interests are recognised as 
a financial liability measured at amortised 
cost, with a corresponding entry in either 
retained earnings or against non-controlling 
interest reserves on a case-by-case basis. 

Impairment testing of goodwill  
and intangible assets
As detailed above, we have significant 
investments in goodwill and intangible 
assets as a result of acquisitions of 
businesses and purchases of assets,  
such as product development and 
marketing rights.

Details of the estimates and assumptions 
we make in our annual impairment testing 
of goodwill are included in Note 8 to the 
Financial Statements on page 156. The 
Group, including acquisitions, is considered 
a single cash-generating unit for impairment 
purposes. No impairment of goodwill  
was identified.

Impairment reviews have been carried 
out on all intangible assets that are in 
development (and not being amortised), 
all major intangible assets acquired during 
the year and all intangible assets that have 
had indications of impairment during the 
year. Sales forecasts and specific allocated 
costs (which have both been subject to 
appropriate senior management sign-
off) are discounted using appropriate 
rates based on our risk-adjusted, pre-tax 
weighted average cost of capital. Our 
weighted average cost of capital reflects 
factors such as our capital structure  
and our costs of debt and equity. In  
building to the range of rates used in  
our internal investment appraisal of future 
projects and capital investment decisions, 
we adjust our weighted average cost  
of capital for other factors which reflect, 
without limitation, local matters such  
as risk on a case-by-case basis.

A significant portion of our investments 
in intangible assets and goodwill arose 
from the restructuring of the joint venture 
with Merck in 1998, the acquisition of 
MedImmune in 2007, and the payments 
arising from the restructuring of the joint 
venture with Merck in the US. In addition, 

our recent business combinations, 
as detailed in Note 25 to the Financial 
Statements from page 173, have added 
significant product, marketing and 
distribution intangible rights to our intangible 
asset portfolio. We are satisfied that the 
carrying values of our intangible assets  
as at 31 December 2016 are fully justified  
by estimated future cash flows. The 
accounting for our intangible assets is 
fully explained in Note 9 to the Financial 
Statements from page 157. 

Further details of the estimates and 
assumptions we make in impairment testing 
of intangible assets are included in Note 9  
to the Financial Statements. 

Litigation
In the normal course of business, contingent 
liabilities may arise from product-specific 
and general legal proceedings, from 
guarantees or from environmental liabilities 
connected with our current or former 
sites. Where we believe that potential 
liabilities have a less than 50% probability 
of crystallising, or where we are unable to 
make a reasonable estimate of the liability, 
we treat them as contingent liabilities. These 
are not provided for but are disclosed in 
Note 28 to the Financial Statements from 
page 185.

In cases that have been settled or 
adjudicated, or where quantifiable fines and 
penalties have been assessed and which 
are not subject to appeal (or other similar 
forms of relief), or where a loss is probable 
(more than 50% assessed probability) and 
we are able to make a reasonable estimate 
of the loss, we indicate the loss absorbed  
or the amount of the provision accrued.

Where it is considered that the Group is 
more likely than not to prevail, or in the 
rare circumstances where the amount 
of the legal liability cannot be estimated 
reliably, legal costs involved in defending 
the claim are charged to profit as they are 
incurred. Where it is considered that we 
have a valid contract which provides the 
right to reimbursement (from insurance or 
otherwise) of legal costs and/or all or part 
of any loss incurred or for which a provision 
has been established and we consider 
recovery to be virtually certain, then the  
best estimate of the amount expected  
to be received is recognised as an asset.

Assessments as to whether or not to 
recognise provisions or assets and of 
the amounts concerned usually involve a 
series of complex judgements about future 
events and can rely heavily on estimates 
and assumptions. We believe that the 
provisions recorded are adequate based 
on currently available information and that 
the insurance recoveries recorded will 
be received. However, given the inherent 
uncertainties involved in assessing the 
outcomes of these cases and in estimating 
the amount of the potential losses and 
the associated insurance recoveries, we 
could in future periods incur judgments or 
insurance settlements that could have a 
material adverse effect on our results in any 
particular period.

The position could change over time, and 
there can, therefore, be no assurance that 
any losses that result from the outcome of 
any legal proceedings will not exceed the 
amount of the provisions that have been 
booked in the accounts.

Although there can be no assurance 
regarding the outcome of legal proceedings, 
we do not currently expect them to have 
a material adverse effect on our financial 
position, but they could significantly affect 
our financial results in any particular period.

Post-retirement benefits
We offer post-retirement benefit plans 
which cover many of our employees around 
the world. In keeping with local terms and 
conditions, most of these plans are defined 
contribution in nature, where the resulting 
income statement charge is fixed at a set 
level or is a set percentage of employees’ 
pay. However, several plans, mainly in the 
UK (which has by far the largest single 
scheme), the US, Sweden and Germany 
are defined benefit plans where benefits 
are based on employees’ length of service 
and final salary (typically averaged over 
one, three or five years). The UK and US 
defined benefit schemes were closed to 
new entrants in 2000. All new employees 
in these countries are offered defined 
contribution schemes. 

In applying IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’,  
we recognise all actuarial gains and losses 
immediately through Other Comprehensive 
Income. Investment decisions in respect 
of defined benefit schemes are based 
on underlying actuarial and economic 
circumstances with the intention of ensuring 

80

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

that the schemes have sufficient assets 
to meet liabilities as they fall due, rather 
than meeting accounting requirements. 
The trustees follow a strategy of awarding 
mandates to specialist, active investment 
managers, which results in a broad 
diversification of investment styles and 
asset classes. The investment approach is 
intended to produce less volatility in the plan 
asset returns.

In assessing the discount rate applied 
to the obligations, we have used rates 
on AA corporate bonds with durations 
corresponding to the maturities of those 
obligations, except in Sweden where we 
have used rates on mortgage bonds as the 
market in high quality corporate bonds is 
insufficiently deep.

In all cases, the pension costs recorded in 
the Financial Statements are assessed in 
accordance with the advice of independent 
qualified actuaries, but require the exercise 
of significant judgement in relation to 
assumptions for long-term price inflation, 
and future salary and pension increases.

Further details of our accounting for post-
retirement benefit plans are included in  
Note 20 to the Financial Statements from 
page 165.

Taxation
Accruals for tax contingencies require 
management to make judgements and 
estimates of exposures in relation to tax 
audit issues. Tax benefits are not recognised 
unless the tax positions will probably be 
sustained based upon management’s 
interpretation of applicable laws and 
regulations and the likelihood of settlement. 
Once considered to be probable, 
management reviews each material tax 
benefit to assess whether a provision 
should be taken against full recognition 
of the benefit on the basis of potential 
settlement through negotiation and/or 
litigation. Accruals for tax contingencies are 
measured using the single best estimate 
of likely outcome approach. Any liability to 
interest on tax liabilities is provided for in the 
tax charge.

We face a number of audits in jurisdictions 
around the world and, in some cases, are in 
dispute with the tax authorities. The issues 
under discussion are often complex and 
can require many years to resolve. 

Further details of the estimates and 
assumptions we make in determining 
our recorded liability for transfer pricing 
contingencies and other tax contingencies 
are included in the Tax section of Note 28 to 
the Financial Statements from page 185.

Strategic Report

The Strategic Report, which has been 
prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 
2006, comprises the following sections:

S

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 > AstraZeneca at a glance
 > Chief Executive Officer’s Review
 > Strategy, including Risk overview
 > Therapy Area Review
 > Business Review
 > Resources Review
 > Financial Review

and has been approved and signed  
on behalf of the Board. 

A C N Kemp 
Company Secretary  
2 February 2017

Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404
As a consequence of our NYSE listing, 
we are required to comply with those 
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 
applicable to foreign issuers. Section 
404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires 
companies annually to assess and make 
public statements about the quality and 
effectiveness of their internal control over 
financial reporting. As regards Sarbanes-
Oxley Act Section 404, our approach is 
based on the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations (COSO) 2013 framework. 

Our approach to the assessment has 
been to select key transaction and financial 
reporting processes in our largest operating 
units and a number of specialist areas, 
(eg financial consolidation and reporting, 
treasury operations and taxation etc),  
so that, in aggregate, we have covered  
a significant proportion of the key lines in 
our Financial Statements. Each of these 
operating units and specialist areas has 
ensured that its relevant processes and 
controls are documented to appropriate 
standards, taking into account, in particular, 
the guidance provided by the SEC. We  
have also reviewed the structure and 
operation of our ‘entity level’ control 
environment. This refers to the overarching 
control environment, including structure 
of reviews, checks and balances that are 
essential to the management of a well-
controlled business.

The Directors have concluded that our 
internal control over financial reporting  
is effective at 31 December 2016 and  
the assessment is set out in the Directors’ 
Responsibilities for, and Report on, 
Internal Control over Financial Reporting 
on page 133. KPMG LLP has audited the 
effectiveness of our internal control over 
financial reporting at 31 December 2016 
and, as noted in the Auditor’s Reports on 
the Financial Statements and on Internal 
Control over Financial Reporting (Sarbanes-
Oxley Act Section 404) on page 134, their 
report is unqualified. 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

81

 
 
Corporate Governance

Chairman’s Statement

AstraZeneca’s 

Directors take  
very seriously their 
responsibility to have  
a robust governance 
structure in place.”

the cycle of innovation. We need to  
work hard to continue to improve R&D 
productivity by carefully selecting those 
therapy areas and projects in which we 
invest, as well as controlling costs.

Returns to shareholders and outlook
In 2016, Reported earnings per share  
(EPS) of $2.77 for the year represented an 
increase of 9%, including a gain of $0.76  
on the revaluation of acquisition-related 
liabilities. Core EPS in the year declined by 
5% to $4.31, driven by the decline in Total 
Revenue. Both Reported and Core EPS for 
the year included a non-recurring benefit of 
$0.36, following agreements between the 
Canadian tax authority and the UK and 
Swedish tax authorities.

Given this performance, the Board was able 
to declare a second interim dividend of 
$1.90 per share (150.2 pence, 16.57 SEK) 
bringing the dividend per share for the full 
year to $2.80 (218.9 pence, 24.38 SEK).  
At the same time, the Board reaffirmed its 
commitment to the Company’s progressive 
dividend policy.

Sound governance
AstraZeneca’s Directors take very seriously 
their responsibility to have a robust 
governance structure in place to ensure  
that we are able properly to discharge  
our responsibilities in setting our strategy,  
as well as monitoring and reviewing 
progress as it is implemented, and ensuring 
that we manage our risks and carry out 
business responsibly.

We are also very conscious that, as 
Directors, we are accountable to our 
shareholders and must have regard to  

In 2016, your Board of DDDiirreeccccttttoooorrrrss  ccooontinued to focus 
on imppllementing the sttttrraatteeggggyyyy  uuuuppooon which we 
embarrked in 2013, as wwwweellll aaaassss eeeennsssuring that our 
progrreess was underpinnnnneeeedddd bbbbbyyyy gggood governance.

Strategic progress
As reported by Pascal Soriot, our Chief 
Executive Officer, we made good progress 
in delivering our strategic priorities in 2016. 
During the year, we brought a sharper  
focus to our three main therapy areas  
and boosted pipeline productivity further.  
As is to be expected, we encountered  
some setbacks on the way but our 
underlying business is growing and a new 
AstraZeneca is emerging, driven by our 
competitive franchises and our businesses 
in Emerging Markets. 

As Marc Dunoyer, our Chief Financial 
Officer, outlines, our financial results for 
2016 were in line with expectations and 
reflected the ongoing transition of our 
Company. The fall in Product Sales revenue 
was primarily due to the entry of generic 
competition to Crestor in the US. We now 
look ahead to the impact of our recent 
launches as well as the future launches that 
are to come from our late-stage pipeline.

Each year the Board reviews our strategy. 
Our review in 2016 confirmed our belief that 
2017 has the potential to be a defining year 
for AstraZeneca as we bring new medicines 
to patients across the globe. We have the 
opportunity to launch several life-changing 
medicines for cancer, respiratory and 
metabolic diseases. 

An uncertain world
Our performance in 2016 and in the year 
ahead takes place in an uncertain world. 
The economic recovery following the global 
financial crisis is still precarious and is 
fuelling calls for restrictions on trade and 
immigration. In the UK, following the vote  
for ‘Brexit’, we expect increased uncertainty 
both in the UK and the Eurozone. In  
the US, we expect the increased focus  
on pharmaceutical prices and their impact 
on healthcare costs to continue, while  
there remains uncertainty over the future  
of the Affordable Care Act and what might 
replace it.

On the other hand, and against this 
uncertain background, we believe the 
demand for healthcare will continue to 
increase with a growing and ageing world 
population. Access to our range of 
innovative medicines also continues to 
improve. Of course, challenges will always 
remain in what is a very competitive 
marketplace. These include the continuing, 
and planned for, cycle of expiring patents 
that lie at the heart of our business model, 
as well as competition from and the  
growing use of generic medicines. We  
need to obtain regulatory approval for new 
medicines, secure reimbursement for those 
medicines, and achieve pricing and sales 
sufficient to generate revenue and sustain 

82

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
Compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code

We have prepared this Annual Report  
with reference to the UK Corporate 
Governance Code published by the  
UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC)  
in September 2014.

This Corporate Governance Report 
(together with other sections of this  
Annual Report) describes how we apply  
the main principles of good governance  
in the UK Corporate Governance Code. 

We have complied throughout the 
accounting period with the provisions  
of the UK Corporate Governance Code, 
which is available on the FRC’s website. 

  www.frc.org.uk

other stakeholders such as employees, 
customers, suppliers, the communities in 
which we do business and the environment. 
We welcome the opportunity at our Annual 
General Meeting to meet and answer 
shareholders’ questions. We also maintain 
an active dialogue with shareholders 
throughout the year and listen to views of 
representatives of investors and financial 
institutions. The views of other stakeholders 
are also important.

During the year we said farewell to two 
members of the Board. Jean-Philippe 
Courtois stood down from the Board  
on 1 December. He was approaching  
nine years’ tenure and had recently taken  
on new responsibilities at Microsoft.  
We will miss his business acumen,  
extensive experience of the global 
technology industry, common sense  
and collegiality. We wish him all the best  
for his future endeavours.

We maintain an active dialogue with 
shareholders about executive remuneration. 
Our pay structure is intended to be sufficient 
to attract and retain high-calibre individuals 
in order to deliver the Company’s strategy.  
In setting individual pay levels, we consider 
the individual’s skills and experience, internal 
relativities and conditions in the local 
external market. Over the course of 2016, 
we have reviewed our Remuneration  
Policy and in his introduction to this year’s 
Directors’ Remuneration Report on page 
103, Graham Chipchase, Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee, gives more 
details about the changes we are proposing 
and why. We are grateful to those who 
contributed to the review and the Board 
commends the revised Remuneration Policy 
to shareholders for approval.

Board changes
I am grateful to Graham and all the  
Directors for their contribution during 2016, 
especially those of my other colleagues  
who have the added responsibility of 
chairing Board Committees: Rudy 
Markham, our Senior independent 
Non-Executive Director, who chairs the 
Audit Committee and Bruce Burlington  
who chairs the Science Committee.

Earlier in the year, Dr Cornelia (Cori) 
Bargmann, also stood down from the  
Board after accepting a new position as 
President of Chan Zuckerberg Science,  
part of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.  
We congratulate Cori on her new 
appointment and thank her for her 
contribution to AstraZeneca.

Searches for new Non-Executive Directors 
are continuing and succession plans will be 
announced during 2017.

A sustainable business
As we look ahead and plan for the 
sustainable growth of AstraZeneca, how 
we operate is as important as what we do. 
It is therefore particularly gratifying to see 
increasing external recognition of our efforts 
to operate in a sustainable way and in a 
way that recognises the interconnection 
between business growth, the needs of 
society, and the limitations of our planet. 
This means delivering our business 
strategy so that access to our medicines is 
broadened, the environmental footprint of 
our products and processes is minimised, 
and ethics and transparency underpin 
everything we do.

C
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In the annual Dow Jones Sustainability 
Index, we improved our score compared 
with 2015 and came second in the 
‘Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Life 
Sciences’ industry group. We also achieved 
an A-list ranking for climate change, supplier 
climate change and water stewardship by 
investor benchmarking organisation CDP.

In the biennial Access to Medicine Index, 
our efforts to improve access to our 
innovative medicines and to healthcare 
more generally was recognised in 
AstraZeneca being the biggest riser in the 
Index since the last survey. We moved to  
7th place in 2016 from 15th in 2014 and 
were recognised for multiple best practices 
and innovations.

Life-changing medicines
In 2016, we made good progress pushing 
the boundaries of science to deliver 
medicines to patients. Your Board of 
Directors remains focused on ensuring  
that more patients are able to benefit  
from our expanding portfolio of innovative 
medicines that meet unmet medical  
need and change lives.

Leif Johansson 
Chairman

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

83

 
Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance Overview

How our governance supports the delivery of our strategy.

Board

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Chairman: Leif Johansson 
(cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:16)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:80)

All Directors are collectively responsible for the success of the Group. 
(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:16)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:77)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:98)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)
They also have various responsibilities concerning the integrity of 
(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:17)

The Board is responsible for setting our strategy and policies, overseeing 
risk and corporate governance, and monitoring progress towards meeting 
our objectives and annual plans. It is accountable to our shareholders for 
the proper conduct of the business and our long-term success, and 
represents the interests of all stakeholders.

The Board conducts an annual review of the Group’s overall strategy.  
The CEO, CFO and Senior Executive Team (SET) take the lead in 
developing our strategy, which is then reviewed, constructively challenged 
and approved by the Board.

The Board has delegated some of its powers to the CEO and operates with 
the assistance of four Committees.

Members of the Board and their biographies are shown on pages 86 and 87.

Chairman: Rudy Markham

Chairman: Graham Chipchase

The Remuneration Committee 
considers and sets, on behalf 
(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:98)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)
(including pension rights and 
compensation payments) of 
Executive Directors and other 
senior executives. No Director 
(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:98)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)
own remuneration.

The Audit Committee provides 
assurance to the Board in the 
following areas: the integrity 
(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:98)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)
matters; our internal controls over 
(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:16)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)
with laws and our Code of 
Conduct; the quality of the 
Company’s relationship with 
(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:98)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)
(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)
(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)
the Company’s risk management 
framework, in each case with the 
ultimate aim of protecting our 
shareholders’ interests.

  Corporate Governance Report from page 90

   Audit Committee Report from 

page 98

   Directors’ Remuneration  
Report from page 103 

Board Committee membership and meeting attendance in 2016

Name

Cori Bargmann²

Geneviève Berger

Bruce Burlington

Ann Cairns

Graham Chipchase

Jean-Philippe Courtois³

Marc Dunoyer

Leif Johansson

Rudy Markham

Pascal Soriot

Shriti Vadera

Marcus Wallenberg

Board
(cid:22)(cid:3)8(9)
(cid:22)(cid:3)11(11)
(cid:22)(cid:3)10(11)
(cid:22)(cid:3)8(11)
(cid:22)(cid:3)11(11)
(cid:22)(cid:3)8(10)
(cid:22)(cid:3)11(11)
Chairman 11(11)
(cid:22) 11(11)
(cid:22)(cid:3)11(11)
(cid:22)(cid:3)11(11)
(cid:22)(cid:3)9(11)

Audit

Remuneration

(cid:22)(cid:3)5(5)
(cid:22)(cid:3)4(5)

(cid:22)(cid:3)4(4)

Chairman 5(5)

(cid:22)(cid:3)5(5)

Chairman 5(5)

(cid:22)(cid:3)4(5)
(cid:22)(cid:3)4(5)

(cid:22)(cid:3)5(5)

Nomination 
and
Governance 

(cid:22)(cid:3)4(4)

(cid:22)(cid:3)4(4)

Chairman 4(4)
(cid:22)(cid:3)4(4)

Science
(cid:22)(cid:3)3(3)
(cid:22)(cid:3)4(4)
Chairman 4(4)

(cid:22)(cid:3)4(4)

Independent1
(cid:22)
(cid:22)
(cid:22)
(cid:22)
(cid:22)
(cid:22)
N/A

N/A4
(cid:22)
N/A
(cid:22)

Note: number in brackets denotes number of meetings during the year that Board members were entitled to attend.
1  As determined by the Board for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
2(cid:3) (cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)
3(cid:3) (cid:45)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:16)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)
4   Leif Johansson was considered by the Board to be independent upon his appointment as Chairman. In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the test of independence is not 

appropriate in relation to the Chairman after his appointment.

84

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Nomination and 
Governance Committee
Chairman: Leif Johansson

The Nomination and Governance 
Committee recommends new 
Board appointments for decision 
by the Board and, more broadly, 
considers succession planning for 
senior executive management and 
Board positions. The Nomination 
and Governance Committee also 
(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)
developments in corporate 
governance.

Science Committee

Senior Executive Team

Key governance roles 

Chairman: Bruce Burlington

The members of the SET are:

The Science Committee provides 
assurance to the Board regarding 
the Group’s R&D activities  
by reviewing and assessing  
our approaches in our chosen 
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)
technology and R&D capabilities 
we deploy; the quality and 
(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:98)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:30)(cid:3) 
and our decision making.

>CEO
> CFO
(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:57)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:16)

Presidents (EVPs) from across 
the organisation, representing 
the three science units, the 
(cid:430)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)
(including GPPS), Operations 
& IT and HR

> General Counsel
(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:17)

The SET is the body through 
which the CEO exercises the 
authority delegated to him  
by the Board. It usually meets 
monthly and considers major 
business issues and makes 
recommendations to the CEO,  
and typically reviews matters that 
are to be submitted to the Board 
for its consideration. The CEO  
is responsible for establishing  
and chairing the SET.

Chairman: 
Leadership, operation and 
governance of the Board, ensuring 
(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)

CEO: 
Responsible to the Board for the 
management, development and 
performance of the business

Senior independent  
(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:16)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:29)(cid:3) 
Acts as a sounding board for the 
Chairman and an intermediary for 
other Directors and shareholders 
when necessary

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   Nomination and Governance 

   Science Committee from 

   The biographies of SET 

Committee from page 93

page 93

members are shown on pages 
88 and 89

Gender split of 
Directors as at  
31 December 2016

  Male 7
  Female 3

Directors’ 
nationalities as at 
31 December 2016 

  American 1
  British 4
  French 3
  Swedish 2

Length of tenure of  
Non-Executive Directors

   Under 3 years 1 
Ann Cairns 
   3–6 years 4 
Leif Johansson 
Geneviève Berger  
Graham Chipchase  
Shriti Vadera 
   6–9 years 2 
Bruce Burlington 
Rudy Markham 
   9+ years 1 
Marcus Wallenberg

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

85

 
Corporate Governance

Board of Directors

as at 31 December 2016

1

3

5

7

9

2

4

6

8

10

86

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

1 Leif Johansson (65)
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board  
(April 2012*)

Committee membership Chairman of the 
Nomination and Governance Committee and 
member of the Remuneration Committee

Skills and experience From 1997 to 2011, Leif was 
Chief Executive Officer of AB Volvo. Prior to that, he 
served at AB Electrolux, latterly as Chief Executive 
Officer from 1994 to 1997. He was a Non-Executive 
Director of BMS from 1998 to September 2011, 
serving on the Board’s Audit Committee, and 
Compensation and Management Development 
Committee. He holds an MSc in engineering from 
Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg.

Other appointments Leif is Chairman of global 
telecommunications company, LM Ericsson. He 
holds board positions at Autoliv, Inc and Ecolean 
AB. He has been a member of the Royal Swedish 
Academy of Engineering Sciences since 1994, 
serving as Chairman since 2012. Leif is also  
a member of the European Round Table of 
Industrialists and Chairman of the International 
Advisory Board of the Nobel Foundation.

2 Pascal Soriot (57)
Executive Director and CEO (October 2012)

Skills and experience Pascal brings a passion  
for science and medicine as well as significant 
experience in established and emerging markets, 
strength of strategic thinking, a successful track 
record of managing change and executing strategy, 
and the ability to lead a diverse organisation. He 
served as Chief Operating Officer of Roche’s 
pharmaceuticals division from 2010 to September 
2012 and, prior to that, Chief Executive Officer of 
Genentech, a biologics business, where he led its 
successful merger with Roche. Pascal joined the 
pharmaceutical industry in 1986 and has worked  
in senior management roles in numerous major 
companies around the world. He is a doctor of 
veterinary medicine (École Nationale Vétérinaire 
d’Alfort, Maisons-Alfort) and holds an MBA from 
HEC, Paris.

3 Marc Dunoyer (64)
Executive Director and CFO (November 2013)

Skills and experience Marc’s career in 
pharmaceuticals, which has included periods 
with Roussel Uclaf, Hoechst Marion Roussel and 
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has given him extensive 
industry experience, including finance and 
accounting; corporate strategy and planning; 
research and development; sales and marketing; 
business reorganisation; and business development. 
Marc is a qualified accountant and joined AstraZeneca 
in 2013, serving as Executive Vice-President, GPPS 
from June to October 2013. Prior to that, he served 
as Global Head of Rare Diseases at GSK and 
(concurrently) Chairman, GSK Japan. He holds  
an MBA from HEC, Paris and a Bachelor of Law 
degree from Paris University.

7 Ann Cairns (59)
Non-Executive Director (April 2014)

9 Shriti Vadera (54)
Non-Executive Director (January 2011)

Committee membership Member of the  
Audit Committee

Committee membership Member of the Audit 
Committee and the Remuneration Committee

Skills and experience Shriti has significant 
knowledge of global finance, emerging markets and 
public policy. She has advised governments, banks 
and investors on the Eurozone crisis, the banking 
sector, debt restructuring and markets. She has 
served as a G20 Adviser and a Minister in the UK 
Cabinet Office and Business Department and 
International Development Department. She has 
also served on the Council of Economic Advisers, 
HM Treasury, where she focused on business and 
international economic issues. Prior to that, Shriti 
spent 14 years in investment banking with SG 
Warburg/UBS. 

Other appointments Shriti is Chairman of 
Santander UK plc and Senior Independent Director 
of BHP Billiton.

10 Marcus Wallenberg (60)
Non-Executive Director (April 1999)

Committee membership Member of the Science 
Committee 

Skills and experience Marcus has international 
business experience across various industry 
sectors, including the pharmaceutical industry  
from his directorship with Astra prior to 1999.

Other appointments Marcus is Chairman of 
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Saab AB and 
FAM AB. He is a member of the boards of Investor 
AB, Temasek Holdings Limited, and the Knut and 
Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

*  Date of appointment.

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Skills and experience Ann has more than 20  
years’ experience as a senior leader, having held 
management positions across Europe and the  
US, and has previously run global retail, commercial 
and investment banking operations. As president  
of International Markets at MasterCard, Ann is 
responsible for the management, growth and 
expansion of all markets and customer-related 
activities outside of North America. Prior to 
MasterCard, in 2011, Ann oversaw the European 
liquidation of Lehman Brothers Holdings 
International and was the Chief Executive, 
Transaction Banking at ABN AMRO. In 2017, Ann  
will join the board of directors of Intercontinental 
Exchange, Inc., a company listed on the New York 
Stock Exchange. Ann holds a Pure Mathematics 
degree from Sheffield University and an MSc  
from Newcastle University. Among her many 
accomplishments, Ann has been an award-winning 
research engineer and was the first woman qualified 
to go offshore in Britain. Ann is a champion of 
inclusion – digital, financial and gender – and is also 
a member of the World Food Programme 
investment committee.

8 Graham Chipchase (53)
Non-Executive Director (April 2012)

Committee membership Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee and member of the 
Nomination and Governance Committee

Skills and experience Graham served as Chief 
Executive Officer of global consumer packaging 
company, Rexam PLC from 2010 to 2016 after 
serving at Rexam as Group Director, Plastic 
Packaging and Group Finance Director. Previously, 
he was Finance Director of Aerospace Services at 
the global engineering group GKN PLC from 2001  
to 2003. After starting his career with Coopers & 
Lybrand Deloitte, he held various finance roles in  
the industrial gases company The BOC Group PLC 
(now part of The Linde Group). He is a Fellow of the 
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and 
Wales and holds an MA (Hons) in chemistry from 
Oriel College, Oxford. 

Other appointments In January 2017, Graham 
joined Brambles Limited, the Sydney-listed supply 
chain logistics company, as CEO designate, and  
will become CEO from 20 February 2017.

4 Rudy Markham (70)
Senior independent Non-Executive Director 
(April 2015. Member of the Board since  
September 2008) 

Committee membership Chairman of the 
Audit Committee and member of the 
Remuneration Committee and Nomination 
and Governance Committee 

Skills and experience Rudy has significant 
international business and financial experience, 
having formerly held various senior commercial and 
financial positions with Unilever, culminating in his 
appointment as its Chief Financial Officer. He also 
served as a Non-Executive Director of the UK 
Financial Reporting Council from 2007 to 2012 and 
formerly as Chairman and a Non-Executive Director 
of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Other appointments Rudy is a non-executive 
member of the Boards of United Parcel Services Inc. 
and Legal & General plc. He is also Vice Chairman  
of the Supervisory Board of Corbion NV (formerly 
CSM NV), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of 
Management Accountants and a Fellow of the 
Association of Corporate Treasurers.

5 Geneviève Berger (61)
Non-Executive Director (April 2012)

Committee membership Member of the Science 
Committee and oversees sustainability matters on 
behalf of the Board

Skills and experience Geneviève was Chief 
Science Officer at Unilever PLC and a member  
of the Unilever Leadership Executive from 2008 to 
April 2014. She holds three doctorates – in physics, 
human biology and medicine – and was appointed 
Professor of Medicine at l’Université Pierre et Marie 
Curie, Paris in 2006. Her previous positions include 
Professor and Hospital Practitioner at l’Hôpital de la 
Pitié-Salpêtrière in Paris; Director of the Biotech and 
Agri-Food Department; Head of the Technology 
Directorate at the French Ministry of Research and 
Technology; Director General, at the Centre National 
de la Recherche Scientifique; and Chairman of the 
Health Advisory Board of the EU Commission.

Other appointments In May 2015, Geneviève was 
appointed as a Director of Air Liquide S.A. for a term 
of four years. She is currently Chief Research Officer 
at Firmenich SA, Geneva, Switzerland.

6 Bruce Burlington (68)
Non-Executive Director (August 2010)

Committee membership Chairman of the Science 
Committee and member of the Audit Committee 
and the Nomination and Governance Committee

Skills and experience Bruce is a pharmaceutical 
product development and regulatory affairs 
consultant and brings extensive experience in these 
areas. He spent 17 years with the FDA, serving as 
Director of its Center for Devices and Radiological 
Health, as well as holding various senior roles in the 
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. After 
leaving the FDA, he held various senior executive 
positions at Wyeth (now part of Pfizer).

Other appointments Bruce is a Non-Executive 
Director of the International Partnership for 
Microbicides.

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Corporate Governance

Senior Executive Team

as at 31 December 2016

1

4

7

2

5

8

3

6

9

10

11

12

1 Pascal Soriot
CEO 

See page 86.

2 Marc Dunoyer 
CFO

See page 86. 

3 Katarina Ageborg
Chief Compliance Officer 

Katarina was appointed Chief Compliance Officer 
and a member of the SET on 1 July 2011. She has 
overall responsibility for the delivery, design and 
implementation of the Company’s compliance 
programme and since her appointment has  
driven increased efficiency and effectiveness in 
compliance. She has also assumed responsibility  
for Safety, Health & Environment, and most recently 
in 2015 for the Company’s sustainability programme. 
Katarina led the Global IP function from 2008 to 
2011, during which time she streamlined the 
organisation and launched a new patent filing 
strategy. After joining AstraZeneca in 1998, she held 
a series of senior legal roles supporting Commercial, 

Regulatory and IP. Prior to AstraZeneca, Katarina 
established her own law firm and worked as a 
lawyer on both civil and criminal cases. Katarina 
holds a Master of Law Degree from Uppsala 
University School of Law in Sweden. 

4 Dr Sean Bohen
Executive Vice-President,  
Global Medicines Development and  
Chief Medical Officer

Sean was appointed Executive Vice-President,  
GMD in September 2015 and leads our global 
late-stage development organisation for both small 
molecules and biologics. He is also the Company’s 
Chief Medical Officer and is responsible for  
patient safety across the entire AstraZeneca and 
MedImmune portfolio. He joined AstraZeneca  
from Genentech, where he held a number of senior 
leadership roles across various therapy areas and 
was most recently Senior Vice President of Early 
Development. Before joining Genentech, Sean  
was a Clinical Instructor in Oncology at Stanford 
University School of Medicine, a research associate 
at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a 
postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute. 

He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and 
later earned his doctorate in biochemistry and his 
medical degree at the University of California, San 
Francisco.

5 Pam Cheng
Executive Vice-President, Operations  
and Information Technology 

Pam joined AstraZeneca in June 2015 after having 
spent 14 years in Global Manufacturing and Supply 
Chain roles at Merck/MSD. Pam was the Head of 
Global Supply Chain Management & Logistics for 
Merck from 2006 to 2011 and led the transformation 
of Merck supply chains across the global supply 
network. More recently, Pam was President of MSD 
China, responsible for MSD’s entire business in 
China. Prior to joining Merck, Pam held various 
engineering and project management positions at 
Universal Oil Products, Union Carbide Corporation 
and GAF Chemicals. Pam holds Bachelor’s and 
Master’s degrees in chemical engineering from 
Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey and 
an MBA in marketing from Pace University in New 
York. She has been a member of the Board of 
Directors for Codexis Inc. (CDXS) since 2014.

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11(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:87)
General Counsel

Jeff was appointed General Counsel in January 
2009 and has overall responsibility for all aspects  
of AstraZeneca’s Legal and IP function. He joined 
AstraZeneca in 1995 and has worked in various 
litigation roles, where he has had responsibility for IP, 
anti-trust and product liability litigation. Before joining 
AstraZeneca, he spent five years at the US legal firm 
Drinker Biddle and Reath LLP, where he specialised 
in pharmaceutical product liability litigation and 
anti-trust advice and litigation. He received his 
bachelor’s degree in political science from Wheaton 
College and his Juris Doctor Degree from Villanova 
University School of Law.

12 Leon Wang
Executive Vice-President, Asia Pacific

Leon was appointed Executive Vice-President,  
Asia Pacific in January 2017. This is a region of 
great importance for the future of the Group and 
Leon is responsible for the overall strategy and  
the promotion of the sustainable growth of our 
activities in China and Hong Kong, Asia Area, 
Australia and New Zealand. He joined AstraZeneca 
China in 2013 as a Vice-President and became 
President in 2014. Under his leadership China 
became AstraZeneca’s second-largest market 
worldwide. Leon has 20 years of experience in  
the pharmaceutical industry, including a series of 
positions of increasing responsibility in marketing 
and business leadership at Roche where he  
was a Business Unit Vice President before joining 
AstraZeneca. He is Council Vice Chairman of the 
Shanghai Association of Foreign Investment, 
Executive Committee Member responsible for 
Pricing of the R&D-based Pharmaceutical 
Association Committee under the China Association 
of Enterprises with Foreign Investment and 
Corporate Advisory Board Member of China 
Europe International Business School. He holds  
a Bachelor of Arts from Shanghai International 
Studies University and an EMBA from China 
Europe International Business School.

Note: The position of Executive Vice-President, Europe is 
vacant at the date of this report with recruitment activity 
underway. From September 2016 until January 2017, the 
position was held by Luke Miels (who prior to that led GPPS, 
AstraZeneca’s global marketing, business development and 
commercial portfolio strategy operations). It was announced 
in January 2017 that Mr Miels would leave AstraZeneca to 
take up a senior position with a main competitor. As a result,  
Mr Miels was placed on garden leave pending agreement  
of his start date.

6 Fiona Cicconi
Executive Vice-President, Human Resources 

Fiona joined AstraZeneca in September 2014 as 
Executive Vice-President, Human Resources. She 
started her career at General Electric, where she 
held various human resources roles within the  
oil and gas business, which included experience  
in major global acquisitions and driving change. 
Subsequently, Fiona spent a number of years  
at Cisco, overseeing human resources in seven 
countries in Europe and latterly handling employee 
relations in Europe, Middle East and Africa, before 
joining Roche in 2006. There, she was most recently 
responsible for global human resources for Pharma 
Technical Operations, where her primary focus was 
to identify and develop a sustainable supply of 
leadership and talent from within the organisation.

7 Dr Ruud Dobber
Executive Vice-President, North America

Ruud was appointed Executive Vice-President, 
North America in August 2016 and is responsible  
for driving growth and maximising the contribution  
of the commercial operations in North America  
to AstraZeneca’s global business. Ruud joined 
AstraZeneca in 1997 and has held various senior 
commercial and leadership roles. Most recently, 
Ruud was Executive Vice-President, Europe  
and oversaw business functions in the 28 EU 
member states. Ruud was also responsible for  
the development of our late-stage, small  
molecule antibiotic pipeline as well as its global 
commercialisation. Prior to that, Ruud was Regional 
Vice-President of AstraZeneca’s European, Middle 
East and African division, Regional Vice-President 
for the Asia Pacific region and Interim Executive 
Vice-President, GPPS. Ruud was a member of the 
Board and Executive Committee of the European 
Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and 
Associations (EFPIA) and was previously Chairman 
of the Asia division of Pharmaceutical Research and 
Manufacturers of America. Holding a doctorate in 
immunology from the University of Leiden in the 
Netherlands, Ruud began his career as a scientist, 
researching in the field of immunology and ageing.

8 Dr Bahija Jallal
Executive Vice-President, MedImmune 

Bahija was appointed Executive Vice-President, 
MedImmune in January 2013 and is responsible for 
biologics research and development activities. Bahija 
is tasked with advancing the biologics pipeline of 
medicines. She joined MedImmune in 2006 as 
Vice-President, Translational Sciences and has  
held roles of increasing responsibility at AstraZeneca. 
Prior to joining AstraZeneca, Bahija worked with 
Chiron Corporation, where she served as Vice-
President, Drug Assessment and Development. 
Bahija received a Master’s degree in biology from 
l’Université de Paris VII and her doctorate in 
physiology from l’Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 
Paris VI. She conducted her postdoctoral research  
at the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry in 
Martinsried, Germany. She is the President of the 
Board of Directors of the Association for Women  
in Science and she is also on the Board of Trustees 
of the Johns Hopkins University. 

9 Mark Mallon
Executive Vice-President, Global Product and 
Portfolio Strategy, Global Medical Affairs & 
Corporate Affairs 
Executive Vice-President, International West

Mark was appointed Executive Vice-President, 
Global Product and Portfolio Strategy, Global 
Medical Affairs & Corporate Affairs in August 2016, 
leading AstraZeneca’s global marketing and 
commercial portfolio strategy as well as the medical 
affairs and corporate affairs functions. Prior to this, 
Mark was EVP for the International region with 
responsibility for the growth and performance of 
AstraZeneca’s commercial businesses in various 
parts of the world, including Asia Pacific, Russia, 
Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. He retains 
responsibility for these International businesses 
excluding Asia Pacific for which a new SET position 
was created in early 2017. Since joining AstraZeneca 
in 1994, Mark has held a number of senior sales and 
marketing roles, including Regional Vice-President 
for Asia Pacific, President of AstraZeneca’s Chinese 
and Italian subsidiaries, Chief Operating Officer  
of AstraZeneca’s Japanese subsidiary and 
Vice-President of AstraZeneca’s US gastrointestinal 
and respiratory businesses. He has served as a 
member of the Board of Directors for Christiana 
Care, the largest hospital system in Delaware.  
He has also been an Executive Committee Member 
for R&D-based Pharmaceutical Association 
Committee, the China industry association for 
innovative pharmaceutical companies. Mark  
began his career in the pharmaceutical industry  
in management consulting. He holds a degree  
in chemical engineering from the University of 
Pennsylvania and an MBA in marketing and finance 
from the Wharton School of Business. 

10 Dr Menelas Pangalos
Executive Vice-President, IMED Biotech Unit 
and Global Business Development

Menelas (Mene) was appointed Executive 
Vice-President, IMED Biotech Unit in January 2013 
and leads AstraZeneca’s small molecule research 
and early development activities. In 2016, Mene was 
also made Global Head of Business Development. 
Mene joined AstraZeneca from Pfizer, where he was 
Senior Vice-President and Chief Scientific Officer of 
Neuroscience Research. Previously, he held senior 
discovery and neuroscience roles at Wyeth and 
GSK. He completed his undergraduate degree in 
biochemistry at the Imperial College of Science  
and Technology, London and earned a doctorate  
in neurochemistry from the University of London.  
He is a Visiting Professor of Neuroscience at King’s 
College London and is a Fellow of Clare Hall at the 
University of Cambridge. Mene is a Fellow of the 
Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society 
of Biology. In the UK, Mene serves on the Medical 
Research Council, is on the Board of the British 
Pharmaceutical Group and a Non-Executive Director 
of the UK Precision Medicine Catapult.

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Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance Report

Board composition
The membership of the Board at  
31 December 2016 and information about 
individual Directors is contained in the Board 
of Directors section on pages 86 and 87.

Corporate governance
We have prepared this Annual Report with 
reference to the UK Corporate Governance 
Code published by the UK Financial 
Reporting Council (FRC) in September 2014.

This Corporate Governance Report 
(together with other sections of this Annual 
Report) describes how we apply the main 
principles of good governance in the UK 
Corporate Governance Code. We have 
complied throughout the accounting period 
with the provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code, which is available  
on the FRC’s website, www.frc.org.uk. 

Leadership and responsibilities
The roles of Chairman and CEO are  
split. Leif Johansson, our Non-Executive 
Chairman, is responsible for leadership of 
the Board. Our CEO, Pascal Soriot, leads 
the SET and has executive responsibility for 
running our business. The Board comprises 
10 Non-Executive Directors, including the 
Chairman, and two Executive Directors – 
the CEO, Pascal Soriot, and the CFO, Marc 
Dunoyer. Its responsibilities are set out in the 
Corporate Governance Overview on pages 
84 and 85. As at 31 December 2016, two 
Non-Executive Director positions were 
vacant and work is continuing to identify 
and secure the services of new Board 
members, as described in the Nomination 
and Governance Committee section on 
page 93.

Rudy Markham, who joined the Board  
as a Non-Executive Director in 2008, 
was appointed as our Senior independent 
Non-Executive Director in April 2015.  
The role of the Senior independent 
Non-Executive Director is to serve as a 
sounding board for the Chairman and as  
an intermediary for the other Directors  
when necessary. The Senior independent 
Non-Executive Director is also available  
to shareholders if they have concerns that 
contact through the normal channels of 
Chairman or Executive Directors has failed 
to resolve, or for which such contact is 
inappropriate.

As shown in the Corporate Governance 
Overview, there are four principal Board 
Committees. The membership and work  
of these Committees is described on the 
following pages. In addition, there may from 
time to time be constituted ad hoc Board 
Committees for specific projects or tasks. 

In these cases, the scope and 
responsibilities of the Committee are 
documented. The Board provides adequate 
resources to enable each Committee to 
undertake its duties.

Reserved matters and delegation  
of authority
The Board maintains and periodically 
reviews a list of matters that are reserved to, 
and can only be approved by, the Board. 
These include: the appointment, termination 
and remuneration of any Director; approval 
of the annual budget; approval of any item of 
fixed capital expenditure or any proposal for 
the acquisition or disposal of an investment 
or business which exceeds $150 million; the 
raising of capital or loans by the Company 
(subject to certain exceptions); the giving of 
any guarantee in respect of any borrowing 
of the Company; and allotting shares of the 
Company. The matters that have not been 
expressly reserved to the Board are 
delegated by the Board to its Committees  
or the CEO.

The CEO is responsible to the Board  
for the management, development and 
performance of our business for those 
matters for which he has been delegated 
authority from the Board. Although the CEO 
retains full responsibility for the authority 
delegated to him by the Board, he has 
established, and chairs, the SET, which  
is the vehicle through which he exercises 
that authority in respect of our business.

The roles of the Board, Board Committees, 
Chairman and CEO are documented, as  
are the Board’s reserved powers and 
delegated authorities.

Operation of the Board 
The Board discharges its responsibilities  
as set out in the Corporate Governance 
Overview on pages 84 and 85 through  
a programme of meetings that includes 
regular reviews of financial performance  
and critical business issues, and the formal 
annual strategy review day. The Board also 
aims to ensure that a good dialogue with 

our shareholders is maintained and that 
their issues and concerns are understood 
and considered.

The Board held 11 meetings in 2016, 
including its usual annual strategy review. 
Five took place in London, UK; one in 
Cambridge, UK; one at the offices of 
AstraZeneca’s subsidiary in Japan; and four 
by telephone conference call. The Board  
is currently scheduled to meet six times in 
2017 and will meet at such other times as 
may be required to conduct business.

As part of the business of each Board 
meeting, the CEO typically submits a 
progress report, giving details of business 
performance and progress against the 
goals the Board has approved. To ensure 
that the Board has good visibility of the  
key operating decisions of the business, 
members of the SET attend Board meetings 
regularly and Board members meet other 
senior executives throughout the year.  
The Board also receives accounting and 
other management information about our 
resources, and presentations from internal 
and external speakers on legal, governance 
and regulatory developments. At the end  
of Board meetings, the Non-Executive 
Directors meet without the Executive 
Directors present to review and discuss any 
matters that have arisen during the meeting 
and/or such other matters as may appear  
to the Non-Executive Directors to be 
relevant in properly discharging their duty  
to act independently.

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Composition of the Board, succession 
planning and diversity
The Nomination and Governance 
Committee and, where appropriate, the full 
Board, regularly review the composition of 
the Board and the status of succession to 
both senior executive management and 
Board level positions. Directors have regular 
contact with, and access to, succession 
candidates for senior executive 
management positions.

The Board aims to maintain a balance in 
terms of the range of experience and skills 
of individual Board members, which 
includes relevant international business, 
pharmaceutical industry and financial 
experience, as well as appropriate scientific 
and regulatory knowledge. The biographies 
of Board members set out on pages 86 and 

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

87 give more information about current 
Directors in this respect. The Board views 
gender, nationality and cultural diversity 
among Board members as important 
considerations when reviewing the 
composition of the Board. The Board 
recognises, in particular, the importance  
of gender diversity. Currently, 37% of the 
Company’s Non-Executive Directors are 
women and women make up 30% of the  
full Board. Although it has not set any 
specific measurable objectives, the Board 
intends to continue with its current approach 
to diversity in all its aspects, while at the 
same time seeking Board members of the 
highest calibre, and with the necessary 
experience and skills to meet the needs  
of the Company and its shareholders. 
Information about our approach to diversity 
in the organisation below Board level can be  
found in Employees from page 54.

The following changes to the composition  
of the Board and its Committees have 
occurred during the period covered by  
this Annual Report:

 > Cornelia (Cori) Bargmann stepped down 
from the Board and as a member of the 
Science Committee with effect from  
1 October 2016 after she accepted a new 
position as President of Chan Zuckerberg 
Science, part of the Chan Zuckerberg 
Initiative.

 > Jean-Philippe Courtois stepped down 
from the Board and as a member of  
the Audit Committee with effect from  
1 December 2016. Mr Courtois was 
appointed as a Non-Executive Director  
in 2008. The Nomination and Governance 
Committee started succession planning 
earlier in 2016 in anticipation of Mr 
Courtois reaching nine years’ tenure  
as a Board member in 2017.

Independence of the Non-Executive 
Directors
During 2016, the Board considered the 
independence of each Non-Executive 
Director for the purposes of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code and the 
corporate governance listing standards  
of the NYSE (Listing Standards). With the 
exception of Marcus Wallenberg, the Board 
considers that all of the Non-Executive 
Directors are independent. Leif Johansson 
was considered by the Board to be 
independent upon his appointment as 
Chairman. In accordance with the UK 

Corporate Governance Code, the test of 
independence is not appropriate in relation 
to the Chairman after his appointment.

Marcus Wallenberg was appointed as  
a Director of Astra in May 1989 and 
subsequently became a Director of the 
Company in 1999. He is a Non-Executive 
Director of Investor AB, which has a 4.1% 
interest in the issued share capital of  
the Company as at 2 February 2017.  
Mr Wallenberg, Investor AB and a number  
of Wallenberg charitable foundations are 
connected. For these reasons, the Board 
does not believe that he can be determined 
independent under the UK Corporate 
Governance Code. However, the Board 
believes that he has brought, and continues 
to bring, considerable business experience 
and makes a valuable contribution to the 
work of the Board. In April 2010, he was 
appointed as a member of the Science 
Committee, reflecting his interest in 
innovation and R&D, knowledge of the 
history of the Company and its scientific 
heritage and culture, and his broad 
experience of other industries and 
businesses in which innovation and R&D  
are important determinants of success.

Conflicts of interest
The Articles enable the Directors to 
authorise any situation in which a Director 
has an interest that conflicts or has the 
potential to conflict with the Company’s 
interests and which would otherwise be a 
breach of the Director’s duty, under Section 
175 of the Companies Act 2006. The Board 
has a formal system in place for Directors to 
declare such situations to be considered for 
authorisation by those Directors who have 
no interest in the matter being considered. 
In deciding whether to authorise a situation, 
the non-conflicted Directors must act in the 
way they consider, in good faith, would be 
most likely to promote the success of the 
Company, and they may impose limits or 
conditions when giving the authorisation,  
or subsequently, if they think this is 
appropriate. Situations considered by  
the Board and authorisations given are 
recorded in the Board minutes and in  
a register of conflicts maintained by the 
Company Secretary, and are reviewed 
annually by the Board. The Board believes 
that this system operates effectively.

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Appointments to the Board
The Nomination and Governance 
Committee section on page 93 provides 
information about the appointment process 
for new Directors.

Newly appointed Directors are provided 
comprehensive information about the Group 
and their role as Non-Executive Directors. 
They also typically participate in tailored 
induction programmes that take account  
of their individual skills and experience.

Time commitment
Our expectation is that Non-Executive 
Directors should be prepared to commit  
15 days a year, as an absolute minimum,  
to the Group’s business. In practice, Board 
members’ time commitment exceeds this 
minimum expectation when all the work that 
they undertake for the Group is considered, 
particularly in the case of the Chairman of 
the Board and the Chairmen of the Board 
Committees. As well as their work in relation 
to formal Board and Board Committee 
meetings, the Non-Executive Directors  
also commit time throughout the year to 
meetings and telephone calls with various 
levels of executive management, visits to 
AstraZeneca’s sites throughout the world 
and, for new Non-Executive Directors, 
induction sessions and site visits.

On occasions when a Director is 
unavoidably absent from a Board or Board 
Committee meeting, for example where  
a meeting clashes with their existing 
commitments, they still receive and review 
the papers for the meeting and typically 
provide verbal or written input ahead of the 
meeting, usually through the Chairman of 
the Board or the Chairman of the relevant 
Board Committee, so that their views  
are made known and considered at the 
meeting. Given the nature of the business  
to be conducted, some Board meetings are 
convened at short notice, which can make  
it difficult for some Directors to attend due  
to prior commitments.

Information and support
The Company Secretary is responsible  
to the Chairman for ensuring that all  
Board and Board Committee meetings  
are properly conducted, that the Directors 
receive appropriate information prior  
to meetings to enable them to make  
an effective contribution, and that 
governance requirements are considered 
and implemented.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance Report continued

The Company maintained Directors’ and 
Officers’ Liability Insurance cover throughout 
2016. The Directors are also able to obtain 
independent legal advice at the expense  
of the Company, as necessary, in their 
capacity as Directors.

The Company has entered into a deed of 
indemnity in favour of each Board member 
since 2006. These deeds of indemnity are 
still in force and provide that the Company 
shall indemnify the Directors to the fullest 
extent permitted by law and the Articles,  
in respect of all losses arising out of, or  
in connection with, the execution of their 
powers, duties and responsibilities as 
Directors of the Company or any of its 
subsidiaries. This is in line with current 
market practice and helps us attract and 
retain high quality, skilled Directors.

Performance evaluation
During the year, the Board conducted the 
annual evaluation of its own performance 
and that of its Committees and individual 
Directors. The 2016 evaluation involved 
each Board member responding to a 
web-based questionnaire covering a wide 
range of topics prepared by Lintstock Ltd 
(Lintstock), a London-based corporate 
advisory firm that provides objective and 
independent counsel to leading European 
companies. Lintstock supplies software  
and services to the Company Secretary’s 
team for Board evaluation questionnaires 
and for the management of insider lists but 
has no other commercial relationship with 
the Company. 

Feedback from the questionnaire was 
discussed by the Board at its meeting in 
January 2017 and was also used by the 
Chairman as the basis for individual 
conversations with each Board member 
prior to the full Board discussion. In respect 
of the 2016 evaluation, overall it was 
concluded that the Board continues to 
operate effectively and in an open manner 
and no significant problems were raised. 
The questionnaire feedback and both the 
individual and the full Board discussions 
included suggestions about providing more 
strategic, competitive and financial context 
for Board members in respect of their 
reviews of the Company’s very early-stage 
science and development programmes; 
maintaining and further improving the 
diversity of the Board; maintaining and 

further improving full Board oversight of 
succession planning for Board-level roles; 
providing more opportunities for Board 
members to meet senior employees having 
the potential to progress to the most senior 
executive roles in the Company; and how 
best to maintain the right balance of Board 
time for R&D matters on the one hand,  
and commercial and operations matters  
on the other.

As part of each Director’s individual 
discussion with the Chairman, his or her 
contribution to the work of the Board  
and personal development needs were 
considered. Directors’ training needs  
are met by a combination of internal 
presentations and updates and external 
speaker presentations as part of Board  
and Board Committee meetings; specific 
training sessions on particular topics, where 
required; and the opportunity for Directors 
to attend external courses at the Company’s 
cost, should they wish to do so. In respect 
of the 2016 annual performance evaluation it 
was concluded that each Director continues 
to perform effectively and to demonstrate 
commitment to his or her role.

The 2016 evaluation also included a  
review of the performance of the Chairman 
by the other Directors, led by the Senior 
independent Non-Executive Director and 
absent the Chairman. The review covered 
how Board meetings were managed and 
chaired; the Chairman’s broader activities 
for the Company (for example, his 
interactions with employees in various  
parts of the business); his relationship  
with shareholders and other external 
stakeholders in various parts of the world, 
such as governments and senior regulatory 
authority officials; his relationship with 
executive management; and suggestions  
as to areas that the Board might prioritise  
for its work in 2017. It was concluded that 
overall the Chairman continues to perform 
very effectively, both in respect of Board 
matters and in relation to other aspects  
of his chairmanship role, and that he 
continues to devote significant time to 
promoting the interests of the Company 
for the long-term benefit of shareholders 
and other stakeholders. 

The reviews of the Board’s Committees  
did not raise any significant problems and 
concluded that the Committees are 
operating effectively.

The Board intends to continue to comply 
with the UK Corporate Governance Code 
guidance that the evaluation should be 
externally facilitated at least every three 
years and expects to commission the next 
externally facilitated review in 2017.

Re-election of Directors
In accordance with Article 66 of the  
Articles, all Directors retire at each AGM  
and may offer themselves for re-election  
by shareholders. Accordingly, all of the 
Directors will retire at the AGM in April 2017. 
The Notice of AGM will give details of those 
Directors seeking re-election.

Accountability
Risk management and internal control
The Board has overall responsibility for  
our system of internal controls and risk 
management policies and has an  
ongoing responsibility for reviewing their 
effectiveness. During 2016, the Directors 
continued to review the effectiveness of our 
system of controls, risk management and 
high level internal control processes. These 
reviews included an assessment of internal 
controls and, in particular, financial, 
operational and compliance controls, and 
risk management and their effectiveness, 
supported by management assurance of 
the maintenance of controls reports from IA, 
as well as the external auditor on matters 
identified in the course of its statutory audit 
work. The system is designed to manage 
rather than eliminate the risk of failure  
to achieve business objectives and can  
only provide reasonable (not necessarily 
absolute) assurance of effective operation 
and compliance with laws and regulations.

The internal control framework was in 
operation throughout 2016 and continues 
to operate up to the date of the approval of 
this Annual Report. The Directors believe 
that the Group maintains an effective, 
embedded system of internal controls and 
complies with the FRC’s guidance entitled 
‘Guidance on Risk Management, Internal 
Control and Related Financial and Business 
Reporting’ and, in the view of the Directors, 
no significant deficiencies have been 
identified in the system.

More information about the ways in which 
we manage our business risks and describe 
our principal risks and uncertainties is set 
out in the Risk overview from page 20 and 
Risk from page 214.

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Remuneration
Information about our approach to 
remuneration and the role and work of the 
Remuneration Committee, including our 
policy on executive remuneration, is set  
out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

Policy on external appointments and 
retention of fees
Subject to specific Board approval in  
each case, Executive Directors and other 
SET members may accept external 
appointments as non-executive directors  
of other companies, and retain any related 
fees paid to them, provided that such 
appointments are not considered by the 
Board to prevent or reduce the ability of the 
executive to perform his or her role within 
the Group to the required standard.

Relations with shareholders
In our quarterly, half yearly and annual 
financial and business reporting to 
shareholders and other interested parties, 
we aim to present a balanced and 
understandable assessment of our strategy, 
financial position and prospects.

We make information about the Group 
available to shareholders through a range  
of media, including our corporate website, 
www.astrazeneca.com, which contains a 
wide range of data of interest to institutional 
and private investors. We consider our 
website to be an important means of 
communication with our shareholders. 

The Company has been authorised by 
shareholders to place shareholder 
communications (such as the Notice of 
AGM and this Annual Report) on the 
corporate website in lieu of sending paper 
copies to shareholders (unless specifically 
requested). While recognising and 
respecting that some shareholders may 
have different preferences about how they 
receive information from us, we will continue 
to promote the benefits of electronic 
communication given the advantages that 
this has over traditional paper-based 
communications, both in terms of the 
configurability and accessibility of the 
information provided and the consequent 
cost savings and reduction in environmental 
impact. 

We have frequent discussions with 
institutional shareholders on a range of 
issues. In addition to holding discussions 
with groups of shareholders, we also hold 
individual meetings with some of our largest 
institutional shareholders to seek their views. 
Board members are kept informed of any 
issues, and receive regular reports and 
presentations from executive management 
and our brokers to assist them to develop 
an understanding of major shareholders’ 
views about the Group. From time to  
time, we conduct an audit of institutional 
shareholders to ensure that we are 
communicating clearly with them and that  
a high quality dialogue is being maintained. 
The results of this audit are reported to,  
and discussed by, the full Board. We also 
respond to individual ad hoc requests for 
discussions from institutional shareholders 
and analysts. Our Investor Relations team 
acts as the main point of contact for 
investors throughout the year. As discussed 
above, the Senior independent Non-
Executive Director, Rudy Markham, is  
also available to shareholders if they have 
concerns that contact through the normal 
channels of Chairman, CEO and/or CFO 
has failed to resolve, or in relation to  
which such contact is inappropriate. All 
shareholders, including private investors, 
have an opportunity at the AGM to put 
questions to members of the Board  
about our operation and performance. 
Formal notification of the AGM is sent to 
shareholders at least one month in advance. 
All Board members ordinarily attend the 
AGM to answer questions raised by 
shareholders. In line with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code, details of proxy voting by 
shareholders, including votes withheld, are 
given at the AGM and are posted on our 
website following the AGM.

Nomination and Governance 
Committee
The Nomination and Governance 
Committee’s role is to recommend to the 
Board any new Board appointments and to 
consider, more broadly, succession plans at 
Board level. It reviews the composition of 
the Board using a matrix that records the 
skills and experience of current Board 
members, comparing this with the skills and 
experience it believes are appropriate to the 
Company’s overall business and strategic 
needs, both now and in the future. Any 
decisions relating to the appointment of 
Directors are made by the entire Board 

based on the merits of the candidates and 
the relevance of their background and 
experience, measured against objective 
criteria, with care taken to ensure that 
appointees have enough time to devote  
to our business. 

The Nomination and Governance 
Committee also advises the Board 
periodically on significant developments in 
corporate governance and the Company’s 
compliance with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code.

During 2016, the members of the 
Nomination and Governance Committee 
were Leif Johansson (Chairman of the 
Committee), Rudy Markham, Bruce 
Burlington and Graham Chipchase. Each 
member is a Non-Executive Director and 
considered independent by the Board. The 
Company Secretary acts as secretary to the 
Nomination and Governance Committee.

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The Nomination and Governance 
Committee considers both planned and 
unplanned (unanticipated) succession 
scenarios and met four times in 2016, 
spending the majority of its time on 
succession planning for Non-Executive 
Directors with the assistance of the search 
firms MWM Consulting, Spencer Stuart  
and Korn Ferry and continued routine 
succession planning (internal and external) 
for the roles of CEO and CFO, with the 
assistance of Spencer Stuart. Korn  
Ferry and Spencer Stuart periodically 
undertake executive search assignments  
for the Company.

The attendance record of the Nomination 
and Governance Committee’s members  
is set out on page 84.

The Nomination and Governance 
Committee’s terms of reference are available 
on our website, www.astrazeneca.com.

Science Committee
The Science Committee’s core role is to 
provide assurance to the Board regarding 
the quality, competitiveness and integrity  
of the Group’s R&D activities by way of 
meetings and dialogue with our R&D 
leaders and other scientist employees;  
visits to our R&D sites throughout the world; 
and review and assessment of:

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Corporate Governance Report continued

 > the approaches we adopt in respect  

of our chosen therapy areas 

 > the scientific technology and R&D 

capabilities we deploy 

 > the decision-making processes for R&D 

projects and programmes

 > the quality of our scientists and their 

career opportunities and talent 
development

 > benchmarking against industry and 

scientific best practice, where 
appropriate.

The Science Committee periodically reviews 
important bioethical issues that we face, 
and assists in the formulation of, and agrees 
on behalf of the Board, appropriate policies 
in relation to such issues. It may also 
consider, from time to time, future trends  
in medical science and technology. The 
Science Committee does not review 
individual R&D projects but does review,  
on behalf of the Board, the R&D aspects  
of specific business development or 
acquisition proposals and advises the  
Board on its conclusions.

During 2016, the members of the Science 
Committee, all of whom have a knowledge 
of, or an interest in, life sciences, were Bruce 
Burlington (Chairman of the Committee), 
Cori Bargmann until she stepped down 
from the Board with effect from 1 October 
2016, Geneviève Berger and Marcus 
Wallenberg. As usual, the EVP, GMD; the 
EVP, IMED; and the EVP, MedImmune, 
participated in meetings of the Science 
Committee as co-opted members in 2016. 
The Vice-President, IMED Operations acts 
as secretary to the Science Committee.

The Science Committee met twice in 
person in 2016, in Gothenburg, Sweden 
and Gaithersburg, US and held two other 
meetings, both of which were by telephone,  
to review specific business development  
or acquisition proposals and aspects of  
the Group scorecard in relation to ‘Achieve 
scientific leadership’ targets.

The Science Committee’s terms of 
reference are available on our website, 
www.astrazeneca.com.

US corporate governance requirements
Our ADSs are traded on the NYSE and, 
accordingly, we are subject to the reporting 
and other requirements of the SEC 
applicable to foreign private issuers. Section 

404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires 
companies to include in their annual report 
on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, a report  
by management stating its responsibility for 
establishing internal control over financial 
reporting and to assess annually the 
effectiveness of such internal control.  
We have complied with those provisions  
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act applicable to 
foreign private issuers. The Board continues 
to believe that the Group has a sound 
corporate governance framework, good 
processes for the accurate and timely 
reporting of its financial position and results 
of operations, and an effective and robust 
system of internal controls. We have 
established a Disclosure Committee,  
further details of which can be found in  
the Disclosure Committee section below.

The Directors’ assessment of the 
effectiveness of internal control over  
financial reporting is set out in Directors’ 
Responsibilities for, and Report on, Internal 
Control over Financial Reporting in the 
Financial Statements on page 133.

We are required to disclose any significant 
ways in which our corporate governance 
practices differ from those followed by US 
companies under the Listing Standards.  
In addition, we must comply fully with the 
provisions of the Listing Standards relating 
to the composition, responsibilities and 
operation of audit committees, applicable  
to foreign private issuers. These provisions 
incorporate the rules concerning audit 
committees implemented by the SEC under 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We have reviewed 
the corporate governance practices 
required to be followed by US companies 
under the Listing Standards and our 
corporate governance practices are 
generally consistent with those standards.

making that drives business performance 
and accountability. 

Specifically, the ESPCs have responsibility 
for the following: 

 > approving early-stage investment decisions 
 > prioritising the respective portfolios
 > licensing activity for products in Phase I 

and earlier

 > delivering internal and external 

opportunities

 > reviewing allocation of R&D resources.

Late Stage Product Committee (LSPC) 
The LSPC is also a senior level governance 
body, accountable for the quality of the 
portfolio post-Phase III investment decision. 
Jointly chaired by the EVPs of GMD and 
GPPS, members include, as appropriate, 
members of the SET, including the CEO and 
CFO, and members of the GMD and GPPS 
leadership teams.

The LSPC seeks to maximise the value  
of our investments in the late-stage  
portfolio, also ensuring well-informed  
and robust decision making. Specific 
accountabilities include:

 > approval of the criteria supporting Proof  

of Concept

 > decision to invest in Phase III development 

based on agreement of commercial 
opportunity and our plans to develop  
the medicine

 > evaluation of the outcome of the 

development programme and decision  
to proceed to regulatory filing
 > decision to invest in life-cycle 

management activities for the late-stage 
assets

 > decision to invest in late-stage business 

development opportunities.

Business organisation
Early Stage Product Committees (ESPCs)
The ESPCs are senior level, cross-functional 
governance bodies with accountability for 
oversight of our early-stage small molecule 
and biologics portfolio to Proof of Concept 
stage. The EVPs of our two science units, 
IMED and MedImmune, chair our ESPCs. 
The ESPCs seek to deliver a flow of 
products to GMD for Phase III development 
through to launch. The ESPCs also seek  
to maximise the value of our internal and 
external R&D investments through robust, 
transparent and well-informed decision 

Disclosure Committee
Our disclosure policy provides a framework 
for the handling and disclosure of inside 
information and other information of interest 
to shareholders and the investment 
community. It also defines the role of the 
Disclosure Committee. The members of  
the Disclosure Committee in 2016 were:  
the CFO, who chaired the Disclosure 
Committee; the EVP, GMD (who is also the 
Company’s Chief Medical Officer); the EVP, 
GPPS, Global Medical Affairs & Corporate 
Affairs; the General Counsel; the Vice-
President, Corporate Affairs; the Vice-

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President, Investor Relations; and the 
Vice-President Finance, Group Controller. 
Other senior executives attend its meetings 
on an agenda-driven basis. The Deputy 
Company Secretary acted as secretary to 
the Disclosure Committee. The Disclosure 
Committee meets regularly to assist and 
inform the decisions of the CEO concerning 
inside information and its disclosure. 
Periodically, it reviews our disclosure 
controls and procedures and its own 
operation as part of work carried out to 
enable management and the Board to 
assure themselves that appropriate 
processes are operating for both our 
planned disclosures, such as our quarterly 
results announcements and scheduled 
investor relations events, and our unplanned 
disclosures in response to unforeseen 
events or circumstances. During 2016, we 
implemented the requirements of the EU 
Market Abuse Regulation, which involved 
making some changes to our disclosure 
controls and procedures.

Disclosure of information to auditors 
The Directors who held office at the date  
of approval of this Annual Report confirm 
that, so far as they are each aware, there  
is no relevant audit information of which  
the Company’s auditors are unaware; and 
each Director has taken all the steps that  
he or she ought to have taken as a Director 
to make himself or herself aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish 
that the Company’s auditors are aware of 
that information.

Global Compliance and Internal Audit 
Services (IA) 
The role of the Global Compliance  
function is to help the Group achieve  
its strategic priorities by doing business  
the right way, with integrity and high  
ethical standards. Global Compliance 
continues to focus on ensuring the delivery 
of an aligned approach to compliance  
that addresses key risk areas across  
the business, including risks relating  
to external parties and anti-bribery/
anti-corruption. Our priorities include 
improving compliance behaviours through 
effective training and communication; 
monitoring compliance with our Code of 
Conduct, Global Policies and supporting 
requirements; conducting appropriate risk 
assessments and due diligence on third 
parties whom we engage for services;  

and ensuring that employees and  
external parties can raise any concerns. 
Global Compliance and IA work with  
various specialist compliance functions 
throughout our organisation to coordinate 
compliance activities.

We take all alleged compliance breaches 
and concerns extremely seriously, and 
investigate them and report the outcome of 
such investigations to the Audit Committee, 
as appropriate. Internal investigations are 
undertaken by staff from our Global 
Compliance, Human Resources and/or 
Legal functions. When necessary, external 
advisers are engaged to conduct and/or 
advise on investigations. Serious breaches 
are raised with the Audit Committee.  
Where a significant breach has occurred, 
management, in consultation with our Legal 
function, will consider whether the Group 
needs to disclose and/or report the findings 
to a regulatory or governmental authority. 

   Risk from page 214

Global Compliance provides direct 
assurance to the Audit Committee on 
matters concerning compliance issues, 
including an analysis of compliance 
breaches. Complementing this, IA  
carries out a range of audits that include 
compliance-related audits and reviews  
of the assurance activities of other Group 
assurance functions. The results from  
these activities are reported to the  
Audit Committee.

IA is established by the Audit Committee  
on behalf of the Board and acts as an 
independent and objective assurance 
function guided by a philosophy of adding 
value to improve the operations of the 
Group. The scope of IA’s responsibilities 
encompasses, but is not limited to,  
the examination and evaluation of the 
adequacy and effectiveness of the Group’s 
governance, risk management, and internal 
control processes in relation to the Group’s 
defined goals and objectives.

Internal control objectives considered by  
IA include: 

 > compliance with significant policies, 

plans, procedures, laws, and regulations 

 > reliability and integrity of management 
and financial information processes, 
including the means to identify, measure, 
classify, and report such information

 > safeguarding of assets. 

Based on its activity, IA is responsible for 
reporting significant risk exposures and 
control issues identified to the Board and  
to senior management, including fraud  
risks, governance issues, and other  
matters needed or requested by the Audit 
Committee. It may also evaluate specific 
operations at the request of the Audit 
Committee or management, as appropriate. 

Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct (the Code),  
which is available on our website,  
www.astrazeneca.com, applies to all 
full-time and part-time Directors, officers, 
employees and temporary staff, in all 
companies within our Group worldwide.  
A Finance Code complements the Code 
and applies to the CEO, the CFO, the 
Group’s principal accounting officers 
(including key Finance staff in major 
overseas subsidiaries) and all Finance 
function employees. This reinforces the 
importance of the integrity of the Group’s 
Financial Statements, the reliability of the 
accounting records on which they are 
based and the robustness of the relevant 
controls and processes. 

The Code is at the core of our compliance 
programme. It has been translated into  
40 languages and provides clear direction 
as to how our commitment to honesty and 
integrity is to be realised through consistent 
actions across all areas of the business.

Compliance with the Code is mandatory 
and every employee receives annual training 
on it which they are required to complete. 
The Code is reviewed periodically and 
updated to take account of changing legal 
and regulatory obligations. Our Global 
Policies, as well as local and functional 
procedures, support the Code and provide 
clear guidance in key risk areas.

 > consistency of operations or programmes 
with established objectives and goals and 
effective performance 

 > effectiveness and efficiency of operations 

and employment of resources 

The Code contains information on how  
to report possible violations through our 
Helpline, which includes the AZethics 
telephone lines, the AZethics website, and 
the Global Compliance email and postal 

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Corporate Governance Report continued

addresses described in the Code. The 
externally-operated website is available in 38 
languages, and the phone lines are operable 
in 96 countries, to facilitate reporting. Our 
reporting channels are available to both 
employees and to external parties to report 
any concerns. Reports can be made 
anonymously where desired and where 
permitted by local law. Anyone who raises  
a potential breach in good faith is fully 
supported by management.

 > AstraZeneca UK Limited: Algeria (scientific 
office), Angola, Belarus, Chile, Costa Rica, 
Croatia, Cuba, Dubai (branch office), 
Georgia, Ghana (scientific office), Jordan, 
Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, Saudi 
Arabia (scientific office), Serbia, Slovenia 
(branch office), Syria, Ukraine and Yemen 
(scientific office)

 > AstraZeneca AB: Egypt (scientific office) 

and Slovakia (branch office)

 > AstraZeneca Singapore Pte Limited: 

In 2016, 320 reports of alleged compliance 
breaches or other ethical concerns were 
made through the Helpline, including reports 
made by any anonymous route that could 
be considered whistleblowing; in 2015 there 
were 326 reports. The majority of cases 
come to our attention through management 
and self-reporting, which can be seen as an 
indication that employees are comfortable  
in raising their concerns with line managers, 
local Human Resources, Legal or 
Compliance, as recommended in the Code 
and reinforced in the 2016 Code training.

Other matters
Corporate governance statement under 
the UK Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules (DTR)
The disclosures that fulfil the requirements 
of a corporate governance statement under 
the DTR can be found in this section and in 
other parts of this Annual Report as listed 
below, each of which is incorporated into 
this section by reference:

 > major shareholdings 
 > Articles.

   Shareholder Information from page 232  
and Corporate Information on page 237

Subsidiaries and principal activities
The Company is the holding company  
for a group of subsidiaries whose principal 
activities are described in this Annual 
Report. The Group’s principal subsidiaries 
and their locations are given in Group 
Subsidiaries and Holdings in the Financial 
Statements on page 193.

Branches and countries in which the 
Group conducts business 
In accordance with the Companies Act 
2006, we disclose below our subsidiary 
companies that have representative or 
scientific branches/offices outside the UK:

Vietnam

 > Astra Export & Trading AB: United  

Arab Emirates (branch office).

Distributions to shareholders –  
dividends for 2016
Details of our distribution policy are set out 
in the Financial Review from page 76 and 
Notes 22 and 23 to the Financial Statements 
on page 172. 

The Company’s dividend for 2016 of $2.80 
(218.9 pence, SEK 24.38) per Ordinary 
Share amount to, in aggregate, a total 
dividend payment to shareholders of  
$3,542 million. An employee share trust, 
AstraZeneca Share Trust Limited, waived  
its right to a dividend on the Ordinary  
Shares that it holds and instead received  
a nominal dividend. 

A shareholders’ resolution was passed at 
the 2016 AGM authorising the Company  
to purchase its own shares. The Company 
did not repurchase any of its own shares in 
2016. On 31 December 2016, the Company 
did not hold any shares in treasury.

Going concern accounting basis 
Information on the business environment  
in which AstraZeneca operates, including 
the factors underpinning the industry’s 
future growth prospects, is included in the 
Strategic Report. Details of the product 
portfolio of the Group are contained in  
both the Strategic Report (in the Therapy 
Area Review from page 23) and the 
Directors’ Report. Information on patent 
expiry dates for key marketed products is 
included in Patent Expiries of Key Marketed 
Products from page 211. Our approach to 
product development and our development 
pipeline are also covered in detail with 
additional information by therapy area  
in the Strategic Report.

The financial position of the Group, its  
cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing 
facilities are described in the Financial 
Review from page 62. In addition, Note 26  
to the Financial Statements from page 177 
includes the Group’s objectives, policies and 
processes for managing capital; financial 
risk management objectives; details of its 
financial instruments and hedging activities; 
and its exposures to credit, market and 
liquidity risk. Further details of the Group’s 
cash balances and borrowings are included 
in Notes 16 and 17 to the Financial 
Statements from page 162.

The Group has considerable financial 
resources available. As at 31 December 
2016 the Group had $5.7 billion in financial 
resources (cash balances of $5.0 billion  
and undrawn committed bank facilities of 
$3.0 billion which are available until April 
2020, with only $2.3 billion of debt due 
within one year). The Group’s revenues  
are largely derived from sales of products 
which are covered by patents which provide  
a relatively high level of resilience and 
predictability to cash inflows, although  
our revenue is expected to continue to  
be significantly impacted by the expiry of 
patents over the medium term. In addition, 
government price interventions in response 
to budgetary constraints are expected  
to continue to adversely affect revenues  
in many of our mature markets. However, 
we anticipate new revenue streams from 
both recently launched medicines and 
products in development, and the Group 
has a wide diversity of customers and 
suppliers across different geographic areas. 
Consequently, the Directors believe that, 
overall, the Group is well placed to manage 
its business risks successfully.

After making enquiries, the Directors have  
a reasonable expectation that the Company 
and the Group have adequate resources  
to continue in operational existence for  
the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they 
continue to adopt the going concern  
basis in preparing the Annual Report  
and Financial Statements.

Changes in share capital 
Changes in the Company’s Ordinary  
Share capital during 2016, including details 
of the allotment of new shares under the 
Company’s share plans, are given in Note 
22 to the Financial Statements on page 172.

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Directors’ shareholdings 
The Articles require each Director to be  
the beneficial owner of Ordinary Shares  
in the Company with an aggregate  
nominal value of $125 (which currently 
represents at least 500 shares because 
each Ordinary Share has a nominal value  
of $0.25). Such holding must be obtained 
within two months of the date of the 
Director’s appointment. At 31 December 
2016, all of the Directors complied with  
this requirement and full details of each 
Director’s interests in shares of the Company 
are set out in Directors’ interests in shares 
on pages 114 and 115. Information about 
the shareholding expectations of the 
Remuneration Committee (in respect of 
Executive Directors and SET members)  
and the Board (in respect of Non-Executive 
Directors) is also set out in Directors’ 
interests in shares on pages 114 and 115.

Political donations 
Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries 
made any EU political donations or incurred 
any EU political expenditure in 2016 and they 
do not intend to do so in the future in respect 
of which shareholder authority is required, or 
for which disclosure in this Annual Report is 
required, under the Companies Act 2006. 
However, to enable the Company and its 
subsidiaries to continue to support interest 
groups or lobbying organisations concerned 
with the review of government policy or law 
reform without inadvertently breaching the 
Companies Act 2006, which defines political 
donations and other political expenditure in 
broad terms, a resolution will be put to 
shareholders at the 2017 AGM, similar to 
that passed at the 2016 AGM, to authorise 
the Company and its subsidiaries to: 

 > make donations to political parties  
or independent election candidates

 > make donations to political organisations 

other than political parties

 > incur political expenditure, up to an 

aggregate limit of $250,000.

Corporate political contributions in the US 
are permitted in defined circumstances 
under the First Amendment of the US 
Constitution and are subject to both federal 
and state laws and regulations. In 2016, the 
Group’s US legal entities made contributions 
amounting in aggregate to $1,568,250 
(2015: $1,224,550) to national political 
organisations, state-level political party 
committees and to campaign committees 

of various state candidates. No corporate 
donations were made at the federal level 
and all contributions were made only where 
allowed by US federal and state law. We 
publicly disclose details of our corporate US 
political contributions, which can be found 
on our website, www.astrazeneca-us.com/
sustainability/corporate-transparency.html. 
The annual corporate contributions budget 
is reviewed and approved by the US 
Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and the 
President of our US business to ensure 
robust governance and oversight. US 
citizens or individuals holding valid green 
cards exercised decision making over  
the contributions and the funds were not 
provided or reimbursed by any non-US legal 
entity. Such contributions do not constitute 
political donations or political expenditure for 
the purposes of the Companies Act 2006 
and were made without any involvement  
of persons or entities outside the US.

Significant agreements
There are no significant agreements to 
which the Company is a party that take 
effect, alter or terminate on a change  
of control of the Company following a 
takeover bid. There are no persons with 
whom we have contractual or other 
arrangements, who are deemed by the 
Directors to be essential to our business. 

Use of financial instruments 
The Notes to the Financial Statements, 
including Note 26 from page 177, include 
further information on our use of financial 
instruments.

Annual General Meeting 
The Company’s AGM will be held on  
27 April 2017. The meeting place will be  
in London, UK. A Notice of AGM will be sent 
to all registered holders of Ordinary Shares 
and, where requested, to the beneficial 
holders of shares.

External auditor 
A resolution will be proposed at the AGM  
on 27 April 2017 for the appointment of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as 
auditor of the Company. The external 
auditor during 2016 was KPMG LLP. The 
proposed change of auditor follows a 
recommendation by the Audit Committee to 
the Board in 2015 based on a formal tender 
in line with best practice. During 2016, 
KPMG undertook various non-audit 

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services. More information about this work 
and the audit and non-audit fees that we 
have paid are set out in Note 30 to the 
Financial Statements on page 192. The 
external auditor is not engaged by  
AstraZeneca to carry out any non-audit 
work in respect of which it might, in the 
future, be required to express an audit 
opinion. As explained more fully in the Audit 
Committee Report from page 98, the Audit 
Committee has established pre-approval 
policies and procedures for audit and 
non-audit work permitted to be carried out 
by the external auditor and has carefully 
monitored the objectivity and independence 
of the external auditor throughout 2016.

Directors’ Report 
The Directors’ Report, which has been 
prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006, 
comprises the following sections:

 > Chief Executive Officer’s Review
 > Therapy Area Review
 > Business Review
 > Resources Review, including Employees
 > Financial Review: Financial risk 

management

 > Corporate Governance: including the 

Audit Committee Report and Corporate 
Governance Report

 > Directors’ Responsibility Statement
 > Development Pipeline
 > Sustainability: supplementary information
 > Shareholder Information 
 > Corporate Information

and has been approved by the Board  
and signed on its behalf.

The Board considers this Annual Report, 
taken as a whole, to be fair, balanced  
and understandable, and provides the 
necessary information for shareholders  
to assess AstraZeneca’s position and 
performance, business model and strategy.

A C N Kemp 
Company Secretary 
2 February 2017

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

97

 
Corporate Governance

Audit Committee Report

The quality of 
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reporting is underpinned 
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controls, appropriate 
accounting practices and 
policies, and the exercise 
of good judgement.”

Risk management
During the year, the Committee regularly 
reviewed the Company’s approach to risk 
management, its risk reporting framework 
and risk mitigation. These discussions also 
provided the context for the Committee’s 
consideration of the Directors’ viability 
statement and the analysis that underpins 
the assurance provided by that statement. 
For more details on the viability statement, 
please refer to the Risk overview from  
page 20. The Committee’s consideration  
of risk management was supported by 
‘deep dive’ reviews of key activities such  
as: supply chain responsiveness; 
improvements to IS/IT infrastructure and  
the adequacy of cybersecurity; commercial 
operations in China and the US; and pricing, 
reimbursement and market access. Further 
information on the Company’s Principal 
Risks are on pages 20 to 21. The Committee 
visited the Company’s US Commercial head 
office in Wilmington and the MedImmune 
leadership team in Gaithersburg to gain 
further insight into emerging risks as the 
Company’s strategy develops in a dynamic 
external environment. 

Compliance with the Code of Conduct
The Committee’s priorities continue to 
include: maintaining compliance with the 
Company’s Code of Conduct; high ethical 
standards; and operating within the law  
in all countries where we conduct business 
or have interactions. In 2015, the Company 
had met all of its obligations under its 
five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement  
in the US, which terminated in April 2015. 
During a visit to the Company’s US 
Commercial head office in Wilmington,  
the Committee heard about how the US 
Compliance Programme has evolved,  
after completion of the Corporate Integrity 

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Financial reporting
The quality of AstraZeneca’s financial 
reporting is underpinned by effective internal 
controls, appropriate accounting practices 
and policies, and the exercise of good 
judgement. The Committee reviewed, at 
least quarterly, the Company’s significant 
accounting matters and, where appropriate, 
challenged management’s decisions before 
approving the accounting policies applied. 

During 2016, the Committee reviewed 
aspects of the Group’s significant 
restructuring programmes initiated from 
2013 onwards, including accounting for 
restructuring charges, control over capital 
expenditure and arrangements for 
monitoring the effective implementation  
of these programmes. The Committee 
continued to monitor the inclusion of 
Externalisation Revenue in AstraZeneca’s 
Statement of Comprehensive Income.  
For more information on Externalisation 
Revenue, please refer to the Financial 
Review from page 62. 

The Committee looked closely at intangible 
asset impairment reviews, including reviews 
of our FluMist and Ardea intangible assets; 
legal provisions and other related charges, 

to ensure that items are appropriately 
accounted for in ‘Reported’ and  
‘Core’ results. 

Following the competitive tender of the 
Company’s external audit services in 2015 
and the Board’s decision to recommend the 
appointment of PwC to shareholders at the 
Company’s 2017 AGM, the Committee has 
monitored the transition planning to ensure 
the Company is well prepared for a change 
of external auditors should this be approved 
by shareholders.

In December 2015, the FRC announced  
that it would conduct a thematic review of 
companies’ tax reporting to encourage more 
transparent recording of the relationship 
between the tax charges and accounting 
profit. The FRC Corporate Reporting Review 
Team subsequently conducted a review of 
the tax disclosures in the Company’s 
financial statements for the year ended 31 
December 2015 and in 2016 confirmed that 
they had no substantive issues to raise. The 
Committee took note of and was satisfied 
with relevant reports from the regulators that 
exercise routine oversight over the Company’s 
external auditors, the FRC and the Public 
Company Accounting Oversight Board.

98

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
Agreement, to maintain strong focus and 
remain relevant, proactively addressing  
key compliance risks. Throughout 2016,  
the Committee monitored and reviewed 
compliance with our Code of Conduct, 
including the effectiveness of our 
anti-bribery and anti-corruption controls, 
across the Group. The Committee 
prioritised its focus on countries where we 
have significant operations and countries  
in which doing business is generally 
considered to pose a higher corruption or 
general compliance risk such as the US,  
the UK, China, Japan, Nigeria and India.

Engagement with senior leaders
The Committee considers it important to 
interact with members of management 
below the SET. In July, members of the 
Committee visited the Company’s US 
Commercial and MedImmune leadership 
teams in Wilmington and Gaithersburg 
respectively. We talked to senior leaders 
about the opportunities and challenges  
the Company faces, and the current and 
emerging risks arising from the development 
and successful delivery to patients of 
medicines from our rapidly evolving pipeline. 
The Committee also met informally with 
senior leaders from the Operations IS/IT, 
Finance, Legal and Global Payer Evidence  
& Pricing teams. In June 2016, I participated 
in a discussion at the Company’s Internal 
Audit Services (IA) team conference on  
the role of the Board and Audit Committee 
generally and at AstraZeneca, and I shared 
my perspective on the importance of the  
work of IA in providing assurance on 
AstraZeneca’s risk management, controls 
and governance generally.

Finally, I would like to offer thanks from the 
Committee to Jean-Philippe Courtois, who 
retired from the Committee on 1 December 
2016, for his valued contribution to the 
Committee and its work.

We value dialogue with our shareholders 
and welcome your feedback on this report.

Yours sincerely

Rudy Markham 
Chairman of the Audit Committee

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Audit Committee membership  
and attendance
All Committee members are Non-Executive 
Directors and considered by the Board to 
be independent under the UK Corporate 
Governance Code. The Committee’s 
members are Rudy Markham (Committee 
Chairman), Bruce Burlington, Ann Cairns 
and Shriti Vadera. Jean-Philippe Courtois 
was a member of the Committee until  
he stepped down from the Board on  
1 December 2016. 

In December 2016, the Board determined 
that, for the purposes of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code, at least one Audit 
Committee member has recent and  
relevant financial experience and that  
Rudy Markham and Ann Cairns are financial 
experts for the purposes of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act. The Board of Directors’ 
biographies on pages 86 and 87 contain 
details of each Audit Committee member’s 
skills and experience. 

The Audit Committee held five meetings in 
2016 and Committee members’ attendance 
is set out in the table on page 84. 

Role and operation of the  
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee’s terms of  
reference are available on our website, 
www.astrazeneca.com. 

The Committee regularly reports to the 
Board on how it discharges its main 
responsibilities, which include:

 > monitoring the integrity of the Company’s 

financial reporting and formal 
announcements relating to its financial 
performance, and reviewing significant 
financial reporting judgements contained 
within them

 > ensuring the Company’s Annual Report 
and Accounts present a fair, balanced 
and understandable assessment of the 
Company’s position and prospects 

 > reviewing the effectiveness of the 

Company’s internal financial controls, 
internal non-financial controls, risk 
management systems (including 
whistleblowing procedures) and 
compliance with laws and the 
AstraZeneca Code of Conduct

 > monitoring and reviewing the role, 
resources and effectiveness of the 
Company’s Internal Audit function, its 
Compliance function, the external audit 
process and the Company’s relationship 
with its external auditor

 > monitoring and reviewing the external 
auditor’s independence and objectivity

 > ensuring the provision of non-audit 
services by the external auditor are 
appropriate and in accordance with policy 
approved by the Committee

 > making recommendations to the Board 
for shareholder approval relating to the 
appointment, reappointment and removal 
of the external auditor, and to approve the 
remuneration and terms of engagement 
of the external auditor

 > monitoring the Company’s response to 

any external enquiries and investigations 
regarding matters within the Committee’s 
area of responsibility.

Audit Committee meeting minutes are 
circulated to the Board. Following each 
Committee meeting, the Committee 
Chairman informs the Board of the principal 
matters the Committee considered and of 
any significant concerns it has or that have 
been reported by the external auditor, the 
Vice-President, IA or the Chief Compliance 
Officer. The Committee identifies matters 
that require action or improvement and 
makes recommendations on the steps  
to be taken.

The Committee’s work is supported by 
valuable insight gained from its interactions 
with other Board Committees, senior 
executives, managers and external experts. 
Committee meetings are routinely attended 
by the CFO; the General Counsel; the Chief 
Compliance Officer; the Vice-President,  
IA; the Vice-President Finance, Group 
Controller; and the Company’s external 
auditor. The CEO attends on an agenda-
driven basis. 

In addition, the Committee and separately 
the Committee Chairman, meet privately 
with the CFO; Chief Compliance Officer; 
General Counsel; Vice-President, IA; and 
the Company’s external auditor on an 
individual basis to ensure the effective  
flow of material information between  
the Committee and management. 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

99

 
Corporate Governance

Audit Committee Report continued

Activities of the Audit Committee  
in 2016
During 2016 and in January 2017, the Audit 
Committee considered and discussed the 
following standing items: 

 > key elements of the Financial Statements 

and the estimates and judgements 
contained in the Company’s financial 
disclosures. Accounting matters 
considered included the areas described 
in the Financial Review under ‘Critical 
accounting policies and estimates’ (with  
a focus on accounting issues relevant to 
revenue recognition, litigation and taxation 
matters, goodwill and intangible asset 
impairment) from page 77 and other 
important matters such as monitoring  
the accounting for Externalisation 
Revenue in the Group’s Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive Income. 
The Committee reviewed the Company’s 
definition of Externalisation Revenue 
against market practice, and individual 
judgements on items falling within that 
definition. Discussion of these matters 
was supported by papers prepared by 
management and the external auditor, 
and input from the Science Committee 
(as appropriate)

 > the external auditor’s reports on its audit 
of the Group Financial Statements, and 
reports from management, IA, Global 
Compliance and the external auditor on 
the effectiveness of our system of internal 
controls and, in particular, our internal 
control over financial reporting

 > quarterly reports of work carried out by 
IA, Global Compliance and Finance 
including the status of follow-up actions 
with management

 > the Company’s principal, enduring and 

emerging risks, including the Company’s 
risk management approach, risk reporting 
framework and risk mitigation. More 
information about the principal risks faced 
by the Company is set out in the Risk 
overview section from page 20 

 > compliance with applicable provisions of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In particular, the 
status of compliance with the programme 
of internal controls over financial reporting 
implemented pursuant to Section 404 of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Committee 
continued its focus on IT controls in the 
context of the changes to the Group’s IT 
environment. More information about this 
is set out in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 
Section 404 section of the Financial 
Review on page 81

 > data from reports made by employees via 
the AZethics helpline, online facilities and 
other routes regarding potential breaches 
of the Code of Conduct, together with the 
results of enquiries into those matters

 > reports from the Group Treasury function, 
in particular, concerning the Company’s 
liquidity and cash position and the 
appropriateness of its investment 
management policy in the context of  
the current economic situation

 > the going concern assessment and 
adoption of the going concern basis  
in preparing this Annual Report and the 
Financial Statements. More information 
on the basis of preparation of Financial 
Statements on a going concern basis  
is set out in the Financial Statements  
on page 142

 > the preparation of the Directors’ viability 
statement and the adequacy of the 
analysis supporting the assurance 
provided by that statement

 > quarterly reports from the General 
Counsel on the status of significant 
litigation matters and governmental 
investigations

 > audit and non-audit fees of the external 

auditor during 2016, including the 
objectivity and independence of the 
external auditor through the application  
of the Non-Audit Services Policy as 
described further below. Further 
information about the audit and non-audit 
fees for 2016 is disclosed in Note 30 to 
the Financial Statements on page 192
 > the Audit Committee conducted the 

annual evaluation of its own performance 
with each Committee member 
responding to a web-based questionnaire 
prepared by an external third party.  
The effectiveness review of the Audit 
Committee was assessed as high 
performing with a good balance struck 
between the necessary rigour and a 
holistic understanding of issues under 
consideration, quality engagement with 
the business outside formal meetings, 
and appropriate attention given to the 
external auditor transition

 > effectiveness review of Internal Audit, 
which noted an external assessment  
of IA observed that the function is well 
respected and trusted, providing 
assurance that is aligned to the 
Company’s risk profile and well-
coordinated with the other risk and 
assurance functions. IA continues to build 
its capabilities seeking opportunities for 
continuous improvement. 

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Matters considered and discussed by the 
Audit Committee in addition to its usual 
business as described above included: 

 > significant capital expenditure and the 

execution of restructuring programmes, 
including the construction of the new 
strategic bioscience site and corporate 
head office in Cambridge, UK and review 
of historic restructuring programmes 
 > the level of assurance regarding the 

effective integration of recently acquired 
entities and their compliance with Group 
policies and governance arrangements 

 > regular updates from the IT team with 
particular attention to cybersecurity  
and the progress of the Group’s IT 
infrastructure transformation, including  
the set-up of the global technology centre 
in Chennai, India and related business 
continuity arrangements, noting a new 
global technology centre in Guadalajara, 
Mexico has become operational

 > supply chain responsiveness for launches 
of new products, in particular biologics, 
including critical capabilities and robust 
processes that will support delivery of the 
evolving pipeline

 > opportunities, challenges, compliance 

and risk management discussed with the 
US commercial business leadership team 
and MedImmune leadership team during 
the Committee’s visit to the Company’s 
Wilmington and Gaithersburg sites 
 > key compliance risks arising from our 

activities in China, including the 
effectiveness of controls, noting senior 
leadership’s continued focus on a strong 
compliance and ethics culture as the 
China business grows

 > consideration of major trends regarding 
pricing, reimbursement and market 
access for biopharmaceuticals, and  
the key external and internal risks the 
Company faces

 > monitoring the external audit transition 

process to ensure an effective transition 
of the Group’s external auditors in 2017, 
subject to shareholders’ approval to 
appoint the new external auditor at the 
Company’s AGM in April 2017

 > the Group’s approach to taxation noting 
that AstraZeneca aims to comply with  
tax laws in the countries in which it does 
business and is committed to transparent 
and constructive relationships with all 
relevant tax authorities

 > relevance to the Company of new 

Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations 
issued by the SEC on the use of 
non-GAAP measures, in particular the 
disclosure of and prominence given  
to non-GAAP measures and the 
appropriateness of items removed from 
GAAP numbers in arriving at non-GAAP 
measures

 > proposals for the Directors’ Slavery  
and Human Trafficking Statement  
and the adequacy of the arrangements 
supporting the assurance provided by 
that statement, and preparation for 
compliance with the Market Abuse 
Regulation before it came into force  
on 3 July 2016

 > monitoring the resource requirements  
of key control functions (Finance, IA, 
Compliance) with particular reference  
to succession planning and the potential 
impact of ongoing restructuring on the 
effectiveness of risk and control processes.

(cid:54)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)
considered by the Audit Committee  
in 2016
Revenue recognition
The US is our largest single market and 
sales accounted for 35% of our Product 
Sales in 2016. Revenue recognition, 
particularly in the US, is impacted by 
rebates, chargebacks, cash discounts  
and returns (for more information, please 
see the Financial Review from page 62).  
The Audit Committee pays particular 
attention to management’s estimates of 
these items, its analysis of any unusual 
movements and their impact on revenue 
recognition informed by commentary  
from the external auditor.

Valuation and possible impairment  
of intangible assets
The Group carries significant intangible 
assets on its Balance Sheet arising from  
the acquisition of businesses and IP rights 
to medicines in development and on the 
market. Each quarter, the CFO outlines  
the carrying value of the Group’s intangible 
assets and, in respect of those intangible 
assets that are identified as at risk of 
impairment, the difference between the 
carrying value and management’s current 
estimate of discounted future cash flows for 
‘at risk’ products (the headroom). Products 
will be identified as ‘at risk’ because the 
headroom is small or, for example, in the 
case of a medicine in development, there is 

a significant development milestone such  
as the publication of clinical trial results 
which could significantly alter management’s 
forecasts for the product. 

In 2016, the Audit Committee considered 
specific impairment review papers and 
supporting information on the Group’s 
FluMist and Ardea intangible assets.  
The FluMist impairment review included 
detailed consideration of the impact  
of the announcement in June 2016 by  
the Advisory Committee on Immunization 
Practices of the Center for Disease  
Control and Prevention of an interim 
recommendation on the use of FluMist 
Quadrivalent in the US during the 2016/2017 
influenza season. The Ardea intangible 
asset impairment review included 
considerations in both the gout indication 
as well as indications in the CVMD  
therapy area. The Audit Committee 
obtained valuable input from the Science 
Committee for this review. The Audit 
Committee agreed with the conclusion  
that no impairment was required. 

In 2016, there were no significant 
impairments of intangible assets. 

Litigation and contingent liabilities
The Audit Committee was regularly 
informed by the General Counsel  
and external auditor about IP litigation, 
product liability actions and governmental 
investigations that might result in fines or 
damages against the Company, to assess 
whether provisions should be taken and,  
if so, when and in what amount. Of the 
matters the Committee considered in  
2016, the most significant included: FCPA 
investigation (US); Nexium anti-trust litigation 
(US); Pulmicort Respules patent litigation 
(US); Faslodex patent litigation (US and 
Europe); and Crestor damages claims 
(Australia). The US FCPA investigation was 
resolved in 2016 following a civil settlement 
agreed with the SEC; the DOJ closed its 
investigation without taking action against 
the Company. Notwithstanding the 
Company’s success defending the claims  
in the Nexium anti-trust case, the plaintiffs 
continue to seek opportunities to assert 
their claims. Faslodex patent litigation 
continues in the US and Europe. 
Settlements have been reached with lead 
litigants in the US. Further information about 
the Company’s litigation and contingent 

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liabilities is set out in Note 28 to the Financial 
Statements from page 185.

Tax accounting
The Audit Committee reviewed the 
Company’s approach to tax including 
governance, risk management and 
compliance, tax planning, dealings  
with tax authorities and the level of tax  
risk the Company is prepared to accept.  
The full statement, which was published  
in November 2016, can be found at  
www.astrazeneca.com. In 2016, following  
a review by the FRC designed to encourage 
more transparent recording of the relationship 
between the tax charges and accounting 
profit, the FRC confirmed that they had  
no substantive issues to raise in respect  
of the tax disclosures in the Company’s 
2015 accounts. The FRC has noted that 
their review does not provide assurance  
that our report and accounts are correct  
in all material respects and that the  
FRC’s role is not to verify the information 
provided but to consider compliance  
with reporting requirements.

Retirement benefits
Pension accounting continues to be a 
significant area of focus recognising the  
level of pension fund deficit and its sensitivity 
to small changes in interest rates, which  
the Committee continues to monitor  
carefully. The Audit Committee reviewed  
the Company’s defined benefit pension 
global funding objective and principles, 
focusing in particular on the Company’s 
main defined benefit pensions obligations  
in the UK, Sweden and the US, and the 
defined benefit plans in Germany.

Internal controls
The Audit Committee receives a report of 
the matters considered by the Disclosure 
Committee during each quarter. At the 
January 2017 meeting, the CFO presented 
to the Committee the conclusions of the 
CEO and the CFO following the evaluation 
of the effectiveness of our disclosure 
controls and procedures required by Item 
15(a) of Form 20-F at 31 December 2016. 
Based on their evaluation, the CEO and the 
CFO concluded that, as at that date, we 
maintained an effective system of disclosure 
controls and procedures.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

101

 
Fees paid to the auditor for audit, 
audit-related and other services are 
analysed in Note 30 to the Financial 
Statements on page 192. Fees for non-audit 
services amounted to 29% of the fees paid 
to KPMG for audit, audit-related and other 
services in 2016. 

(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)
In accordance with its normal practice,  
the Audit Committee considered the 
performance of KPMG and its compliance 
with the independence criteria under the 
relevant statutory, regulatory and ethical 
standards applicable to auditors. Having 
considered all these factors (Judgement, 
Mind-set & Culture, Skills, Character & 
Knowledge and Quality Control) and 
changes in audit approach in response to 
finding and comments in the Audit Quality 
Review report performed by the FRC  
issued in May 2016. The Audit Committee 
concluded that the KPMG audit was 
effective for the financial year commencing 
1 January 2016.

Corporate Governance

Audit Committee Report continued

There was no change in our internal control 
over financial reporting that occurred during 
the period covered by this Annual Report 
that has materially affected, or is reasonably 
likely to materially affect, our internal control 
over financial reporting.

Appointing the auditor 
As we reported in 2012, the Audit 
Committee determined that the audit would 
be put out to tender by 2018 in accordance 
with the UK Corporate Governance Code 
and guidance issued by the FRC. KPMG 
was first appointed as sole external auditor 
to Zeneca Group PLC in 1993 and to 
AstraZeneca PLC in 2001 following a 
competitive tender. Anthony Cates is the 
current lead audit partner at KPMG 
following lead partner rotation in 2013.

Having concluded the competitive tender 
process in December 2015, the Audit 
Committee recommended to the Board that 
PwC be appointed as the Group’s statutory 
auditor for the 2017 financial year. The Audit 
Committee confirmed in September 2016 
that PwC is independent under SEC and 
UK independence regulations. A resolution 
to approve the appointment of PwC will be 
put to shareholders at the Company’s  
AGM in 2017.

The Audit Committee considers that 
the Company has complied with the 
Competition and Markets Authority’s 
Statutory Audit Services for Large 
Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory 
Use of Competitive Tender Processes and 
Audit Committee Responsibilities) Order 
2014 in respect of its financial year 
commencing 1 January 2016.

Non-audit services and safeguards
The Audit Committee maintains a policy (the 
Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre Approval 
Policy) for the pre-approval of all audit 
services and permitted non-audit services 
undertaken by the external auditor, the 
principal purpose of which is to ensure that 
the independence of the external auditor  
is not impaired. The policy covers three 

categories of work: audit services; 
audit-related services; and tax services.  
The policies define the type of work that  
falls within each of these categories and  
the non-audit services that the external 
auditor is prohibited from performing  
under the rules of the SEC and other 
relevant UK and US professional and 
regulatory requirements. The pre-approval 
procedures permit certain audit, audit-
related and tax services to be performed  
by the external auditor during the year, 
subject to fee limits agreed with the  
Audit Committee in advance. The Audit 
Committee is mindful of the 70% non-audit 
services fee cap under EU regulation, 
together with the overall proportion  
of fees for audit and non-audit services  
in determining whether to pre-approve  
such services.

The CFO (supported by the Vice-President 
Finance, Group Controller), monitors the 
status of all services being provided by  
the external auditor. Authority to approve 
work in excess of the pre-agreed fee limits  
is delegated to the Chairman of the Audit 
Committee together with one other  
Audit Committee member in the first 
instance. A standing agenda item at  
Audit Committee meetings covers the 
operation of the pre-approval procedures 
and regular reports are provided to the  
full Audit Committee.

In 2016, non-audit services provided to the 
Company by KPMG included the audit of a 
product line required as part of the disposal 
of this asset, audit services in relation to 
employee benefit funds such as the audit  
of subsidiary company pension funds  
and, tax compliance services. KPMG was 
considered better placed to provide these 
services, in terms of skills, capability and 
efficiency, than any alternative audit firm.  
All such services were either within the 
scope of the pre-approved services set  
out in the Non-Audit Services Policy or  
were presented to Audit Committee 
members for pre-approval. 

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Directors’ Remuneration Report

  We remain 
committed to ensuring 
that our remuneration 
arrangements support 
our strategy and deliver 
sustainable value to  
our shareholders.”

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As AstraZeneca’s pipeline-driven 
transformation continues, the Committee 
has taken care to ensure that the 
Company’s remuneration arrangements 
remain aligned to its strategy with strong 
links between long-term performance  
and our shareholders’ experience. 

As our 2014 Policy comes to the end of  
its three-year life-cycle, we are required  
to put a new Remuneration Policy forward  
to a shareholder vote at the 2017 AGM. 
During 2016, we consulted our major 
shareholders and their representatives 
extensively on executive remuneration  
and we would like to thank those who  
took part in this process. The feedback  
we received has informed the Committee’s 
approach to executive remuneration in 2017. 

The Committee’s intention is to give 
shareholders assurance that:

 > the CEO’s remuneration opportunity 

overall will not increase as a percentage  
of base salary

 > LTI arrangements will be simplified 
 > our incentives will continue to reward 

good long-term decisions aligned with  
the Company’s strategy

 > the transparency of performance 

measures and targets will be increased 
further

 > if discretion is used, it will be well 

balanced and justified. 

Taking into account shareholder 
feedback, two substantive changes to our 
Remuneration Policy are proposed, namely: 
(i) a reduction in the level of LTI vesting at 
threshold performance under the PSP 
from 25% to 20% of maximum; and (ii) that 
no new awards will be made under the 
AZIP. From 2017, LTI awards for Executive 

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

103

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Contents

Annual Statement from the Chairman of the Committee 
At a glance summary 
Annual Report on Remuneration 
 > What did we pay our Directors? 
 > Share interests awarded in 2016 
 > Payments to former Directors 
 > (cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72) 
 > Remuneration context and our past performance 
 > Directors’ interests in shares  
 > Governance 
Implementation of Remuneration Policy in 2017   
Additional information: Executive Directors’ share plans   
Remuneration Policy 
 > Remuneration Policy for Executive Directors 
 > Remuneration scenarios for Executive Directors 
 > Approach to recruitment remuneration for Executive Directors 
 > Service contracts for Executive Directors 
 > (cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86) 
 > Remuneration Policy for Non-Executive Directors 

 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance

Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

Directors will only be made under the PSP. 
We have also taken the opportunity to 
simplify the proposed Remuneration Policy 
which we hope shareholders will find helpful.

R&D cost control despite the absorption of 
Acerta Pharma and ZS Pharma R&D costs. 
Core SG&A expenses declined by 12%  
(9% at CER). 

2016 performance
We delivered a strong pipeline performance 
in 2016 as AstraZeneca’s transformation 
continues and we implement our strategy 
to achieve scientific leadership, return to 
growth and achieve our Group financial 
targets. The majority of the elements of our 
performance-related pay are directly aligned 
to the business plan based on these three 
strategic pillars with the intention of driving 
performance that promotes the long-term 
success of the Company.

We continued to make strong progress 
towards achieving scientific leadership and 
our ability to deliver innovation to the market. 
A number of significant opportunities, not 
expected to be achieved in 2016, have been 
successfully accelerated. For example, 
the FDA’s acceptance of the Company’s 
first Biologics License Application for 
durvalumab in urothelial bladder cancer 
is an important milestone demonstrating 
the advance of our immuno-oncology 
medicines. The US and European regulatory 
submission acceptances for Tagrisso in lung 
cancer and fast track review in China further 
demonstrate AstraZeneca’s commitment 
to prioritise the progression of our new 
oncology pipeline. 

Overall, our 2016 financial performance was 
in line with expectations as AstraZeneca’s 
pipeline-driven transformation continues. 
While 2016 Product Sales declined by 10% 
(8% at CER), driven by the entry of multiple 
Crestor generic medicines in the US, our six 
Growth Platforms grew by 4% (5% at CER)
representing 63% of our Total Revenue. 
We have completed a number of strategic 
business development transactions this 
year, such as the sale of the Company’s 
small molecule antibiotics business to Pfizer 
and the agreement with Aspen Pharma 
for the commercialisation rights to the 
Company’s global anaesthetics portfolio 
outside the US. The 7% decline (5% at CER) 
in Total Revenue reflects the loss of Crestor 
exclusivity. Core EPS increased by 1% (5% 
decline at CER). Our leadership team has 
taken care to manage costs and continue 
investment in the long-term success of the 
Company. Good progress was made on 

2016 remuneration outcomes
The performance measures used in our 
incentives are closely aligned with Company 
strategy, ensuring our Executive Directors 
are only rewarded for delivery of stretching 
and appropriately balanced financial, non-
financial and individual performance. The 
Committee’s evaluation has ensured that 
executive reward reflects the performance 
of the business and shareholder experience. 
Valuable insight was provided by the 
Science Committee for the assessment 
of science related matters and by the 
two Committee members who are also 
members of the Audit Committee. 

When considering business performance 
together with the Executive Directors’ 
individual performance, annual bonus 
awards of 98% and 88.2% of base salary 
were awarded to Mr Soriot and Mr Dunoyer, 
respectively, reflecting the Group scorecard 
outcome. Following the end of 2016, 
performance was tested for the three-year 
performance period for the 2014 PSP 
awards. As a result of our performance  
over the past three years, the 2014 PSP 
award will vest at 92% of maximum.

The two performance tests (progressive 
dividend and 1.5 times dividend cover) for 
the AZIP granted in 2013 were met in each 
year of the four-year performance period 
ending 31 December 2016, meaning that 
the award vests in full. Awards are subject  
to a further four-year holding period and they 
will be released on 31 December 2020.

We have reported Mr Soriot’s single total 
figure remuneration for 2016 on page 107.  
In addition to the regular 2013 AZIP award, 
this figure includes the previously reported 
one-off AZIP award granted to buyout LTIs 
from Mr Soriot’s previous employment,  
which he forfeited in order to join AstraZeneca. 
To enable a like-for-like comparison to be 
made between Mr Soriot’s 2015 and 2016 
remuneration we have included columns with 
and without the one-off buyout award in the 
single figure table. The one-off AZIP award is 
subject to a further four-year holding period 
before the award pays out.

Shareholder engagement
We received approximately 90% 
shareholder support for our 2015 Directors’ 
Remuneration Report. We have consulted 
with our major shareholders in developing 
our proposals for executive remuneration 
for 2017. 

Overall our major shareholders responded 
positively to the proposals we discussed 
and they encouraged further simplification 
of the Company’s executive remuneration 
arrangements in the future where possible. 
In light of the positive feedback received, 
the Committee decided to proceed with 
the changes it proposed, which I have 
summarised below. 

Remuneration in 2017
Overall executive pay opportunity
Executive Directors will receive salary 
increases of 2.5%, effective from  
1 January 2017, in line with those for the 
wider UK employee population. There will 
be no increase in the CEO’s maximum 
pay opportunity as a percentage of base 
salary, and LTI awards in excess of 500% 
base salary (at face value) will cease to be 
available under the proposed Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy as only a single LTI 
plan will be operated. Mr Soriot’s and  
Mr Dunoyer’s target LTI awards are 
unchanged at 250% and 200% of base 
salary respectively. The level of LTI vesting at 
threshold performance under the PSP will 
be reduced from 25% to 20% of maximum.

From 2017 onwards no awards will be made 
under the AZIP. LTI awards for Executive 
Directors will be made under the PSP only. 
Since the AZIP was first introduced in 2010, 
AstraZeneca has undergone significant 
change and the AZIP is no longer closely 
aligned to the delivery of the Company’s 
strategy. The Company’s pipeline of 
potential innovative medicines has been 
transformed and the Company’s efforts 
need to be sharply focused on delivering 
value from the late-stage pipeline through 
the successful approval and launch of its 
new medicines. 

In addition, shareholder concern that the 
AZIP has the potential to incentivise short-
termism in decision making rather than 
delivering sustainable value for shareholders 
is addressed through ceasing awards under 

104

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

this plan. Awards under the PSP have 
an expected value of 50%, whereas the 
expected value that has been used when 
making AZIP awards has been 100%.  
A consequence of awarding shares entirely 
under the PSP is that the value that could 
potentially be delivered to the CFO for 
maximum performance under the LTI plan 
has increased from 350% of base salary  
to 400% (face value). There is no increase  
in Mr Soriot’s maximum remuneration 
opportunity under the LTI plan, which 
remains at 500%.

2017 PSP simplification, transparency  
and alignment to strategy 
Building on the simplification of the PSP  
last year, in 2017 we will reduce the five 
Achieve scientific leadership measures 
to three: NME approvals, major life-cycle 
management approvals, and Phase III 
registration/NME approvals. These three 
measures focus on the successful delivery 
of the late-stage pipeline in alignment 
with the Return to growth phase of the 
Company’s strategy.

To ensure the link between executive reward 
and the achievement of operating profit is 
maintained, when we stop awarding shares 
under the AZIP, a new PSP measure will 
be adopted: Reported EBITDA (excluding 
non-cash movements on fair value of 
contingent consideration on business 
combinations). In selecting ‘Reported’ 
EBITDA, the Committee has addressed a 
general concern about the pharmaceutical 
industry’s use of ‘core’ earnings for incentive 
purposes. Further, in line with our aim to 
increase transparency and accountability 
in our reporting, we have disclosed the 
targets for this measure at the start of the 
performance period.

During the year, the Committee also 
reviewed the TSR peer group used for 
the PSP and has decided to increase the 
number of companies that form the group 
from 10 to 18. The new peer group provides 
a better comparison in terms of revenue, 
innovation portfolio and geographical 
presence. Twenty percent of the award will 
vest for median performance and 100% for 
upper quartile performance. TSR ranking 
within the new peer group is expected to 
reward consistent strong performance and 
mitigate market volatility. 

The adjustment and significant simplification 
of our LTI arrangements outlined above  
will support a sharp focus on critical 
decisions as the executive management 
continues to execute AstraZeneca’s strategy 
and deliver value for shareholders from its 
late-stage pipeline.

Legacy AZIP awards 
Although no new awards will be made 
under the AZIP, awards made under  
this plan in the past will continue in  
operation until the end of 2019, which  
is the final performance year of the AZIP 
awards granted in 2016. The AZIP targets 
(progressive dividend and 1.5 times  
dividend cover) will remain unchanged  
for all outstanding AZIP awards.

As originally operated, if an AZIP 
performance test was not achieved in 
any one of the four performance years, 
all outstanding AZIP awards would fail, 
which meant that the incentive to meet 
either target for the remaining years was 
rendered completely ineffective. Some of 
our shareholders have told us that they are 
concerned that the AZIP may incentivise too 
great a focus on short-term earnings rather 
than the investment needed to deliver the 
value of the Company’s late-stage pipeline.

The Committee considered a number  
of different ways to address this concern. 
For example, the volatility of exchange rates 
can have a significant impact on EPS with 
the consequence that the AZIP dividend 
cover target can become unachievable. 
Missing the dividend cover target for this 
reason would not be a fair reflection of the 
underlying business performance. However, 
making adjustments over the long term 
to balance the impact of exchange rate 
volatility across multiple markets, both 
in cases where the impact is positive for 
the Company as well as negative, would 
introduce significant complexity to the 
operation of the AZIP. 

Another way to mitigate the risk of 
incentivising a focus on delivering short-
term earnings would be to lower the 
AZIP’s targets. However, the Committee 
considered it inappropriate to reduce 
the performance targets set at the time 
the award was originally granted. The 
Committee is satisfied that the current 

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dividend level and cover targets remain 
stretching and appropriate for the  
three years left to run under the existing 
AZIP awards. 

The Committee also considered whether 
changes should be made to other elements 
of executive remuneration in order to 
mitigate the impact of the AZIP cliff-edge 
vesting but concluded that maintaining 
the stretch of the original AZIP targets was 
important. The Committee concluded 
that since the AZIP cliff-edge vesting was 
the root cause of shareholder concern, 
adjusting this is the most effective way to 
mitigate the risk that the AZIP could drive 
sub-optimal decision making. 

Ultimately, the Committee decided to 
operate a simple pro rata sliding scale for 
future performance years of the remaining 
awards. If a performance target is missed  
in any one year, instead of every outstanding 
AZIP award failing, only 25% will fail reflecting 
the fact that only one of the four performance 
years has failed. The Committee believes 
that this sliding scale directly addresses 
shareholder concern and will provide a 
good balance between challenging and 
achievable targets. 

Next steps
We remain committed to ensuring that our 
remuneration arrangements support our 
strategy and deliver sustainable value to our 
shareholders. As such I hope that you find 
this report explains clearly how we intend 
to achieve this and that it gives you the 
information you need to be able to support 
the two remuneration resolutions that will 
be put forward to a shareholder vote at the 
2017 AGM (the new Remuneration Policy 
and the Annual Report on Remuneration 
for the year ending 31 December 2016). 
Our ongoing dialogue with shareholders 
is valued greatly and, as always, we 
welcome your feedback on this Directors’ 
Remuneration Report.

Yours sincerely

Graham Chipchase 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
2 February 2017

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

105

 
Corporate Governance

Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

At a glance summary of Executive Directors’ remuneration
Looking ahead to 2017 – our remuneration framework

Element

Salary

Pension

Annual bonus

Structure

Opportunity

Change from 2016

Base salary, paid monthly

CEO – £1,220,000

CFO – £725,000

CEO – 30% of base salary

CFO – 24% of base salary

2.5% increase

2.5% increase

No change

No change

CEO – maximum 180% of base salary 

No change

CFO – maximum 150% of base salary

No change

Allowance taken as cash in lieu of pension 
participation

Quantum determined by one-year 
(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:16)
(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)
targets. One-third of bonus deferred into 
Ordinary Shares or ADSs, which will vest 
after three years

LTI

Delivered under the PSP

CEO – maximum 500% of base salary

No change

CFO – maximum 400% of base salary

Proportion vesting determined by 
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)
equally-weighted measures:

> Relative TSR
> Reported EBITDA
(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)
> Return to growth 
(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)

measures)

Two-year holding period follows 
performance period

14.3% increase as a consequence of 
awarding shares entirely under the PSP

Awards only made under the PSP  
going forward

Reported EBITDA has been introduced  
(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)
leadership measure has been reduced from 
(cid:430)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)

For further information on these changes 
see the Implementation of Remuneration 
Policy in 2017 section from page 117

Our variable remuneration – 2016
2016 Annual bonus (see page 107 for further details)

Measure

Target (one-year)

Weighting

Performance

Level of award(cid:446)

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)

(cid:38)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)
Core EPS
Revenue

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)

5 measures

Return to growth

6 measures

10%
20%
10%

6% each

5% each

Exceeded target
Below target
Below threshold

Exceeded target

Below target

CEO – 54.4% of maximum (98%  
of salary)

CFO – 58.8% of maximum (88.2% 
of salary)

1   Includes assessment of Executive Director’s performance against individual objectives.

2014-2016 PSP (see page 108 for further details)

Target (three-year)

Weighting

Performance

Level of award

Measure

Relative TSR

(cid:38)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)

5 measures

Return to growth 

5 measures

2013-2016 AZIP (see page 109 for further details)

TSR performance relative to peer group

(cid:38)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)

25% each

85% of maximum

100% of maximum

100% of maximum

82% of maximum

92% of maximum

Measure

Dividend level

Dividend cover

Target (four-year)

Weighting

Performance

Level of award

Annual dividend per share of $2.80 or more

At least 1.5 calculated on the basis  
of Core EPS

Both targets must be 
achieved for the 
award to vest

100% of maximum

100% of maximum

100% of maximum

106

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Annual Report on Remuneration

What did we pay our Directors?
Executive Directors’ single total figure remuneration (Audited)

Base Salary  Taxable benefits

Annual bonus

Long-term incentives

Pension 

Other

Total 
(excluding 
buyout 
long-term 
incentive)

Total

2016 
£’000

2015 
£’000

2016 
£’000

2015
£’000

2016 
£’000

2015 
£’000

Regular³
2016 
£’000

Regular1,3 
2015 
£’000

Buyout2,3
2016 
£’000

Buyout3
2015 
£’000

2016 
£’000

2015 
£’000

20163 
£’000

2015 
£’000

2016 
£’000

2015 
£’000

2016 
£’000

20151 
£’000

Pascal  
Soriot

Marc  
Dunoyer

1,190 1,167

121

115

1,167 2,042

6,910

4,289

3,623

707

694

Total

1,897 1,861

71

192

65

624 1,036

180

1,791 3,078

2,878

9,788

4,613

8,902

– 

3,623

–

–

–

357

350

170

527

167

517

21

–

21

–

–

9,766

7,963 13,389

7,963

4,450 6,575

4,450

6,575

– 14,216 14,538 17,839 14,538

1(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:350)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)

the three-month period to 31 December 2015.

2   Shares awarded to Mr Soriot in 2013 under the AZIP to compensate him for LTIs from previous employment which were forfeited on his recruitment as the Company’s CEO (as previously 

disclosed to shareholders in the 2013 Directors’ Remuneration Report) and the cash equivalent of dividends accrued on those AZIP shares during the performance period, payable on vesting.

3   Cash equivalent of the dividends accrued on shares deferred under the annual bonus awarded in respect of 2012, paid during the year on the completion of the bonus share deferral period.

Notes to the Executive Directors’ single total figure remuneration table
Taxable benefits
Executive Directors may select benefits within the Company’s UK Flexible Benefits Programme or can select to take all, or any remaining 
allowance after the selection of benefits, in cash. In 2016, the Executive Directors principally took the allowance in cash (£103,000 in respect 
of Mr Soriot and £54,000 in respect of Mr Dunoyer) and selected other benefits including healthcare insurance, death-in-service provision 
and advice in relation to tax.

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e
G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

2016 Annual bonus
The CEO had a target annual bonus of 100% of base salary (range 0-180%) and the CFO had a target annual bonus of 90% of base salary 
(range 0-150%).

One-third of the pre-tax bonuses shown will be deferred into Ordinary Shares which will vest three years from the date of deferral, subject to 
continued employment. The bonus is not pensionable.

The precise targets or target ranges set at the beginning of the performance period are closely aligned to the Company’s strategic priorities, 
set out in the Group scorecard. As in prior years, we have set out below the targets for 2016 in respect of the Achieve Group financial 
targets element of the annual bonus and Company performance against those targets. In addition, we have provided the outcomes under 
each of the Achieve scientific leadership and Return to growth targets. While, in the judgement of the Board, the targets themselves under 
these areas remain commercially sensitive, we remain committed to making retrospective disclosure of these targets when they are no 
longer considered to be commercially sensitive. It is anticipated that targets will be disclosed two years after the end of the performance 
period (as has been done for the 2014 annual bonus targets which are set out on page 114).

The 2016 bonus for both Executive Directors was below their individual target and was determined by applying the Group scorecard 
outcome directly to their target. The Group scorecard outcome was 98% and consequently the Committee determined that Mr Soriot’s 
annual bonus should amount to 98% of base salary, representing 54.4% of his potential maximum, and that Mr Dunoyer’s bonus should 
amount to 88.2% of base salary, representing 58.8% of his potential maximum.

1. Achieve Group financial targets
These targets are based on the Company’s key financial measures. Cash flow performance in 2016 was strong and the target was 
exceeded. The Core EPS and Revenue outcomes were below target – Core EPS performance was within the performance range and 
resulted in a below target payout. There will be no payout related to Revenue performance, which was below the threshold level set for  
that measure.

Performance targets for 2016

Cash flow from operating activities target

Core EPS

Overall revenue

Pascal Soriot level of award

Marc Dunoyer level of award

Weighting

Target

Outcome

Performance

10% 

20% 

10% 

$3.9bn1

$4.202

$4.5bn1

Exceeded target

$4.132

Below target

$24.3bn2

$23.5bn2

Below threshold

Pascal Soriot 
level of award

Marc Dunoyer 
level of award

19.0%

17.0%

0%

17.1%

15.3%

0%

£429,000 (representing 36.7% of total annual bonus outcome)

£229,000 (representing 36.7% of total annual bonus outcome)

1(cid:3) (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:17)
2(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:51)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)

are outside the Company’s control, do not impact reward outcomes.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

107

 
Corporate Governance

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

2. Achieve scientific leadership
These targets reflect the Company’s ability to deliver innovation to the market. In 2016, we continued to make progress towards achieving 
scientific leadership. 

The AstraZeneca pipeline includes 132 projects, of which 120 are in the clinical phase of development. There are 12 NME projects  
currently in late-stage development, either in Phase III/pivotal Phase II studies or under regulatory review. During 2016, across the portfolio, 
48 projects successfully progressed to their next phase. This includes four first approvals in a major market, and 15 NME progressions.  
In addition, 17 projects have entered Phase I and 22 projects have been discontinued.

The Committee and the Science Committee assessed the substance of the achievements and concluded a fair and balanced outcome 
was 15 Phase II starts/progressions (versus 16 as reported in the KPI section on page 16) and 13 NME and major life-cycle management 
submissions (versus 14 as reported in the KPI section).

Performance targets for 2016

Phase II starts/progressions

Positive Phase III investment decisions

NME and major life-cycle management submissions

NME and major life-cycle management approvals

Clinical-stage external licensing and partnering opportunities

6% per
measure 

Commercially 
sensitive 
until March 
2019

15

7

13

11

10

Below target

Met target

Below target

Met target

Exceeded target

41.0%

36.9%

Weighting

Target

Outcome

Performance

Pascal Soriot
aggregate level of award

Marc Dunoyer
aggregate level of award

Pascal Soriot level of award

Marc Dunoyer level of award

£488,000 (representing 41.9% of total annual bonus outcome)

£261,000 (representing 41.9% of total annual bonus outcome)

3. Return to growth1
These targets are based on quantitative sales targets for 2016 relating to the Company’s Growth Platforms: Brilinta/Brilique, CVMD, 
Respiratory, New Oncology, Emerging Markets, and Japan. In 2016, the New Oncology therapy area performed well, exceeding target,  
and Japan met its target. The other Return to growth platform outcomes were below target reflecting a number of challenges in meeting 
these stretching targets. 

Performance targets for 2016

Weighting

Target

Outcome 

Performance

Pascal Soriot
aggregate level of award

Marc Dunoyer
aggregate level of award

Brilinta/Brilique

CVMD

Respiratory

New Oncology

Emerging Markets

Japan
Pascal Soriot level of award

Marc Dunoyer level of award

5% per 
measure 

Commercially 
sensitive
until March 
2019

$0.9bn

$2.5bn

$4.9bn

Below target

Below target

Below target

$0.7bn

Exceeded target

$6.3bn

Below target

Met target
£250,000 (representing 21.4% of total annual bonus outcome)

$1.9bn

£134,000 (representing 21.4% of total annual bonus outcome)

21.0%

18.9%

1   In respect of the Return to growth measures only, the targets are set at budget exchange rates at the beginning of the performance period and evaluated at those rates at the end of the  

performance period.

4. Individual performance
Although the performance targets in the Group scorecard drive prima facie bonus outcomes, the Committee also applies judgement to 
assess the Executive Director’s individual performance. 

Our Executive Directors delivered 2016 business performance in line with expectations and against stretching performance targets, while 
managing a number of factors that impacted 2016 Product Sales and Total Revenue, such as pricing pressure and new competition from 
Crestor generic medicines. Strong leadership from our Executive Directors has enabled significant achievements such as the strategic 
prioritisation of scientific projects leading to the acceleration of a number of important opportunities and an organisational transformation  
to support entrepreneurial and agile teams focused on the most critical business priorities while delivering a 12% reduction in Core SG&A 
expense (9% at CER) and continuing to invest in R&D. When considering our Executive Directors’ individual performance and the business’ 
performance overall, the Committee decided a Group scorecard outcome of 98% represents a fair and balanced reflection of performance 
in a challenging year and that no upward or downward adjustment to the bonus outcomes for either Executive Director was required.

Long-term incentives: 
2014 Performance Share Plan (PSP)
92% of the PSP awards granted to Mr Soriot and Mr Dunoyer in 2014 in respect of the 2014-2016 performance period will vest in 2017.

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer

Number of shares awarded Number of shares vesting

124,066

52,254

114,140

48,073

Value vesting1
£’000

5,817

2,450

1  Based on average closing share price over the three-month period to 31 December 2016 plus accrued dividends over the vesting period.

108

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
The TSR and cash flow targets were disclosed at the time of the award. The Committee has determined that the 2014 targets relating  
to the Achieve scientific leadership and Return to growth elements of the PSP are no longer commercially sensitive. The targets, outcomes 
and relative weighting of each of the PSP’s performance measures are set out in the tables below.

More information about the PSP is set out in the Share interests awarded in 2016 section from page 110.

1. Relative TSR

Performance measure for 2014-2016

AstraZeneca’s rank against peer group

Weighting 

25%

Threshold target: 
25% vesting

 Median (6th)

Maximum target: 
100% vesting

Above upper quartile 
(2nd or above, at the 
discretion of the Committee)

Outcome

2nd

Vesting (% of 
maximum)

85%

Above upper quartile TSR performance achieved. In the Committee’s judgement, 85% vesting is a fair reflection of underlying business 
performance and shareholder experience over the performance period. More information about the TSR performance of the Company, 
including the Company’s peer group, is set out in the Total shareholder return section on page 113.

2. Cumulative cash flow

Performance target for 2014-2016

Adjusted cumulative cash flow1

Weighting 

25%

Threshold target: 
25% vesting

$9.0bn

Maximum target: 
100% vesting

$13.0bn

Outcome

$13.3bn

Vesting (% of 
maximum)

100%

1(cid:3) (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:17)

3. Achieve scientific leadership

Performance targets for 2014-2016

NME approvals

Major life-cycle management approvals

Phase III/registration NME volume

Prospective peak-year sales from NME and major life-cycle 
management approvals

Phase II starts

Weighting

Threshold target: 
25% vesting

Maximum target: 
100% vesting

Outcome

Vesting (% of 
maximum)

5% per 
measure

2

3

5

$2.0bn

12

6

6

7

9

6

15

$4.0bn

$7.0bn

100%

100%

100%

100%

16

36

100%

C
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4. Return to growth1

Performance targets for 2014-2016

Brilinta/Brilique

Diabetes franchise

Respiratory

Emerging Markets

Japan

Weighting

Threshold target: 
25% vesting

Maximum target: 
100% vesting

5% per 
measure

$0.8bn

$2.3bn

$3.4bn

$5.0bn

$1.9bn

$1.1bn

$3.3bn

$4.8bn

$7.2bn

$2.7bn

Outcome

$0.9bn

$2.6bn

$5.3bn

$6.9bn

$2.4bn

Vesting (% of 
maximum)

79%

55%

100%

94%

81%

1  The Return to growth targets are set at budget exchange rates at the beginning of the performance period and evaluated at those rates at the end of the performance period.

2013 AstraZeneca Investment Plan (AZIP)
100% of the AZIP awards granted to Mr Soriot and Mr Dunoyer in 2013 in respect of the 2013-2016 performance period will vest in 2021, 
subject to continued employment. Mr Soriot’s 2013 AZIP comprised a regular award of 20,852 shares and a one-off award of 69,108 
shares to compensate him for LTIs from previous employment forfeited on his recruitment as the Company’s CEO. The AZIP targets were 
disclosed at the time of the award and the targets and outcomes are set out below. 

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer

Number of shares awarded Number of shares vesting

89,960

8,176

89,960

8,176

1  Based on average closing share price over the three-month period to 31 December 2016 plus accrued dividends over the performance period.

Performance targets for 2013-2016

Annual dividend per share at or above $2.80

Dividend cover of 1.5 calculated on the basis of Core EPS

2013

$2.80

1.80

2014

$2.80

1.53

2015

$2.80

1.52

More information about the AZIP is set out in the Share interests awarded in 2016 section from page 110.

Value vesting1
£’000

4,716

429

Outcome

2016

$2.80

1.54

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

109

 
Corporate Governance

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Pension allowance
Mr Soriot’s annual pension allowance is 30% of base salary and Mr Dunoyer’s is 24% of base salary. Both Executive Directors took their 
pension allowance as a cash alternative to participation in a defined contribution pension scheme.

Non-Executive Directors’ single total figure remuneration (Audited)

Leif Johansson

Geneviève Berger

Bruce Burlington

Ann Cairns

Graham Chipchase

Rudy Markham

Shriti Vadera

Marcus Wallenberg

Former Non-Executive Directors

Cori Bargmann

Jean-Philippe Courtois

Nancy Rothwell

John Varley

Total

2016 
Fees
£’000
611

87

117

95

115

165

110

87

65

87

–

–

2015 
Fees
£’000
609

87

114

95

107

156

108

87

59

95

35

46

2016 
Total
£’000
611

87

117

95

115

165

110

87

65

87

–

–

2015 
Total
£’000
609

87

114

95

107

156

108

87

59

95

35

46

1,539

1,598

1,539

1,598

Notes to the Non-Executive Directors’ single total figure remuneration table
Board fees and office costs
The Chairman’s fee includes office costs (invoiced in Swedish krona) of £36,000 for 2016, and £34,000 for 2015. Further information on the 
Non-Executive Directors’ fees can be found in the Summary of Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration for 2017 section on page 119.

Board changes
Cori Bargmann and Jean-Philippe Courtois stepped down from the Board with effect from 1 October 2016 and 1 December 2016 respectively.

Share interests awarded in 2016 (Audited)
Deferred Bonus Plan

Interest awarded

Description of interest

Basis of award

Face value of award

Vesting level at threshold performance1

End of performance period2

Summary of performance measures  
and targets

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer

17,352 Ordinary Shares awarded on 24 March 2016  
at a grant price of 3923 pence per share.

8,798 Ordinary Shares awarded on 24 March 2016  
at a grant price of 3923 pence per share.

Award over shares equal to one-third of the pre-tax annual bonus paid in respect of performance during 2015, based on 
the prevailing market share price on the award date.

Automatic deferral of one-third of annual bonus into Ordinary Shares or ADSs.

£681,000

£345,000

100%

24 March 2019

No performance conditions apply, but vesting is ordinarily subject to continued employment.

1  No performance conditions apply under the Deferred Bonus Plan, other than continued employment.
2  As no performance conditions apply, this date represents the end of the holding period.

110

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Performance Share Plan (PSP)

Interest awarded

Description of interest

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer

129,713 Ordinary Shares awarded on 24 March 2016  
at a grant price of 3923 pence per share.

54,101 Ordinary Shares awarded on 24 March 2016  
at a grant price of 3923 pence per share.

An award over shares. The vesting date is the fifth anniversary of the date of grant, subject to performance over  
a three-year period commencing on 1 January in the year of the award and a two-year holding period commencing three 
years from the date of grant, and continued employment.

The award is expressed as a percentage of base salary. Awards are weighted 75% in favour of the PSP and 25%  
in favour of the AZIP.

Basis of award

Face value of award

Vesting level at threshold performance

End of performance period

End of holding period

427.5% of base salary.

£5,087,000

300% of base salary.

£2,122,000

25%

31 December 2018

24 March 2021

Summary of performance measures  
and targets

A combination of measures focused on our scientific, commercial and financial performance assessed over the relevant 
three-year performance period:

Twenty five percent of the award is based on the relative TSR performance of the Company against a predetermined peer 
group of global pharmaceutical companies. The rank which the Company’s TSR achieves over the performance period will 
determine how many shares will vest under the part of the award subject to the TSR performance measure. Payouts against 
performance in relation to TSR for PSP awards are expressed as a percentage of the maximum award currently payable, 
shown within a range of 0% to 100%, as shown in the table below.

TSR ranking of the Company – PSP awards made in 2016

% of award under TSR performance measure that vests

Below median

Median

Between median and upper quartile

Upper quartile

Above upper quartile

0%

25%

Pro rata

75%

75% to 100% at the Committee’s discretion

More information about the TSR performance of the Company, including the Company’s peer group, is set out in the Total 
shareholder return section on page 113.

Twenty five percent of the award is based on the achievement of a cumulative free cash flow target. The measure for the 
cash flow target for the PSP awards made in 2016 is net cash flow before distributions and other adjustments required by the 
performance conditions (subject to any further adjustments the Committee chooses to make using its judgement) and thus 
referred to as ‘adjusted cumulative cash flow’, over the same three-year performance period as the TSR performance 
measure, and the level of vesting for the part of the award subject to the cash flow performance measure is based on a 
sliding scale between a threshold cash flow target and an upper target. Vesting levels in relation to the threshold target and 
the upper target are shown in the table below.

Adjusted cumulative cash flow – PSP awards made in 2016

% of award under cash flow performance measure that vests

Less than $9bn

$9bn

Between $9bn and $11bn

$11bn

Between $11bn and $13.5bn

$13.5bn and above

0%

25%

Pro rata

75%

Pro rata

100%

Twenty five percent of the award is based on Return to growth measures based on achievement of an aggregate revenue 
target relating to the Company’s Growth Platforms.

Aggregate revenue of Growth Platforms – PSP awards made in 2016 % of award under Return to growth performance measure that vests

$17bn

$20bn

25%

100%

Twenty five percent of the award is based on Achieve scientific leadership measures covering five areas: an NME target, 
which reflects the Company’s ability to deliver innovation to the market; major life-cycle management approvals, which 
represent a good proxy for near-to-mid term growth; the volume of NMEs in Phase III and their registration; a target for 
peak-year sales, to track the value of pipeline output; and delivery from our research and early development organisation, 
assessed by Phase II starts.

As the PSP performance measures related to Achieve scientific leadership are an indicator of the Company’s longer-term 
strategic priorities, we believe that the targets/target ranges associated with them are commercially sensitive. We will make 
retrospective disclosure when the targets are deemed to be no longer commercially sensitive, which we currently anticipate 
to be immediately following the end of the performance period.

More information about the PSP’s performance measures is set out on page 125 of the Remuneration Policy Report.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

111

 
Corporate Governance

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

AstraZeneca Investment Plan (AZIP)

Interest awarded

Description of interest

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer

21,618 Ordinary Shares awarded on 24 March 2016 at a grant 
price of 3923 pence per share.

9,016 Ordinary Shares awarded on 24 March 2016 at a grant 
price of 3923 pence per share.

An award over shares. The vesting date is the eighth anniversary of the start of the performance period (being 1 January in any 
given year), subject to performance and continued employment.

The award is expressed as a percentage of base salary. Awards are weighted 75% in favour of the PSP and 25% in favour of the AZIP.

Basis of award

Face value of award

71.25% of base salary.

£848,000

Vesting level at threshold performance

End of performance period

End of holding period

Summary of performance measures  
and targets

50% of base salary.

£354,000

100%

31 December 2019

31 December 2023

Dividend and dividend cover hurdles, assessed over the relevant four-year performance period

> dividend per share of $2.80 maintained, or increased, over the performance period
> dividend cover of 1.5 maintained over the performance period, calculated on the basis of Core EPS.

If both targets are achieved in each year of the performance period, the awards will vest in full. Twenty five percent of an award  
will lapse for each year in which neither, or only one, target is achieved.

More information about the AZIP’s performance hurdles is set out on page 127 of the Remuneration Policy Report.

Payments to former Directors (Audited)
No payments were made during 2016 to former Directors.

(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:36)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:12)
No payments were made for loss of office during 2016. 

Remuneration context and our past performance
Statement of change in remuneration of CEO compared to other employees

Salary

Taxable benefits

Annual bonus

2.0%

5.2%

(42.9)%

3.3%

3.3%

(21.5)%

Percentage change for CEO against 2015

Average percentage change for employees against 2015

The employee comparator group comprises employees in the UK, US and Sweden. We consider this to be an appropriate comparator 
group because it is representative of the Group’s major science, business and enabling units, and the employee populations are well 
balanced in terms of seniority and demographics. To provide a meaningful comparison of salary increases, a consistent employee 
comparator group is used by which the same individuals appear in the 2015 and 2016 group.

CEO total remuneration table 

Year

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2012

2012

2011

2010

2009

CEO

Pascal Soriot

Pascal Soriot

Pascal Soriot

Pascal Soriot

Pascal Soriot4

Simon Lowth6

David Brennan8

David Brennan

David Brennan

David Brennan

CEO single total figure 
remuneration 
£’000

13,3891,2

7,9633

3,507

3,344

3,6935

3,289

4,1479

7,863

9,690

5,767

Annual bonus
£’000

Annual bonus payout
against maximum
opportunity 
%

1,167

2,042

1,926

1,870

335

1,034

–

1,326

1,583

1,751

54

97

94

94

68

86

– 10

74

90

100

Value of LTIs 
at vest
£’000

10,5331,2

4,2893

–

–

–

1,3017

2,538

5,386

6,937

2,795

LTI vesting rates 
against maximum
opportunity 
%

95

78

–

–

–

387

38

62

100

62

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2  Based on average closing share price over the three-month period to 31 December 2016 plus accrued dividends over the vesting and performance periods.
3(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:350)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)

the three-month period to 31 December 2015.

4(cid:3) (cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:40)(cid:50)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:17)
5(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:101)(cid:28)(cid:28)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:101)(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:55)(cid:44)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3) 

both in respect of his previous employment.

6  Mr Lowth acted as Interim CEO from June to September 2012 inclusive.
7  Mr Lowth’s LTI awards which vested during 2012 were not awarded or received in respect of his performance as Interim CEO.
8  Mr Brennan ceased to be a Director on 1 June 2012.
9(cid:3) (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:101)(cid:28)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:17)
10  Mr Brennan informed the Committee that he did not wish to be considered for a bonus in respect of that part of 2012 in which he was CEO. The Committee determined that no such bonus  

would be awarded and also that there should be no bonus award relating to his contractual notice period.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Total shareholder return (TSR)
The graph below compares the TSR performance of the Company over the past eight years with the TSR of the FTSE100 Index.  
This graph is re-based to 100 at the start of the relevant period. As a constituent of the FTSE100, this index represents an appropriate 
reference point for the Company. We have also included a ‘Pharmaceutical peers average’, which reflects the TSR of the current 
comparator group and provides shareholders with additional context.

The charts below show how the Company’s TSR performance has compared with the TSR for the relevant companies in the comparator 
group from the first day in the three-year performance period in respect of the PSP awards made in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and how the 
Company ranks against those other companies on this basis.

To alleviate any short-term volatility, the return index is averaged in the TSR calculations for each company over the three months prior  
to the start of the relevant performance period (as stipulated in the PSP rules) and, for the purposes of the charts below, over the last  
three months of 2016.

TSR over an eight-year period

AstraZeneca TSR vs comparator group
1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016 (%)

275
250
225
200
175
150
125
100

Jan
09

Jan
10

Jan
11

Jan
12

Jan
13

Jan
14

Jan
15

Jan
16

Jan
17

 AstraZeneca  

 Pharmaceutical peers average 

 FTSE100

30

20

10

0

-10

-20

GSK

MRK

J&J

AV

AZ

PFI

LLY

SA

RH

NOV

BMS

AstraZeneca TSR vs comparator group
1 January 2015 – 31 December 2016 (%)

AstraZeneca TSR vs comparator group
1 January 2014 – 31 December 2016 (%)

30

20

10

0

-10

-20

GSK

LLY

J&J

PFI

MRK

AZ

AV

SA

BMS

RH

NOV

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

LLY

AZ

MRK

AV

J&J

GSK

PFI

BMS

NOV

SA

RH

Key: 
(cid:36)(cid:61)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:57)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:48)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:16)(cid:48)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:54)(cid:46)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:82)(cid:54)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:46)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:9)(cid:45)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:82)(cid:75)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:82)(cid:75)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:47)(cid:60)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:53)(cid:46)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:50)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:41)(cid:44)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:430)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3) 
(cid:53)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:16)(cid:36)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)

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113

 
Corporate Governance

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Relative importance of spend on remuneration
The table below shows the remuneration paid to all employees in the Group and expenditure on shareholder distributions through dividends.

The figures below have been calculated in accordance with the Group Accounting Policies and drawn from either the Company’s 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income on page 138, or its Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows on page 141. Further 
information on the Group’s Accounting Policies can be found from page 142.

Total employee remuneration

Distributions to shareholders: 
– Dividends paid

2016
$m

6,284

3,561

2015
$m

6,128

3,486

Difference in spend
between years
$m

Difference in spend
between years
%

156

75

2.5

2.2

Disclosure of historic performance targets
2014 Annual bonus
In accordance with the Committee’s commitment to disclosure as set out in the 2014 Directors’ Remuneration Report, the Committee has 
determined that the 2014 targets relating to the Achieve scientific leadership and Return to growth elements of the annual bonus are no 
longer commercially sensitive and can therefore be disclosed. The Achieve Group financial targets were disclosed in the 2014 Directors’ 
Remuneration Report. Mr Soriot’s 2014 annual bonus award was 170% of base salary, and Mr Dunoyer’s award was 149.4%. The level  
of award for the Executive Directors in respect of the Achieve scientific leadership performance measures was 35% of the total bonus 
outcome, with the Return to growth measures contributing 22%. These figures reflect the outcome of the global Scorecard and the 
Executive Directors’ individual performance against it.

1. Achieve scientific leadership

Performance measures for 2014

Phase II starts/progressions

Positive Phase III investment decisions

NME major life-cycle management submissions

NME major life-cycle management approvals

Clinical-stage external licensing and partnering opportunities

2. Return to growth1

Performance measures for 2014

Deliver Brilinta/Brilique target

Build Diabetes franchise

Deliver sales growth in Emerging Markets

Deliver Respiratory goals 

Deliver Japan growth target

Target

Outcome

Performance

8

5

5

6

2

Target

$487m

$1,824m

$5,761m

$4,460m

$2,456m

13

9

6

12

3

Exceeded target

Exceeded target

Met target

Exceeded target

Met target

Outcome

$476m

$1,870m

$5,827m

$4,747m

$2,227m

Performance

Below target

Met target

Met target

Exceeded target

Below target

1   In respect of the Return to growth measures only, the targets are set at budget exchange rates at the beginning of the performance period and evaluated at those rates at the end of the  

performance period.

Directors’ interests in shares (Audited)
Under the Company’s Articles all Directors must, within two months of their appointment, acquire a beneficial interest in at least 500 shares 
in the Company. All of the Directors fulfil this requirement at the date of this Directors’ Remuneration Report.

In addition to this mandatory requirement, the Board imposes minimum shareholding requirements on the Executive Directors and SET 
members. The CEO is required to build a shareholding and hold shares amounting to 300% of base salary, and the CFO is required to hold 
shares amounting to 200% of base salary, each within five years of their dates of appointment. As at 31 December 2016, Mr Soriot and Mr 
Dunoyer had fulfilled this requirement. All other SET members are required to build a shareholding over time and hold 125% of base salary 
as shares while in office.

The Board also encourages each Non-Executive Director to build up, over a period of three years, a shareholding in the Company with a 
value approximately equivalent to the basic annual fee for a Non-Executive Director (£75,000) or, in the case of the Chairman, approximately 
equivalent to his basic annual fee (£575,000). All of the Non-Executive Directors, including the Chairman, had fulfilled this expectation as at 
31 December 2016.

114

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

The tables below show the interests of the Directors (including the interests of their connected persons) in Ordinary Shares as at  
31 December 2016, as well as details of any Director’s interests in options over the Company’s shares. All such interests were beneficial 
except as otherwise stated. No Director or senior executive beneficially owns, or has options over, 1% or more of the issued share capital of 
the Company, nor do they have different voting rights from other shareholders. None of the Directors has a beneficial interest in the shares 
of any of the Company’s subsidiaries. Between 31 December 2016 and 2 February 2017, there was no change in the interests in Ordinary 
Shares shown in the tables below.

Executive Directors

Executive Director

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer 

Shares held

Options held

Value of shares 
held beneficially 
as percentage 
of base salary1

Shareholding 
requirement
(to be built up within
5 years of date of
appointment)

326%

634%

300%

200%

Held
beneficially 

87,355

101,034

Subject to 
performance 
conditions

418,298

177,606

Subject to 
deferral

136,760

26,764

Unvested

Vested but 
unexercised

Exercised 
during the year

–

544

–

–

–

–

Total

642,413

305,948

1  The value of shares is based on the London Stock Exchange closing price of 4437.5 pence per Ordinary Share on 31 December 2016.

Non-Executive Directors
The Non-Executive Directors are not eligible to receive shares in the Company that are the subject of performance conditions, and have 
acquired their beneficial interests in the Company’s shares using their own resources.

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Non-Executive Director

Leif Johansson

Geneviève Berger

Bruce Burlington

Ann Cairns

Graham Chipchase

Rudy Markham

Shriti Vadera

Marcus Wallenberg

Former Directors

Cori Bargmann

Jean-Philippe Courtois

Beneficial interest in 
Ordinary Shares at 
31 December 2015 or
(if later) appointment date 

Change to beneficial interest

Beneficial interest in 
Ordinary Shares at 
31 December 2016 or 
(if earlier) date of retirement 

39,009

2,090

3,349

2,325

3,000

2,452

10,000

63,646

1,959

6,035

–

–

–

–

100

–

–

–

–

–

39,009

2,090

3,349

2,325

3,100

2,452

10,000

63,646

1,959

6,035

Governance
Committee membership
The Committee members are Graham Chipchase (Chairman of the Committee), Leif Johansson, Rudy Markham and Shriti Vadera.  
The Deputy Company Secretary acts as the secretary to the Committee.

The Committee met five times in 2016. The individual attendance record of Committee members is set out on page 84. The Committee  
was materially assisted, except in relation to their own remuneration, by the CEO; the CFO; the VP Finance, Group Controller; the EVP 
GMD; the EVP, Human Resources; the Human Resources Vice-President, Centre of Excellence; the Executive Compensation Director;  
and the Company Secretary during the year. The Committee’s independent adviser, Nicki Demby, Deloitte LLP (Deloitte) attended all 
Committee meetings.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

115

 
Corporate Governance

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

The Committee focused on the following principal matters at its meetings held in 2016 and in January 2017:

 > The terms of senior executives’ employment and remuneration packages on appointment, promotion or termination.
 > The assessment of Group and individual performance against targets to determine the level of annual bonuses for performance during 

2015 and to set executive bonus targets during 2016 and LTI awards to be granted during 2016.

 > The assessment of performance against targets to determine the level of vesting in 2016 under the PSP and AZIP, and the setting of PSP 

and AZIP performance thresholds for awards made in 2016.

 > The determination of individual awards made to SET members and other participants under the Group’s main LTI plans: the PSP; the 

AZIP; and the AstraZeneca Global Restricted Stock Plan.

 > The determination of restricted share awards to a number of senior executives under the AstraZeneca Restricted Share Plan.
 > A review of shareholder voting in respect of the Directors’ Remuneration Report 2015 (including dialogue with major shareholders). 
 > Consultation with major shareholders and shareholder representative bodies regarding proposals to simplify LTI plans.
 > A review of a report providing an analysis of key aspects of reward across the wider Group.
 > The determination of the Executive Directors’ and other SET members’ remuneration for 2016 and for 2017.
 > The assessment and setting of executive bonus targets for 2017 and LTI awards to be granted in 2017.
 > The annual review of the performance of the Committee.
 > The review of the terms of reference of the Committee.
 > The preparation, review and approval of this Directors’ Remuneration Report.

Independent adviser to the Committee
The Committee reappointed Deloitte as its independent adviser following a tender process undertaken in 2013, which involved interviews 
with both the Company’s management and the Chairman of the Committee. The role as independent adviser will be re-tendered no  
later than the end of 2018. Deloitte’s service to the Committee was provided on a time-spent basis at a cost to the Company of £99,000 
(excluding VAT). During the year, Deloitte also provided taxation advice and other specific non-audit advisory services to the Group.  
The Committee reviewed the potential for conflicts of interest and judged that there were no conflicts. Deloitte is a member of the 
Remuneration Consultants’ Group, which is responsible for the stewardship and development of the voluntary code of conduct in  
relation to executive remuneration consulting in the UK. The principles on which the code is based are transparency, integrity, objectivity, 
competence, due care and confidentiality. Deloitte adheres to the code. 

Shareholder context
At the Company’s AGM held in April 2016, the resolution to approve the Annual Report on Remuneration for the year ended 31 December 
2015 was passed.

Resolution

Votes for

% for

Votes against

% against Total votes cast

Capital voted Votes withheld

Ordinary Resolution to approve the Annual Report on Remuneration 
for the year ended 31 December 2015

836,396,151 

89.61  96,959,428 

10.39  933,355,579 

73.81 

3,822,290 

% of Issued Share

At the Company’s AGM held in April 2014, the resolution to approve the current Remuneration Policy was passed.

Resolution

Votes for

% for

Votes against

% against Total votes cast

Capital voted Votes withheld

Ordinary Resolution to approve the Directors’ Remuneration Policy

623,298,717 

85.00  110,030,311 

15.00  733,329,028 

58.13  166,623,018 

% of Issued Share

As explained in the Annual Statement from the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee from page 103, an updated Remuneration Policy 
will be proposed for approval by shareholders at the 2017 AGM. 

In 2015, we simplified the PSP for awards made in 2016 by replacing the six Return to growth performance targets with one aggregate 
sales target for our Growth Platforms and increased transparency in our reporting by disclosing the target for that measure at the start  
of the performance period, in line with our aim to strike the right balance between transparency in our reporting on executive pay and 
protecting our commercially sensitive information.

In 2016, the Chairman of the Committee consulted with our major shareholders and shareholder representative bodies on executive 
remuneration. The feedback we received has informed the Committee’s approach to executive remuneration in 2017, with further detail set 
out in the Annual Statement from the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee from page 103 and the Implementation of Remuneration 
Policy in 2017 section from page 117.

Based on our shareholder consultation we believe that the changes made to the Committee’s approach to executive remuneration  
in 2017 will closely align our reward mechanisms with the experience of shareholders. We intend to continue the dialogue with our major 
shareholders and shareholder representative bodies during the course of 2017 as the Company’s strategy and business needs evolve,  
to ensure executive reward remains aligned to the delivery of sustainable value for our shareholders.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Service contracts
The notice periods and unexpired terms of Executive Directors’ service contracts at 31 December 2016 are shown in the table below. 

AstraZeneca or the Executive Director may terminate the service contract on 12 months’ notice.

Executive Director

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer

Date of service contract

15 December 2016

6 December 2016

Unexpired term at 31 December 2016

Notice period

12 months

12 months

12 months

12 months

Terms of reference
A copy of the Committee’s terms of reference is available on our website, www.astrazeneca.com. The Committee conducted a review of its 
terms of reference during 2016 and recommended minor changes including an express reference to the regular tender for the services of 
the Committee’s independent adviser. The Board approved this recommendation.

Basis of preparation of this Directors’ Remuneration Report
This Directors’ Remuneration Report has been prepared in accordance with the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups 
(Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (the Regulations) and meets the relevant requirements of the Financial Conduct 
Authority’s Listing Rules. As required by the Regulations, resolutions to approve the Annual Report on Remuneration and the Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy will be proposed at the AGM on 27 April 2017.

Implementation of Remuneration Policy in 2017
This section sets out how the Committee intends to implement our Remuneration Policy in 2017.

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Changes to LTI plans
From 1 January 2017, LTI plans will be simplified: no new awards will be made under the AZIP so LTI awards for Executive Directors will only 
be made under the PSP. The performance measures and weightings for 2017 PSP awards are set out in the table overleaf. Taking into 
account shareholder feedback, a number of changes have been made to the PSP’s performance measures:

 > The level of vesting for threshold performance has been reduced from 25% to 20% of maximum for all measures.
 > The TSR peer group will be increased from 10 to 18 companies. The new peer group provides a better comparison in terms of revenue, 
innovative portfolio and geographical presence. The TSR peer group is set out in the Summary of Executive Directors’ remuneration for 
2017 section on page 118.

 > We have introduced a Reported EBITDA measure. In selecting ‘Reported’ EBITDA, the Committee has addressed a general concern 

about the pharmaceutical industry’s use of ‘core’ earnings for incentive purposes. Further to this, in line with our aim to increase 
transparency and accountability in our reporting, we have disclosed the targets for this measure at the start of the performance period.
 > The number of measures under the Achieve scientific leadership element has been reduced from five to three measures ensuring focus 

on late-stage value creation.

For AZIP awards that still have performance years to run in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Committee is responding to concerns expressed by 
some shareholders that the AZIP may incentivise decision making that is strongly focused on short-term earnings, by introducing a simple 
pro rata sliding scale to assess performance for the outstanding AZIP awards. If a performance target is missed in any one year, instead  
of every outstanding AZIP award failing, only 25% will fail reflecting the fact that only one of the four performance years has failed.  
The Committee believes that this sliding scale directly addresses shareholder concerns and will provide a good balance between 
challenging and achievable targets.

Executive Directors’ remuneration opportunity for 2017
Effective from 1 January 2017, Mr Soriot’s base salary was increased, in line with increases in the UK employee population, by 2.5%  
to £1,220,000. For performance in line with the Company’s expectations, Mr Soriot’s overall remuneration opportunity will remain 
unchanged at 100% of base salary for his annual bonus, and 250% of base salary for his LTI award.

Effective from 1 January 2017, Mr Dunoyer’s base salary was increased, in line with increases in the UK employee population, by 2.5%  
to £725,000. For performance in line with the Company’s expectations, Mr Dunoyer’s overall remuneration opportunity will also remain 
unchanged at 90% of base salary for his annual bonus, and 200% of base salary for his LTI award. Awards under the PSP have an 
expected value of 50%, whereas the expected value that has been used when making AZIP awards has been 100%. A consequence  
of awarding shares entirely under the PSP is that the value that could potentially be delivered to Mr Dunoyer for maximum performance 
under the LTI has increased from 350% of base salary to 400% at face value. There is no increase in Mr Soriot’s maximum remuneration 
opportunity under the LTI which remains at 500% at face value.

The annual bonus measures and weightings for 2017 are set out in the table overleaf and are broadly consistent with those applicable  
in 2016. Individual performance for each of the Executive Directors will be assessed by reference to individual objectives in line with the 
Company’s objectives for the year.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

117

 
Corporate Governance

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Summary of Executive Directors’ remuneration for 2017

Base salary

Pension provision

Annual bonus target

LTI plan award

Annual bonus

Return to growth 
performance measures

Pascal Soriot

£1,220,000

30% of base salary

Marc Dunoyer

£725,000

24% of base salary

100% of base salary (normal range 0-180%)

90% of base salary (normal range 0-150%)

500% of base salary

400% of base salary

Weighting

Achieve scientific leadership 
performance measures

Weighting

Achieve Group financial targets
performance measures

New CVMD (including Brilinta)

NME Phase II starts/progressions

Respiratory

New Oncology

Emerging Markets

Japan

6% per 
measure

NME and major life-cycle management  
Phase III investment decisions

NME and major life-cycle management 
regional submissions

NME and major life-cycle management 
regional approvals

Acquisition, licensing and divestment deals

Cash flow

Core EPS

6% per 
measure

Total Revenue

Weighting

10% 

20% 

10%

The measure for the cash flow target is net cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditure adding back proceeds from disposal 
of intangible assets.

PSP

Performance measure

Relative TSR

Reported EBITDA1,2

Cash flow3

Return to growth2

Achieve scientific leadership:
 > NME approvals
 > Major life-cycle management 

approvals

 > Phase III registration

Weighting

Threshold target: 20% vesting

20% per 
measure

Median

$12.0bn

$8.5bn

$16.5bn

6.67% per 
measure

Commercially sensitive

Maximum target: 100% vesting

Upper quartile

$18.0bn

$12.0bn

$20.7bn

Commercially sensitive

1  The target is Reported EBITDA less gains on disposals of intangible assets, adjusted for the fair value movements on contingent considerations arising from revised forecasts.
2 (cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)

Company’s control, do not impact reward outcomes.

3 (cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:17)

For 2017 awards, the number of companies in the TSR group has been increased from 10 to 18 (AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, BMS, Celgene, 
Daiichi Sankyo, Lilly, Gilead, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Shire and Takeda). The 
Committee is of the opinion that the new peer group provides a better comparison in terms of revenue, innovative portfolio and 
geographical presence.

118

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Summary of Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration for 2017
Board fees for the Non-Executive Directors, including the Chairman, were reviewed in 2016, but no changes were proposed.  
The Non-Executive Director fees for 2017 (together with those for 2016) are set out below. Further information on the Non-Executive 
Directors’ Board fees can be found on page 132 of the Remuneration Policy Report.

Non-Executive Director fees in 2016 and in 2017 

Chairman’s fee1

Basic Non-Executive Director’s fee

Senior independent Non-Executive Director

Membership of the Audit Committee

Membership of the Remuneration Committee

Chairman of the Audit Committee or the Remuneration Committee2

Membership of the Science Committee

Chairman of the Science Committee2

1  The Chairman does not receive any additional fees for chairing, or being a member of, a committee.
2  This fee is in addition to the fee for membership of the relevant committee.

2016 
£’000

575

2017 
£’000

575

75

30

20

15

25

12

10

75

30

20

15

25

12

10

Additional information: Executive Directors’ share plans
Deferred Bonus Plan
The interests of Directors at 31 December 2016 in Ordinary Shares that are the subject of awards under the Deferred Bonus Plan  
are shown below.

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e
G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

Pascal Soriot

Award in respect of 2012 performance period

Award in respect of 2013 performance period

Award in respect of 2014 performance period

Total at 1 January 2016

Vesting of award in respect of 2012 performance period

Award in respect of 2015 performance period

Total at 31 December 2016

Marc Dunoyer

Award in respect of 2013 performance period

Award in respect of 2014 performance period

Total at 1 January 2016

Award in respect of 2015 performance period

Total at 31 December 2016

1  UK date convention applies.

3,799

15,966

13,482

33,247

(3,799)

17,352

46,800

2,679

7,111

9,790

8,798

18,588

Number of 
shares

Award price
(pence)

Price 
on vesting 
date (pence)

2939

3904

4762

Grant date1

Vesting date1

25.02.13

28.03.14

27.03.15

25.02.16

28.03.17

27.03.18

4086.5

3923

24.03.16

24.03.19

3904

4762

3923

28.03.14

28.03.17

27.03.15

27.03.18

24.03.16

24.03.19

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

119

 
Corporate Governance

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Performance Share Plan (PSP)
The interests of Directors at 31 December 2016 in Ordinary Shares that are the subject of awards under the PSP are shown below.

Pascal Soriot

2013 award

2014 award

2015 award

Total at 1 January 2016

2016 award

Partial vesting of 2013 award2

Partial lapse of 2013 award

Total at 31 December 2016

Marc Dunoyer

2013 award

2014 award

2015 award

Total at 1 January 2016

2016 award

Partial vesting of 2013 award2

Partial lapse of 2013 award

Total at 31 December 2016

Number of 
shares

Award price
(pence)

Price on 
vesting date 
(pence)

Grant date1

Vesting date1

Performance period1

3297

3904

4762

3923

3302

3904

4762

3923

125,113

124,066

104,764

353,943

129,713

(97,589)3

(27,524)

358,543

90,853

52,254

45,880

188,987

54,101

(70,866)4

(19,987)

152,235

3852

5048

11.06.13

28.03.14

27.03.15

11.06.16

28.03.17

27.03.20

01.01.13 – 31.12.15

01.01.14 – 31.12.16

01.01.15 – 31.12.17

24.03.16

24.03.21

01.01.16 – 31.12.18

01.08.13

28.03.14

27.03.15

01.08.16

28.03.17

27.03.20

01.01.13 – 31.12.15

01.01.14 – 31.12.16

01.01.15 – 31.12.17

24.03.16

24.03.21

01.01.16 – 31.12.18

1  UK date convention applies.
2  Awards granted in 2013 vested in 2016 at 78%.
3(cid:3) (cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:27)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:22)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)
4(cid:3) (cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:26)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)

AstraZeneca Investment Plan (AZIP)
The interests of Directors at 31 December 2016 in Ordinary Shares that are the subject of awards under the AZIP are shown below.

Pascal Soriot

2013 award2

2014 award

2015 award

Total at 1 January 2016

2016 award

Total at 31 December 2016

Marc Dunoyer

2013 award

2014 award

2015 award

Total at 1 January 2016

2016 award

Total at 31 December 2016

Number of 
shares

Award price
(pence)

Grant date1

Vesting date1

Performance period1

Holding period1

89,960

20,677

17,460

128,097

21,618

149,715

8,176

8,709

7,646

24,531

9,016

33,547

3297

3904

4762

11.06.13

28.03.14

27.03.15

01.01.21

01.01.22

01.01.23

01.01.14 – 31.12.17

01.01.15 – 31.12.18

01.01.17 – 31.12.20

3923

24.03.16

01.01.24

01.01.16 – 31.12.19

3302

3904

4762

01.08.13

28.03.14

27.03.15

01.01.21

01.01.22

01.01.23

01.01.14 – 31.12.17

01.01.15 – 31.12.18

01.01.17 – 31.12.20

3923

24.03.16

01.01.24

01.01.16 – 31.12.19

1  UK date convention applies.
2   The AZIP award of 89,960 shares comprises a regular 2013 award of 20,852 shares and a previously announced award which replaces that originally made when Mr Soriot joined the Company in 

October 2012. 

120

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
 
Restricted Share Plan
On 1 August 2013, Mr Dunoyer was granted an award of 65,505 restricted shares at an award price of 3302 pence per share.  
When Mr Dunoyer joined AstraZeneca as EVP, GPPS, he forfeited awards made to him by his previous employer. The Committee 
determined that it was appropriate to compensate him for the value of those forfeited awards. AstraZeneca received an independent 
assessment of their value. The restricted shares vested as follows:

 > 9,103 shares vested on 15 June 2014
 > 41,472 shares vested on 15 June 2015
 > 11,645 shares vested on 1 August 2016 (3,285 shares lapsed).

The interests of Mr Dunoyer at 31 December 2016 in Ordinary Shares that are the subject of awards under this arrangement are  
shown below.

Marc Dunoyer

Total at 1 January 2016

Partial vesting of 2013 award

Partial lapse of 2013 award

Total at 31 December 2016

Number of 
shares

14,930

(11,645)1

(3,285)

0

Price on 
vesting 
date
(pence)

5048

C
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p
o
r
a
t
e
G
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a
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c
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1(cid:3) (cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:25)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)

AstraZeneca 2012 Savings Related Share Option Scheme (SAYE)
The interests of Mr Dunoyer at 31 December 2016 in options to subscribe for Ordinary Shares that are the subject of awards under the 
SAYE are shown below.

Marc Dunoyer

2015 award

Total at 1 January 2016

Total at 31 December 2016

1  UK date convention applies.

Number of 
shares under 
option

Exercise price
(pence)

Grant date1

First date 
exercisable1

Last date 
exercisable1

3307

28.09.15

01.12.18

31.05.19

544

544

544

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

121

 
Corporate Governance

Remuneration Policy

This section sets out the Remuneration Policy (the Policy) proposed for approval by shareholders at the Company’s AGM in April 2017. 
Subject to shareholder approval, the Policy is intended to remain in effect for three years from the 2017 AGM. There are two substantive 
differences between the previous policy approved by shareholders in April 2014 and the proposed Policy: (i) the level of LTI vesting at 
threshold performance will be reduced from 25% to 20% of maximum; and (ii) no new awards will be made under the AZIP so, from 2017, 
LTI awards for Executive Directors will only be made under the PSP. For the outstanding AZIP awards that still have performance years to 
run in 2017, 2018 and 2019, a simple pro rata sliding scale will be used to assess performance against unchanged targets. In addition, the 
Policy has been drafted more concisely and is shorter than the previous policy.

Setting remuneration policy
The Remuneration Committee (the Committee) is responsible for setting overall remuneration policy and makes decisions about specific 
remuneration arrangements in the broader context of employee remuneration throughout the Group. Remuneration for all roles within the 
organisation is benchmarked against that for comparable roles in similar organisations and in the employee’s local market to ensure the 
Company is paying fairly at all levels. Executive Directors’ remuneration is benchmarked against a global pharmaceutical peer group and 
the FTSE30. Each year, the Company engages with employees, either on a Group-wide basis or in the context of smaller focus groups,  
to solicit feedback generally on a wide range of matters, including pay. 

While the Committee does not consult employees when setting the Executive Directors’ remuneration policy, it does review Group 
remuneration data annually, including ratios of average pay to senior executive pay; bonus data; and gender and geographical data in 
relation to base salaries and variable compensation. Many employees are also shareholders in the Company and therefore have the 
opportunity to vote at the 2017 AGM on the Policy. In reviewing the base salaries of Executive Directors, the Committee considers the 
overall level of any salary increases being awarded to employees in the Executive Director’s local market in the relevant year. 

In all aspects of its work, the Committee considers both the external environment in which the Company operates and the guidance issued 
by organisations representing institutional shareholders. It consults the Company’s major investors on general and specific remuneration 
matters and provides opportunities for representatives of those investors to meet the Chairman of the Committee and other Committee  
and Board members. It is the Company’s policy to seek input from major shareholders on an ad hoc basis when significant changes  
to remuneration arrangements are proposed. The Company’s shareholders are encouraged to attend the AGM and any views expressed 
will be considered by Committee members. The Committee works with the Audit Committee to ensure that the Group’s remuneration 
policies and practices achieve the right balance between appropriate incentives to reward good performance, management of risk,  
and the pursuit of the Company’s business objectives. 

Legacy arrangements
The Committee may approve remuneration payments and payments for loss of office on terms that differ to the terms in the Policy where 
the terms of the payment were agreed before the Policy came into effect or were agreed at a time when the relevant individual was not a 
Director of the Company (provided that, in the opinion of the Committee, the agreement was not entered into in consideration for the 
individual becoming a Director of the Company). This includes the exercise of any discretion available to the Committee in connection with 
such payments.

For these purposes, payments include the Committee satisfying awards of variable remuneration including share awards, in line with the 
terms agreed at the time the award was granted.

Minor amendments
The Committee may make minor amendments to the arrangements for Directors described in the Policy for regulatory, exchange control, 
tax or administrative purposes or to take account of a change in legislation.

122

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Remuneration Policy for Executive Directors

(cid:41)(cid:76)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)
Base salary

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Base salary is intended to 
be sufficient to attract, 
retain and develop 
high-calibre individuals.

Consideration is given to a number of factors, including (but not limited to):

 > recognition of the value of an individual’s personal performance and 

contribution to the business

 > the individual’s skills and experience 
 > internal relativities
 > conditions in the relevant external market.

While there is no formal maximum, any increases in base salary 
will normally be in line with the percentage increases awarded to 
the employee population within the individual’s country location. 

Higher increases may be made if the Committee considers it 
appropriate, for example to reflect:

 > an increase in the scope and/or responsibility of the individual’s 

Base salaries are normally reviewed annually with any change usually 
taking effect from 1 January. 

role; or

 > development of the individual within the role.

Benefits

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

The maximum value of the benefits available will be equivalent to 
the cost to the Company of the suite of benefits available in the 
local market at the time. 

The value of the support towards the costs of relocation, 
professional fees and other costs will be the reasonable costs 
associated with the Executive Director’s particular 
circumstances.

The maximum value of the directors’ and officers’ liability 
insurance and third party indemnity insurance is the cost at the 
relevant time. 

While the Committee has not set an overall level of benefit 
provision, the Committee keeps the benefit policy and benefit 
levels under review. 

C
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To provide market 
competitive benefits.

UK Executive Directors are provided with a fund, the value of which is 
based on a range of benefits including:

Non-cash benefits are 
designed to be sufficient 
to attract, retain and 
develop high-calibre 
individuals.

 > private medical insurance for partner and children
 > life assurance
 > permanent health insurance
 > company car
 > additional holidays
 > other additional benefits made available by the Company from time to 

time that the Committee considers appropriate based on the Executive 
Director’s circumstances.

A Director may choose to take a proportion of, or the entire, fund as cash.

Non-UK-based Executive Directors will receive a range of benefits (or a 
fund of equivalent value) comparable to those typically offered in their local 
market. Depending on local market practices they may be able to elect to 
take the fund as cash or elect to take one or more of these benefits and 
take the balance as cash. 

At its discretion the Committee may consider support towards the 
reasonable costs associated with relocation and/or provide an allowance 
towards the reasonable fees for professional services such as legal, tax, 
property and financial advice. The Company may also fund the cost of a 
driver and car for Executive Directors and any expenses deemed to be 
taxable which are reasonably incurred in the course of the Company’s 
business, together with any taxes thereon.

The Company provides directors’ and officers’ liability insurance  
and an indemnity to the fullest extent permitted by law and the  
Company’s Articles. 

Pension

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Provision of retirement 
benefits to attract, retain 
and develop high-calibre 
individuals.

For UK-based Executive Directors, the Company provides a pension 
allowance based on a percentage of base salary, which the Director  
may elect to pay into a pension scheme (or an equivalent arrangement)  
or take as cash. The Company will provide an amount benchmarked  
to the local market. 

Non-UK-based Executive Directors will receive an allowance for the 
purpose of providing retirement benefits in line with local market practice.  
A non-UK-based Executive Director may be offered the opportunity to  
elect to take some or all of the allowance as cash.

The maximum pension allowance that may be provided to 
UK-based Executive Directors is 35% of base salary. For 2017, 
the CEO and CFO receive allowances of 30% and 24% of their 
base salaries respectively.

The maximum value that may be provided to non-UK-based 
Executive Directors will be a sum in line with local market practice. 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

123

 
Corporate Governance

Remuneration Policy for Executive Directors continued

Variable elements of remuneration: annual bonus and long-term incentive 

Annual bonus

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation and framework used to assess performance

Maximum opportunity

The maximum annual bonus amount that can be 
awarded is 250% of base salary. 

If the Committee believed it to be in the interests  
of shareholders to award an annual bonus  
of an amount exceeding the historical maximum 
opportunity of 180% of base salary in the case  
of the CEO and 150% of base salary in the case  
of the CFO it would consult major shareholders  
in advance.

The annual bonus 
rewards short-term 
(annual) performance 
against specific Group 
targets and individual 
objectives.

The deferred share 
element of the annual 
bonus is designed to align 
Executive Directors’ 
interests with those of 
shareholders.

Performance is measured over one year and the bonus, if awarded, is paid after the 
year end. Currently, two-thirds is delivered in cash and one-third is delivered in shares, 
which are deferred for three years under the deferred bonus plan.

Stretching Group targets are set annually by the Committee based on the key 
strategic priorities for the year. Payout levels are determined by the Committee after 
the year end, based on performance against the targets as well as the Executive 
Director’s individual performance.

The performance targets form a Group scorecard, which is closely aligned to the 
Company’s strategy, and are designed to reward scientific, commercial and financial 
success. In relation to each performance target, a threshold level of performance is 
specified. If performance falls below this level there will be no payout for that 
proportion of the award.

The Committee may use its discretion to ensure that a fair and balanced outcome  
is achieved, taking into account the overall performance of the Company and the 
experience of shareholders.

On vesting of the deferred shares, the cash value equivalent to the dividends that 
would have been paid during the deferral period will be paid to the Director.

For bonuses awarded in respect of 2015 and subsequent years, the Committee  
has discretion, for up to six years from the payment date, to claw-back from 
individuals some or all of the cash bonus award in certain circumstances including:  
(i) material restatement of the results of the Group, (ii) significant reputational damage 
to the Group, or (iii) serious misconduct by the individual. However, in the case of (i) 
and (ii) the Committee may only exercise its discretion for up to two years from the 
payment date.

For deferred shares relating to bonuses awarded in respect of 2015 and subsequent 
years, the Committee has discretion: 

 > to reduce or cancel any portion of an unvested deferred bonus share award in 

certain circumstances (malus), including (i) material restatement of the results of the 
Group, (ii) significant reputational damage to the Group, or (iii) serious misconduct 
by the individual 

 > for up to six years from the vesting date, to claw-back from individuals some or  

all of the deferred bonus share award in certain circumstances, including (i) material 
restatement of the results of the Group, (ii) significant reputational damage to the 
Group, or (iii) serious misconduct by the individual. However, in the case of (i) and (ii) 
the Committee may only exercise its discretion for up to two years from the  
vesting date. 

124

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Long-term incentive (LTI)

Performance Share Plan (PSP)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation and framework used to assess performance

Maximum opportunity

The PSP is designed to 
align the variable pay of 
Executive Directors with 
the successful execution  
of the Company’s strategy. 

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The PSP provides for the grant of awards over Ordinary Shares or ADSs.

Vesting is dependent on the achievement of stretching performance targets and 
continued employment, as further described in the Treatment of LTI and deferred  
bonus plan awards on cessation of employment section on page 131. 

The maximum market value of shares that may be 
awarded under the PSP in any year is equivalent to 
500% of the participant’s annual base salary at the 
date of grant.

Performance targets are set by the Committee at the beginning of the relevant 
performance period. They are closely aligned to the Company’s strategy and are 
designed to reward scientific, commercial and financial success. Performance is 
currently assessed against a combination of five measures: TSR; cash flow; reported 
EBITDA; sales of medicines in key therapy areas and territories; and innovation 
metrics. If the Committee was to propose any material changes to the PSP 
performance targets, it would consult major shareholders in advance.

When setting performance targets, the Committee allocates such weightings to  
the targets as it considers appropriate, taking into account strategic priorities.  
The intention of the Committee is to exercise appropriate judgement, in particular  
so that the experience of shareholders over time is taken into account.

Performance is assessed over the three-year period commencing on 1 January  
in the year of grant. Shares are then subject to a two-year holding period following  
the performance period, so full vesting takes place on the fifth anniversary of grant. 
During the holding period, no further performance measures apply.

Payout under the PSP can range from 0% to 100% of the original award. All PSP 
performance targets have a payout curve. Each payout curve is structured to suit the 
objective it is intended to measure and the relationship between threshold, target and 
out-performance is determined at grant.

Typically, 20% of the proportion of a PSP award linked to a performance target will 
vest on the achievement of threshold level of performance and 100% will vest if the 
target level of performance is achieved. For relative measures (such as relative TSR) 
the threshold level of performance associated with a target will be performance at or 
above median. The maximum level of performance will usually be set as achievement 
of performance at the upper quartile level. Where the performance target permits, 
there will be further vesting points between threshold and maximum vesting levels, 
with vesting typically taking place on a straight-line basis.

The Committee may (acting fairly and reasonably) adjust or waive a performance 
target if an event occurs that causes it to believe that the performance target is no 
longer appropriate.

On vesting, the cash value equivalent to the dividends that would have been paid  
on the vesting shares during the performance and holding periods will be paid  
to the Director.

For awards granted in 2015 and for subsequent years, the Committee has discretion: 

 > to reduce or cancel any portion of an unvested award in certain circumstances 

(malus), including (i) material restatement of the results of the Group, (ii) significant 
reputational damage to the Group, or (iii) serious misconduct by the individual 

 > for up to six years from the third anniversary of the date of grant, to claw-back from 
individuals some or all of the award in certain circumstances, including (i) material 
restatement of the results of the Group, (ii) significant reputational damage to the 
Group, or (iii) serious misconduct by the individual. However, in the case of (i) and (ii) 
the Committee may only exercise its discretion for up to two years from the third 
anniversary of the date of grant. 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

125

 
Corporate Governance

Remuneration Policy for Executive Directors continued

Restricted shares

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation and framework used to assess performance

Maximum opportunity

There is no maximum value of an award which may 
be granted. 

The Committee sets the value of the award at grant, 
as it considers appropriate in all the circumstances.

In certain circumstances, 
typically as part of 
recruitment arrangements, 
an Executive Director may 
be made awards of 
restricted shares. This 
would ordinarily be to 
compensate for loss of 
remuneration opportunities 
suffered on leaving 
previous employment.

There are ordinarily no performance measures attached to awards of restricted shares 
because they are awarded for the purpose of compensating newly recruited Executive 
Directors for loss of entitlements on leaving a previous employment. However, the 
Committee considers whether the lost incentives were subject to performance targets 
and their probability of vesting. If foregone awards were subject to performance 
testing, then the compensatory AstraZeneca award is normally granted under the 
PSP in order to align the performance targets attaching to the award to successful 
execution of the Company’s strategy. Restricted share awards are generally used  
only when the foregone compensation was not subject to performance testing.

The Committee may divide an award of restricted shares into tranches which vest  
at different points and may apply performance measures bespoke to the individual  
if it considers it appropriate. If it decides to attach performance conditions, the 
performance conditions and performance period are defined at grant.

If no performance targets are attached to a restricted share award, it will vest in full  
if the individual remains in office on the vesting date. 

On vesting, the cash value equivalent to the dividends that would have been paid 
during the vesting period will be paid to the Director.

There are no contractual provisions for claw-back or malus of restricted share awards.

UK employee share plans
Share Incentive Plan (SIP)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation 

Maximum opportunity

Encouraging employee 
share ownership

The Company operates an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)-approved SIP whereby 
UK employees, including Executive Directors, may elect to save a regular amount to 
be used to purchase shares. The Company currently grants one matching share in 
respect of every four shares purchased by the participant.

Participants may contribute up to £150 per month 
from pre-tax pay or such other maximum amount as 
determined by the Company within the parameters  
of applicable legislation.

Save As You Earn Share Option Scheme (SAYE)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Encouraging employee 
share ownership

The Company operates an HMRC-approved SAYE whereby UK employees, including 
Executive Directors, may save a regular amount over three or five years and are 
granted options to purchase shares at the end of the saving period. A maximum 
discount of 20% to the market price prevailing at the date of the commencement of 
the scheme applies to the option price.

Maximum opportunity

Participants may save up to £500 per month from 
post-tax pay or such other maximum amount as 
determined by the Company within the parameters  
of applicable legislation.

126

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Historical LTI: AstraZeneca Investment Plan (AZIP)
No further awards will be made under the AZIP.

There are three extant AZIP awards which were granted to the Executive Directors in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Vesting of these awards is 
dependent on the achievement of two performance targets measured over a four-year performance period commencing on 1 January  
in the year of grant. Shares are subject to a four-year holding period following the performance period, so vesting takes place on the eighth 
anniversary of the start of the performance period. During the holding period, no further performance measures apply. Payout of the  
award is subject to continued employment as further described in the Treatment of LTI and deferred bonus plan awards on cessation of 
employment section on page 131. The performance targets are dividend level and dividend cover. If both targets are achieved in each year 
of the performance period, the award will vest in full at the end of the holding period. Twenty five percent of an award will lapse for each year 
in which neither or only one target is achieved.

On vesting, the cash value equivalent to the dividends that would have been paid on the vesting shares during the performance and holding 
periods will be paid to the Director.

The Committee may (acting fairly and reasonably) adjust or waive a performance target if an event occurs that causes it to believe that the 
performance target is no longer appropriate. 

The Committee has discretion: 

 > to reduce or cancel any portion of an unvested award in certain circumstances (malus), including (i) material restatement of the results  

of the Group, (ii) significant reputational damage to the Group, or (iii) serious misconduct by the individual

 > for up to six years from the end of the performance period, to claw-back from individuals some or all of the award in certain 

circumstances, including (i) in the case of material restatement of the results of the Group, (ii) significant reputational damage to the 
Group, or (iii) serious misconduct by the individual. However, in the case of (i) and (ii) the Committee may only exercise its discretion  
for up to two years from the end of the performance period.

(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:86)
The Company’s approach to determining and reviewing the salaries of the Executive Directors and the employee population as a whole  
is the same. On an annual basis the salaries for individual roles are reviewed in the context of individual sustained performance and the 
external market. AstraZeneca participates in annual global compensation surveys, which provide benchmarking data for all roles within the 
organisation, ensuring a robust salary review process for all employees. The Company seeks to provide an appropriate range of competitive 
benefits, including pension, to all employees (including Executive Directors) in the context of their local market.

Employees at mid to senior levels globally are eligible for LTI awards in the form of the PSP and/or restricted stock units. The occupants of 
approximately 700 senior roles in the Company are currently eligible for PSP awards – these are the leaders who have the ability to directly 
influence the execution of the Company’s strategic goals. An LTI award may be used for the same purpose as described above on the 
recruitment of employees (other than Directors) or for the retention of employees. 

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

127

 
Corporate Governance

Remuneration Policy for Executive Directors continued

Remuneration scenarios for Executive Directors 
The charts below illustrate how much the current Executive Directors could receive under different performance scenarios in 2017, assuming 
a constant share price. In order to compile the charts, the following assumptions have been made:

Minimum 
remuneration

 > base salary is that applicable in 2017
 > taxable benefits are those included in the Executive Directors’ single total figure remuneration table for 2016 as 

set out on page 107

 > pension of 30% of base salary for the CEO and 24% of base salary for the CFO.

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer

Base salary 
£’000

Taxable benefits 
£’000

1,220

725

121

71

Pension 
£’000

366

174

Total 
£’000

1,707

970

Remuneration for 
performance in line 
with the Company’s 
expectations
Maximum 
remuneration

 > annual bonus payout equivalent to 100% of base salary for the CEO and 90% for the CFO
 > LTI share award vesting at 250% of base salary for the CEO and 200% of base salary for the CFO (representing 

50% of the value of the PSP award).

 > annual bonus payout equivalent to 180% of base salary for the CEO and 150% for the CFO
 > LTI share award vesting at 500% of base salary for the CEO and 400% for the CFO (representing 100% of the 

value of the PSP award).

Pascal Soriot

Marc Dunoyer

Minimum

100%

£1.7m

Minimum

100%

In line

29% 20%

51%

£6.0m

In line

32% 21%

47%

Maximum

17%

22%

61%

£10.0m

Maximum

20%

22%

58%

£m

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

£m

0

1

2

3

4

5

£1.0m

£3.1m

£5.0m

Fixed

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Approach to recruitment remuneration for Executive Directors
On the recruitment of a new Executive Director, the Committee seeks to pay no more than is necessary to attract and retain the best 
candidate available, aiming to put in place a remuneration package broadly in line with the arrangements of the relevant incumbent.  
In order to offer a competitive package to attract the most suitable candidate, the Committee may consider providing remuneration 
arrangements that exceed those of the existing Executive Directors and may agree to pay allowances to expatriates in line with the 
Company’s international assignment policy to provide support towards housing, schooling and other relocation or assignment related 
costs. The Committee will offer a remuneration package that it considers appropriate in the particular circumstances of the recruitment, 
giving due regard to the interests of the Company’s shareholders and taking into account factors such as typical market practice,  
existing arrangements for the other Executive Directors, internal relativities and market positioning.

The pharmaceutical industry is global and future Executive Directors might be recruited from organisations with pay structures and 
practices that differ from AstraZeneca’s usual remuneration policy. The Committee believes that it is in the interests of shareholders for  
it to retain an element of flexibility in its approach to recruitment to enable it to attract the best candidates; however, this flexibility is limited. 
The Committee may find it necessary to compensate a new recruit for forfeiture of entitlements as a consequence of the recruit leaving his 
or her previous employment to join AstraZeneca. Where such compensation is offered to a new recruit on his or her hire, the Committee  
will explain the rationale to shareholders in a timely manner and will provide details of the arrangement. The value of such compensation  
will depend upon the circumstances of the recruitment and the individual in question. The Committee will seek to offer a package weighted 
towards equity in the Company; however, the precise nature of the compensation arrangement will depend on the type of entitlement being 
forfeited, which the Committee will generally seek to compensate in kind. The arrangement might therefore comprise cash and/or restricted 
shares and/or an LTI award. The Committee will obtain and take into account independent valuations of the forfeited entitlements to 
determine the appropriate level of compensation. All other aspects of a new recruit’s compensation opportunity will be subject to the 
maxima stated in the Policy. The Committee’s intention is to use buyout awards for this compensatory purpose only.

A new recruit may be granted shares under an LTI plan within the Policy or under a plan specific to that individual, as permitted under  
the Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules. Vesting of such awards may be subject to the achievement of performance conditions.  
The precise targets and measures will depend on the objectives of the Company and the individual at the time of the recruitment and  
will be determined by the Committee. 

128

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Ongoing annual variable remuneration will not exceed an award which comprises up to 250% of base salary under the annual bonus,  
and up to 500% of base salary under the PSP. If the Committee ever felt that it would be in the interests of shareholders to grant annual 
variable awards to a new Executive Director with values exceeding the historical maximum of 680% of base salary (comprising up to  
180% under the annual bonus and up to 500% in aggregate under the LTI), it would consult major shareholders in advance.

In the case of Group employees who are promoted internally to the position of Executive Director, the Committee intends to honour  
all remuneration arrangements entered into before the promotion. 

The Company may reimburse the costs of financial planning and tax advice.

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Service contracts for Executive Directors
Save as noted below, it is not intended that service contracts for new Executive Directors will contain terms that are materially different from 
those summarised below or contained in the Policy set out in this Remuneration Policy Report. The contractual obligations below are 
applicable to each of the current Executive Directors unless stated otherwise. 

Notice period

The Company may terminate employment by giving not less than 12 months’ written notice. The Company may 
agree on appointment that any notice given by the Company will not expire prior to the second anniversary of the 
commencement date of the Executive Director’s appointment.

Executive Directors may terminate their employment on 12 months’ written notice.

Payments in 
lieu of notice

The Company may terminate an Executive Director’s contract at any time with immediate effect and pay a sum in 
lieu of notice. This sum will consist of (i) the base salary that they would have been entitled to receive during the 
notice period and (ii) the cost to the Company of funding the flexible benefit arrangements for this period, including 
the Company’s contribution in respect of pension.

Garden leave

The Company has the right to place the Executive Director on ‘garden leave’.

Summary 
termination

Payments in 
lieu of holiday

The Company may terminate employment summarily in particular defined circumstances such as gross 
misconduct, with no further payment.

If, on termination, the Executive Director has exceeded their accrued holiday entitlement, the value of this excess 
may be deducted by the Company from any sums payable. If the Executive Director has unused holiday 
entitlement, the Committee has discretion to require the Executive Director to take such unused holiday during  
any notice period, or make a payment in lieu of it calculated in the same way as the value of any excess holiday.

Directors’ and 
officers’ liability 
insurance

Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and an indemnity to the fullest extent permitted by law and the 
Company’s Articles is provided for the duration of an Executive Director’s employment and for a minimum of five 
years following termination. 

Deemed 
treatment 
under AZIP

In respect of awards made to compensate Mr Soriot for loss of remuneration opportunity at his previous employer, 
if Mr Soriot gives notice of termination of his employment after the end of the performance period under the AZIP 
but before the end of the holding period, the award under the AZIP will vest on the earlier of the end of the holding 
period and the end of the period of 24 months from the date of cessation of employment, unless the Committee 
determines otherwise.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

129

 
Corporate Governance

Remuneration Policy for Executive Directors continued

(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)
The Company does not make additional payments for loss of office, other than, as appropriate, payments in lieu of notice as described on 
the previous page or payments in respect of damages if the Company terminates an Executive Director’s service contract in breach of 
contract (taking into account, as appropriate, the Director’s ability to mitigate his loss). The Committee has discretion to award payments in 
certain circumstances, as set out below, depending on the nature of the termination and the Executive Director’s performance. The LTI 
plans are governed by plan rules, which define how individual awards under those plans should be treated upon termination of employment 
and corporate activity including sale of a business outside the Group. The treatment of awards in these circumstances may also be subject 
to Committee discretion. Generally, awards under LTI plans will only be allowed to vest for those Executive Directors who leave the 
Company by mutual agreement, for example in circumstances of ill-health, injury, disability, redundancy or retirement, or where employment 
terminates by reason of the Executive Director’s death (see the table opposite for further information). In addition to any payment in lieu of 
notice, the individual components of remuneration and other payments which may be payable on loss of office are set out below, subject to 
the terms of any applicable bonus rules or share plan rules.

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

 Annual bonus  
At the discretion of the Committee, an Executive Director may receive a bonus for the performance year in which they leave the 
Company. Typically this sum will reflect an on-target bonus pro-rated for the part of the year in which they worked. This will depend on 
the circumstances, including an assessment of the Executive Director’s performance in the relevant period and the circumstances of 
their departure and may be in such proportion of cash and/or shares as the Committee will determine. The deferred share element of 
previous bonuses granted, and any deferred share element of the bonus awarded in respect of the departing year, may still vest for the 
benefit of the departing Executive Director at the end of the period of deferral despite the fact that the Executive Director did not work 
for the entirety of this period. The Committee has the discretion to accelerate and/or retain the deferral period and allow shares to vest 
for the benefit of the Executive Director on their departure and/or in accordance with the vesting schedule as the case may be.  
The Committee will decide whether it is appropriate in the circumstances for these shares to vest for the benefit of the departing 
Executive Director. 

 LTI plans 
The LTI plan rules envisage circumstances under which some, all or none of the shares held under LTI plans will vest in connection with 
departure. The exact timing and number of shares vesting will depend on the circumstances, including the reason for leaving (as set out 
in the table opposite) and may be subject to Committee discretion, depending on what it considers to be fair and reasonable in the 
circumstances. 

 Restricted share awards 
The treatment on termination will depend upon the terms of the individual Executive Director’s awards on recruitment. The Committee 
has discretion to determine the treatment at the time of departure based on what it considers to be fair and reasonable in the 
circumstances.

 Non-statutory redundancy payment 
Executive Directors are not entitled to non-statutory redundancy payments.

 Pension contributions and other benefits 
Pension contributions and other benefits for Executive Directors will be payable up to the termination date or as part of a payment  
in lieu of notice as described on page 129.

 Payments in relation to statutory rights 
The amount considered reasonable to pay by the Committee in respect of statutory rights may be included in the overall termination 
payment.

 Payments required by law 
The Committee reserves the right to make any other payments in connection with an Executive Director’s cessation of office or 
employment where the payments are made in good faith in discharge of an existing legal obligation (or by way of damages for breach  
of such an obligation) or by way of settlement of any claim arising in connection with the cessation of an Executive Director’s office  
or employment. Any such payments may include but are not limited to paying any fees for outplacement assistance and/or an Executive 
Director’s legal and/or professional advice fees in connection with their cessation of office or employment.

 Mitigation 
The departing Executive Director will be required to mitigate their loss by using reasonable efforts to secure new employment.

 Professional fees 
The Company may pay an amount considered reasonable by the Committee in respect of fees for legal and tax advice,  
and outplacement support for the departing Executive Director.

130

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Treatment of LTI and deferred bonus plan awards on cessation of employment

Plan
Deferred bonus plan 
(Annual bonus)

PSP

Termination by mutual agreement (broadly in circumstances of ill-health, injury, disability, 
redundancy or retirement and in the case of death and certain corporate events eg sale 
of a business outside the Group)

Awards will vest at the end of the relevant deferral period, unless the Committee 
decides otherwise.

Other leaver scenarios

Ordinarily awards will lapse unless the Committee 
exercises its discretion to apply the treatment for 
leavers by mutual agreement.

Where cessation of employment occurs within three years of the date of grant 
awards will vest, pro rata to the time elapsed between the date of grant of the 
award and the date of cessation of employment, at the end of the performance 
period after performance has been assessed, to the extent that the performance 
target(s) measured over the performance period has been met. 

Other than during a holding period, ordinarily 
awards will lapse unless the Committee exercises  
its discretion to preserve all or part of an award and 
apply the default treatment for leavers by mutual 
agreement as described in this table.

This discretion will not be exercised in the case  
of dismissal for gross misconduct. 

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Ordinarily awards will lapse unless the Committee 
exercises its discretion to apply the default 
treatment for leavers by reason of redundancy  
or retirement described in this table.

However, the Committee has discretion to permit the award to vest immediately  
on cessation of employment where that cessation occurred as a result of one  
of the events mentioned above to the extent that the performance target(s) has,  
in the opinion of the Committee, been satisfied from the date of grant to the date  
of cessation of employment. 

However, if the Committee believes that exceptional circumstances warrant this,  
it may exercise its discretion to vest the award on another basis.

Where cessation of employment occurs during any holding period the award will 
vest in respect of all the shares that continue to be subject to the award as soon  
as practicable following the cessation of employment. However, the Committee  
has discretion to require the award to vest only at the end of the holding period.

AZIP

Death, ill-health, injury or disability:

 > in the performance period: the award will vest as soon as practicable following 

the cessation of employment, pro-rated to take into account the period elapsed 
between the date of grant and the date of cessation of employment relative to the 
performance period and pro-rated to take into account the satisfaction of any 
performance measure(s), as agreed by the Committee 

 > in the holding period: the award will vest in respect of all the shares that continue 

to be subject to the award as soon as practicable following the cessation of 
employment.

Redundancy, retirement or certain corporate events (eg sale of a business outside 
the Group):

 > in the performance period: the award will vest at the later of the end of the 

performance period and the end of the period of 24 months from the date of 
cessation of employment, to the extent any performance measures have been 
met by the end of the performance period and pro-rated to take into account  
the period elapsed between the date of grant and the date of cessation of 
employment relative to the performance period 

 > in the holding period: the award will vest in respect of all shares that continue to 

be subject to the award at the earlier of the end of the holding period and the end 
of the period of 24 months from the date of cessation of employment. Where the 
Committee terminates an Executive Director’s employment (other than for gross 
misconduct) during the holding period, the awards will vest on the same basis.

In each case described above, the Committee has discretion to vest the award or 
part of the award on a different basis.

Restricted shares

Awards will lapse unless the Committee exercises its discretion to preserve all  
or part of an award.

In relation to awards granted on or after 3 February 2014 and, where that award 
was granted at the time of the Executive Director’s recruitment to the Company  
in compensation for any awards or bonuses forfeited at his previous employer,  
the award will vest on the date his employment ceases, pro-rated to take into 
account the period elapsed between the date of grant and the date of cessation  
of employment, unless the Committee decides not to pro-rate or to pro-rate on 
some other basis.

Ordinarily awards will lapse unless the Committee 
exercises its discretion to preserve all or part of  
an award.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

131

 
Corporate Governance

Remuneration Policy for Non-Executive Directors

Non-Executive Directors, including the Chairman, receive annual Board fees. With the exception of the Chairman, Non-Executive Directors 
receive additional fees for membership and chairmanship of Board Committees and for holding the position of Senior independent 
Non-Executive Director. Non-Executive Directors are not eligible for performance-related bonuses or the grant of share awards or options. 
No pension contributions are made on their behalf. The annual Board fees applicable to Non-Executive Directors are set out in the Annual 
Report on Remuneration. Changes to these fees in future years will be set out in the corresponding year’s Annual Report. The remuneration 
of Non-Executive Directors (excluding the Chairman) is determined by the Chairman and the Executive Directors. The remuneration of the 
Chairman is determined by the other members of the Committee and the Senior independent Non-Executive Director. 

Annual Board fees

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

The annual fees are 
intended to be sufficient 
to attract, retain and 
develop high-calibre 
individuals.

Board fees for Non-Executive Directors are subject to periodic review and may be increased in the 
future to ensure that they remain sufficient to attract high-calibre individuals while remaining fair and 
proportionate. Although Non-Executive Directors currently receive their fees in cash, the Company 
may pay part or all of their fees in the form of shares.

Non-Executive Directors are eligible to receive a base fee and additional fees where appropriate to 
reflect any additional time commitment or duties (eg being the chairman of a committee). The fee 
structure is set out in the Annual Report on Remuneration.

(cid:37)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:86)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Intended to attract and 
retain high-calibre 
individuals.

The Company also provides directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and an indemnity to the fullest 
extent permitted by law and the Company’s Articles and may also reimburse the costs of financial 
planning and tax advice.

Other costs and expenses

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Intended to reimburse 
individuals for legitimately 
incurred costs and 
expenses.

In addition to the Chairman’s fee, a proportion of the office costs of the Chairman are reimbursed.  
In 2016, this amounted to £36,000. The amount of office costs to be reimbursed each year will be 
determined at the discretion of the Committee, based on an assessment of the reasonable 
requirements of the Chairman. The Committee has the discretion to approve contributions by the 
Company to office costs of other Non-Executive Directors in circumstances where such payments 
are deemed proportionate and reasonable.

The Company will pay for all travel (including travel to the Company’s offices), hotel and other 
expenses reasonably incurred by Non-Executive Directors in the course of the Company’s business, 
for example, professional fees such as secretarial support, and reimbursement for domestic security 
arrangements such as lights and alarms following a security assessment.

There are no contractual provisions for claw-back or malus of other costs and expenses.

Maximum opportunity

Under Articles 89 and 90 of the 
Company’s Articles, as approved  
by the Company’s shareholders,  
the ordinary remuneration of the 
Non-Executive Directors for  
their services shall not exceed in 
aggregate £2,250,000 per annum 
and any Non-Executive Director who 
serves on any Board committee may 
be paid such extra remuneration as 
the Board may determine.

Maximum opportunity

The maximum amount payable in 
respect of these costs and cost of 
insurance will be the reimbursement 
of the Directors’ benefits grossed up 
for any tax payable by the individual.

Maximum opportunity

The maximum amounts payable in 
respect of these costs and expenses 
will be the reimbursement of the 
Directors’ costs and expenses 
grossed up for any tax payable by 
the individual.

Letters of appointment
None of the Non-Executive Directors has a service contract but each has a letter of appointment. In accordance with the Company’s 
Articles, following their appointment all Directors must retire at each AGM and may present themselves for re-election. The Company is 
mindful of the director independence provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code and, in this regard, a Non-Executive Director’s 
overall tenure will not normally exceed nine years. The Chairman may terminate his appointment at any time, on three months’ notice. 
None of the other Non-Executive Directors have a notice period or any provision in their letters of appointment giving them a right to 
compensation upon early termination of appointment.

On behalf of the Board

A C N Kemp 
Company Secretary 
2 February 2017

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Preparation of the Financial Statements 
(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:98)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:350)(cid:98)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)

Directors’ responsibility statement 
pursuant to DTR 4
The Directors confirm that to the best of 
our knowledge:

 > The Financial Statements, prepared in 
accordance with the applicable set of 
accounting standards, give a true and 
fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
position and profit or loss of the Company 
and the undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole.

 > The Directors’ Report includes a fair review 
of the development and performance of 
the business and the position of the issuer 
and the undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole, together 
with a description of the principal risks  
and uncertainties that they face.

On behalf of the Board of Directors on 
2 February 2017

Pascal Soriot 
Director

The Directors are responsible for preparing this 
Annual Report and Form 20-F Information and 
the Group and Parent Company Financial 
Statements in accordance with applicable law 
and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to 
prepare Group and Parent Company Financial 
Statements for each financial year. Under that 
law they are required to prepare the Group 
Financial Statements in accordance with 
IFRSs as adopted by the EU and applicable 
law and have elected to prepare the Parent 
Company Financial Statements in accordance 
with UK Accounting Standards, including 
FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ 
and applicable law.

Under company law, the Directors must not 
approve the Financial Statements unless they 
are satisfied that they give a true and fair view 
of the state of affairs of the Group and Parent 
Company and of their profit or loss for that 
period. In preparing each of the Group and 
Parent Company Financial Statements, the 
Directors are required to:

 > select suitable accounting policies and 

then apply them consistently

 > make judgements and estimates that 

are reasonable and prudent

 > for the Group Financial Statements, 

state whether they have been prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the EU

 > for the Parent Company Financial 

Statements, state whether FRS 101 has 
been followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in the 
Parent Company Financial Statements
 > prepare the Financial Statements on the 

going concern basis unless it is inappropriate 
to presume that the Group and the Parent 
Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping 
adequate accounting records that are 
sufficient to show and explain the Parent 
Company’s transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial 
position of the Parent Company and enable 
them to ensure that its Financial Statements 
comply with the Companies Act 2006. They 
have general responsibility for taking such steps 
as are reasonably open to them to safeguard 
the assets of the Group and to prevent and 
detect fraud and other irregularities.

Under applicable law and regulations, the 
Directors are also responsible for preparing a 
Directors’ Report, Strategic Report, Directors’ 
Remuneration Report, Corporate Governance 
Report and Audit Committee Report that 
comply with that law and those regulations.

The Directors are responsible for the 
maintenance and integrity of the corporate and 
financial information included on our website. 
Legislation in the UK governing the preparation 
and dissemination of Financial Statements 
may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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Directors’ Responsibilities for, and Report on, 
(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:98)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)

The Directors are responsible for establishing 
and maintaining adequate internal control 
over financial reporting. AstraZeneca’s 
internal control over financial reporting is 
designed to provide reasonable assurance 
over the reliability of financial reporting and 
the preparation of consolidated Financial 
Statements in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles.

Due to its inherent limitations, internal control 
over financial reporting may not prevent or 

detect misstatements. Projections of any 
evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are 
subject to the risks that controls may become 
inadequate because of changes in conditions 
or that the degree of compliance with the 
policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The Directors assessed the effectiveness of 
AstraZeneca’s internal control over financial 
reporting as at 31 December 2016 based on 
the criteria set forth by the Committee of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 

Commission in Internal Control-Integrated 
Framework (2013). Based on this assessment, 
the Directors believe that, as at 31 December 
2016, the internal control over financial 
reporting is effective based on those criteria.

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public 
accounting firm, has audited the effectiveness 
of internal control over financial reporting as at 
31 December 2016 and, as explained on page 
134, has issued an unqualified report thereon.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

133

 
Financial Statements

Auditor’s Reports on the Financial Statements 
(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:98)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:98)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
(Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404)

The report set out below is provided in 
compliance with International Standards on 
Auditing (UK and Ireland). KPMG LLP has also 
issued reports in accordance with standards 
of the Public Company Accounting Oversight 
Board in the US, which will be included in the 
Annual Report on Form 20-F to be filed with 

the US Securities and Exchange Commission. 
Those reports are unqualified and include 
opinions on the Group Financial Statements 
and on the effectiveness of internal control 
over financial reporting as at 31 December 
2016 (Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404). 
The Directors’ statement on internal control 

over financial reporting is set out on page  
133. KPMG LLP has also reported separately 
on the Company Financial Statements of 
AstraZeneca PLC and on the information in 
the Directors’ Remuneration Report that is 
described as having been audited. This audit 
report is set out on page 197.

Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:98)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:98)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:47)(cid:38)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:92)

Opinions and conclusions 
(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:98)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:98)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)
1  Our opinion on the Group Financial 

Statements is unmodified

We have audited the Group Financial 
Statements of AstraZeneca PLC for the  
year ended 31 December 2016 set out on 
pages 138 to 196. In our opinion the Group 
Financial Statements: 

 > give a true and fair view of the state of the 
Group’s affairs as at 31 December 2016 
and of its profit for the year then ended; 
 > have been properly prepared in accordance 

with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union (EU); and

 > have been prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 
and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. 

2  Separate opinion in relation to IFRSs as 
issued by the International Accounting 
Standards Board (IASB)

As explained in the Group accounting policies 
section of the Group Financial Statements  
set out on pages 142 to 146, the Group, in 
addition to complying with its legal obligation 
to apply IFRSs as adopted by the EU, has also 
applied IFRSs as issued by the IASB.

In our opinion, the Group Financial Statements 
comply with IFRSs as issued by the IASB.

3  Our assessment of risks 
of material misstatement

We summarise below the risks of material 
misstatement that had the greatest effect on our 
audit (in decreasing order of audit significance), 
our key audit procedures to address those 
risks and our findings from those procedures in 
order that the Company’s members as a body 
may better understand the process by which 
we arrived at our audit opinion. Our findings 

are based on procedures undertaken in the 
context of and solely for the purpose of our 
statutory audit opinion on the Group Financial 
Statements as a whole and consequently 
are incidental to that opinion, and we do 
not express discrete opinions on separate 
elements of the Group Financial Statements. 

Rebates and chargebacks in the US 
($2,812m) (2015: $3,307m) Risk vs 2015: (cid:379)(cid:377)
Refer to page 98 (Audit Committee Report), 
page 142 (accounting policy) and page 77 
(financial risk management).

The risk
The Group makes sales to customers in 
the United States of America (‘US’) that fall 
under certain commercial and governmental 
reimbursement schemes, of which the most 
significant are Medicaid and Medicare. 
The resulting rebates and chargebacks,  
which are deducted in arriving at revenue, are 
complex and require significant judgement 
and estimation in establishing an appropriate 
accrual at year-end. 

Our response
Our principal audit procedures included 
testing the Group’s controls surrounding the 
deductions made to US revenue for rebates 
and chargebacks, and key manual and 
systems-based controls in the order-to-cash 
transaction cycle. Our audit work involved 
testing key controls including reconciliations 
between sales systems and the general ledger 
and those over claims, credits and system 
accrual rates. We also assessed the accuracy 
of the calculation of the accrual, corroborated 
inputs and key assumptions, both to internal 
and independent sources including sales 
contracts with customers, performed an 
analysis of the accrual balance and deductions 
to sales year on year, corroborating movements 

134

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

compared with expectations and payment 
claims, and considered the historical accuracy 
of the accrual. We also assessed the adequacy 
of the Group’s disclosure of its rebates and 
chargebacks policy, the judgement involved, 
and other related disclosures.

Our findings
In determining the appropriateness of the 
deductions made in relation to US rebates and 
chargebacks, there is room for judgement and 
we found that within that, the assumptions used 
and the resulting estimates were balanced 
(2015: balanced). We also found no errors in 
the year-end US rebate accrual calculations. 
We found the disclosures on US rebates and 
chargebacks to be ample (2015: proportionate).

Carrying value of intangible assets 
($27,586m) (2015: $22,646m) 
Risk vs 2015: (cid:379)(cid:377)
Refer to page 98 (Audit Committee Report), 
page 145 (accounting policy), page 157 
(financial disclosures) and page 80 (financial 
risk management).

The risk
The Group has significant intangible assets 
arising from the acquisition of products both 
launched and in development. Recoverability 
of these assets is based on forecasting and 
discounting future cash flows, which are 
inherently highly judgemental. For products 
in development, the main risk is achieving 
successful trial results and obtaining required 
clinical and regulatory approvals. For 
launched products, the key risk is the ability 
to successfully commercialise the individual 
product concerned. 

Our response
Our principal audit procedures included testing 
the Group’s controls surrounding intangible 
asset impairments and evaluating the 
Group’s assumptions used in assessing the 
recoverability of intangible assets, in particular, 
revenue and cash flow projections and the 
probability of obtaining regulatory approval for 
in-development assets. We also performed 
sensitivity analysis over individual intangible 
asset models, where we considered there to 
be a higher risk of impairment, to assess the 
level of sensitivity to key assumptions and focus 
our work in those areas. Our procedures for 
products in development included assessing 
the reasonableness of the Group’s assumptions 
regarding probability of obtaining regulatory 
approval through consideration of the current 
phase of development and comparison to 
industry practice. We also interviewed a range 
of key research, development, and commercial 
personnel to corroborate these assumptions. 
For both launched and in-development 
products we challenged management’s 
key assumptions regarding the size of the 
therapeutic area market and the product’s 
projected share of this market through 
both discussion with a range of commercial 
personnel and comparison to external 
scientific literature and market research. Our 
procedures also included challenging internally 
generated evidence by reviewing analyst 
forecasts, and retrospective assessment of the 
accuracy of the Group’s projections. We also 
assessed the adequacy of related disclosures 
in the Group’s financial statements.

Our findings
We found the Group’s assumptions and 
the resulting estimates to be balanced 
(2015: balanced). We found that the disclosures 
proportionately (2015: proportionately) 
describe the inherent degree of subjectivity 
in the estimates and the potential impact on 
future periods of revisions to these estimates. 

Acquisition of Acerta Pharma (Intangible 
asset – $7,307m; option liability – $1,901m) 
(2015: n/a) (New risk)
Refer to page 143 (accounting policy), 
page 173 (financial disclosures) and page 79 
(financial risk management).

The risk
In February 2016, the Group completed 
the acquisition of 55% of Acerta Pharma. 
The acquisition agreement included a 
mechanism providing Acerta shareholders 
the option to sell, and the Group the option to 
buy, the outstanding 45% of shares in Acerta. 
There is significant judgement involved in 
selecting the underlying assumptions used 
to value both the acalabrutinib asset in 
development and the option liability 
identified and recognised on acquisition. 
The assumptions with the greatest impact on 

the valuations are the discount rate and 
probability that acalabrutinib obtains approval 
in the US and Europe.

authorities and courts. We also assessed the 
adequacy of the Group’s disclosures in respect 
of tax and uncertain tax positions.

Our response
Our principal audit procedures included testing 
the Group’s controls surrounding the selection 
and review of significant assumptions within 
the forecast cash flows used for the valuation 
of each of the acalabrutinib asset and option 
liability. We engaged our valuation specialists to 
assist in our review of the discount rate, which 
involved comparing the methodology used 
to the methodology KPMG would apply in a 
similar transaction and challenging the market 
inputs used based on observed market data. 
In addition, we challenged the probability of 
obtaining regulatory approval by interviewing 
a range of key research, development, and 
commercial personnel as well as corroborating 
the outcome of acalabrutinib’s Phase I/II clinical 
trials. We considered whether adjustments to 
the original valuations were appropriate in light 
of additional information about assumptions 
that have become available in the measurement 
period to date. We also assessed the adequacy 
of the Group’s disclosure of the judgements 
involved in valuing the acalabrutinib asset and 
the option liability, and related disclosures.

Our findings
We found the Group’s assumptions and the 
resulting estimates to be balanced. We found 
that the disclosures proportionately describe 
the nature of the transaction, the judgements 
taken, and their impact on the valuation of 
the acalabrutinib asset and the option 
liability recognised.

Tax provisioning ($1,327m) (2015: $1,734m) 
Risk vs 2015: (cid:379)(cid:377)
Refer to page 98 (Audit Committee Report), 
page 143 (accounting policy), page 191 
(financial disclosures) and page 81 (financial 
risk management).

The risk
Due to the Group operating in a number of 
different tax jurisdictions and the complexities 
of transfer pricing and other international tax 
legislation, accruals for tax contingencies 
require the Directors to make judgements and 
estimates in relation to subjective tax issues 
and exposures.

Our response
In this area our principal audit procedures 
included testing the Group’s controls 
surrounding tax provisioning, reviewing 
settlement correspondence between the 
Group and the relevant tax authorities, 
and the assistance of our own local and 
international tax specialists in analysing 
and challenging the assumptions used by 
management to determine tax provisions, 
based on our knowledge and experience of 
the application of the relevant legislation by 

Our findings
We found the Group’s estimate of the 
amounts to be recognised as tax liabilities 
to be conservative (2015: conservative) and 
that the disclosures provide a proportionate 
(2015: proportionate) description of the current 
status of uncertain tax positions.

Litigation and contingent liabilities 
(provisions of $438m) (2015: $357m) 
Risk vs 2015: (cid:379)(cid:377)
Refer to page 98 (Audit Committee Report), 
page 145 (accounting policy), page 185 
(financial disclosures) and page 80 (financial 
risk management).

The risk
In the normal course of business, litigation and 
contingent liabilities may arise from product-
specific and general legal proceedings, from 
guarantees or from government investigations. 
The amounts involved are potentially material 
and the application of accounting standards to 
determine the amount, if any, to be provided 
as a liability is inherently subjective.

Our response
Having made enquiries of Directors and 
in-house legal counsel to obtain their view 
on the status of significant legal matters, our 
principal audit procedures included testing 
the Group’s controls surrounding litigation  
and contingent liabilities, obtaining formal 
confirmations from the Group’s external 
counsel for all significant legal cases, and 
discussions with external counsel where 
necessary. In addition we used our own 
forensic and compliance specialists to assess 
the Group’s compliance reports to identify 
actual and potential non-compliance with 
laws and regulations, both those specific to 
the Group’s business and those relating to 
the conduct of business generally. We then 
analysed correspondence with regulators, 
considered legal expenses incurred during 
the year, monitored external sources 
and considered assessments made by 
management of the probability of defending 
any litigation and the reliability of estimating 
any obligation. We also assessed whether the 
Group’s disclosures detailing significant legal 
proceedings adequately disclose the potential 
liabilities of the Group.

Our findings
Whilst the outcome of these litigation matters 
is inherently uncertain in each case, we found 
that the Group applied balanced judgements 
(2015: balanced), on a case by case basis, in 
assessing whether or not a provision should 
be recognised. We found that the assumptions 
used and the resulting liability recorded to be 
balanced (2015: balanced). We found that the 

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Financial Statements

Group gives ample disclosure (2015: ample)  
on the potential liability in excess of that 
recognised in the Financial Statements and the 
significant but unquantifiable contingent liability 
in respect of these litigation matters.

Post-retirement benefits ($2,186m) 
(2015: $1,974m) Risk vs 2015: (cid:379)(cid:377)
Refer to page 101 (Audit Committee Report), 
page 143 (accounting policy), page 165 
(financial disclosures) and page 80 (financial 
risk management).

The risk
Significant estimates are made in valuing the 
Group’s post-retirement defined benefit plans. 
Small changes in assumptions and estimates 
used to value the Group’s net pension deficit 
could have a significant effect on the results 
and financial position of the Group. 

Our response
Our principal audit procedures included the 
testing of the Group’s controls surrounding 
the valuation of the post-retirement defined 
benefit plans and the challenge of key 
assumptions, being the discount rate, inflation 
rate and mortality/life expectancy, which are 
included in the valuation calculations of the 
Group’s retirement benefit obligations in 
countries with significant defined benefit 
pension plans, with the assistance of our 
own actuarial specialists. This involved a 
comparison of these key assumptions used 
against our own internal benchmarks and 
externally derived data. We also assessed 
the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures in 
respect of post-retirement benefits.

Our findings
Overall, we found the key assumptions used 
in, and the resulting estimate of, the valuation 
of retirement benefit obligations within the 
Group to be mildly optimistic (2015: mildly 
optimistic). We found the disclosures in 
respect of post-retirement benefits to be 
proportionate (2015: proportionate).

Overall findings
In reaching our audit opinion on the Group 
Financial Statements we took into account the 
findings that we describe above and those for 
other, lower risk areas. Overall the findings from 
across the whole audit are that, although the 
Group Financial Statements uses estimates that 
are mainly balanced, there is one conservative 
estimate and one mildly optimistic estimate. 
However, compared with materiality and 
considering the qualitative aspects of the Group 
Financial Statements as a whole, our opinion on 
the Group Financial Statements is unmodified. 

4  Our application of materiality and an 
overview of the scope of our audit
The materiality for the Group Financial 
Statements as a whole was set at $146m 
(2015: $140m), determined with reference to 
a benchmark of Group profit before taxation, 
normalised to exclude this year’s asset 

Materiality for the Group Financial Statements

Pro(cid:430)t before tax plus
impairments and contingent 
consideration revaluations 

Materiality

$2,936m

$146m  Whole (cid:430)nancial 

statements materiality

$7.3m  Misstatements reported
to the Audit Committee 

Scoping and coverage

Group revenue (%) 

   Audits for  
group reporting 
purposes 77%
   (cid:54)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:16) 
focused audit 
procedures 19%

Components’ absolute 
(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:430)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:18)(cid:11)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:12) (%)

   Audits for group 
reporting purposes 
62%
   (cid:54)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:16) 
focused audit 
procedures 28%

Group total assets (%)

   Audits for  
group reporting 
purposes 91%
   (cid:54)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:16) 
focused audit 
procedures 2%

impairments and fair value movement and 
discount unwind on contingent consideration 
as disclosed in Notes 9 and 18, which are 
specifically audited, of which it represents 
5.0% (2015: 5.0%).

We report to the Audit Committee any 
corrected or uncorrected identified 
misstatements exceeding $7.3m (2015: $7.0m) 
(0.25% of normalised Group profit before 
taxation), in addition to other identified 
misstatements that warranted reporting on 
qualitative grounds.

The Group operates a significant number 
of entities, of which there are 191 (2015: 181) 
located in 67 (2015: 65) countries around the 
globe. The Operating Segment disclosures 
in Note 6 set out the individual significance of 
each geographical region. 

We performed audits for Group reporting 
purposes at 11 components (2015: nine)  
and specified risk-focused audit procedures 
at three (2015: two) standalone components 
as well as at 33 (2015: 33) components 
serviced by the Group’s shared service 
centres. The latter 36 (2015: 35) components 
were not individually financially significant 
enough to require an audit for Group reporting 
purposes, but were included in the scope of 
our audit in order to provide further coverage 
over relevant account balances. 

The Group operates four principal shared 
service centres (both in-house and outsourced) 
in the UK, Malaysia, Romania and India, which 
process a substantial proportion of the Group’s 
transactions. The outputs from the shared 
service centres are included in the financial 
information of the reporting components they 
service and therefore they are not separate 
reporting components. Each of the service 
centres is subject to specified risk-focused 
audit procedures, predominantly the testing 
of transaction processing and review controls. 
Additional procedures are performed by 
component audit teams at certain reporting 
components to address the audit risks not 

136

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

covered by the work performed over the 
shared service centres. These procedures 
are designed to address the risk of material 
misstatement identified through our Group  
risk assessment processes. 

This resulted in the coverage shown in 
the opposite charts. For the remaining 
components, we performed analysis at the 
Group level to re-examine our assessment 
that there were no significant risks of material 
misstatement within them. 

The Group audit team instructed component 
and shared service centre auditors as to the 
significant areas to be covered, including 
the relevant risks detailed above and the 
information to be reported back. The Group 
audit team approved the component 
materiality levels, which ranged from $9m to 
$80m, having regard to the mix of size and risk 
profile of the Group across the components.

The work on all components in scope of our 
work, other than on the Parent Company, 
was performed by component and shared 
service centre auditors. The audit of the Parent 
Company and consolidation was performed 
by the Group audit team.

The Group audit team visited six (2015: five) 
component locations, during the year, in the 
UK, Sweden, Japan, China, Malaysia, and the 
United States to discuss and challenge key 
risks and audit strategy. Video or telephone 
conference meetings were also held with all 
Group reporting component auditors and 
shared service auditors throughout the 
audit. At these visits and meetings, the audit 
approach, findings and observations reported 
to the Group audit team were discussed in 
more detail, and any further work required by 
the Group audit team was then performed by 
the component auditor.

6  We have nothing to report on the 

8  Other matter – we have reported 

disclosures of principal risks

Based on the knowledge we acquired during 
our audit, we have nothing material to add or 
draw attention to in relation to: 

 > the Directors’ statement of Risk overview 

on pages 20 to 22, concerning the principal 
risks, their management, and, based on 
that, the Directors’ assessment and 
expectations of the Group’s continuing  
in operation over the three years to 
31 December 2019; or 

 > the disclosures in the Group Accounting 
Policies concerning the use of the going 
concern basis of accounting.

7  We have nothing to report in respect of the 
matters on which we are required to report 
by exception 

Under ISAs (UK and Ireland) we are required 
to report to you if, based on the knowledge 
we acquired during our audit, we have 
identified other information in this Annual 
Report that contains a material inconsistency 
with either that knowledge or the Financial 
Statements, a material misstatement of fact, 
or that is otherwise misleading. 

In particular, we are required to report to you if: 

 > we have identified material inconsistencies 

between the knowledge we acquired during 
our audit and the Directors’ statement that 
they consider that the Annual Report and 
Financial Statements taken as a whole is  
fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Group’s position 
and performance, business model and 
strategy; or

 > the Audit Committee Report does 
not appropriately address matters 
communicated by us to the Audit Committee.

separately on the Parent Company 
Financial Statements

We have reported separately on the 
Parent Company Financial Statements 
of AstraZeneca PLC for the year ended 
31 December 2016 and on the information 
in the Directors’ Remuneration Report that 
is described as having been audited.

Scope and responsibilities
As explained more fully in the Directors’ 
Responsibilities Statement set out on 
page 133, the Directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the Financial Statements and 
for being satisfied that they give a true and 
fair view. A description of the scope of an 
audit of financial statements is provided on 
the Financial Reporting Council’s website 
at www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate. 
This report is made solely to the Company’s 
members as a body and is subject to 
important explanations and disclaimers 
regarding our responsibilities, published  
on our website at www.kpmg.com/uk/
auditscopeukco2014b, which are incorporated 
into this report as if set out in full and should  
be read to provide an understanding of the 
purpose of this report, the work we have 
undertaken and the basis of our opinions.

Antony Cates (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, 
Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants
15 Canada Square
London
E14 5GL
2 February 2017

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5  Our opinion on the other matter prescribed 
by the Companies Act 2006 is unmodified

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion: 

In our opinion the information given in the 
Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report 
for the financial year for which the Financial 
Statements are prepared is consistent with the 
Group Financial Statements. 

 > certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration 

specified by law are not made; or 

 > we have not received all the information and 

explanations we require for our audit. 

Based solely on the work required to be 
undertaken in the course of the audit of the 
Financial Statements and from reading the 
Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report:

 > we have not identified material 

misstatements in those reports; and 
 > in our opinion, those reports have been 

prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006.

Under the Listing Rules we are required 
to review: 

 > the Directors’ statements, set out on 
pages 96 and 22, in relation to going 
concern and longer-term viability; and
 > the part of the Corporate Governance 
Report on pages 82 to 97 relating to  
the Company’s compliance with the 11 
provisions of the 2014 UK Corporate 
Governance Code specified for our review.

We have nothing to report in respect of the 
above responsibilities.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

137

 
Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the year ended 31 December

Product Sales

Externalisation Revenue

Total Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Distribution costs

Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Operating profit

Finance income

Finance expense

Share of after tax losses in associates and joint ventures

Profit before tax

Taxation

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income:
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

Remeasurement of the defined benefit pension liability

Tax on items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Foreign exchange arising on consolidation

Foreign exchange arising on designating borrowings in net investment hedges

Fair value movements on cash flow hedges

Fair value movements on cash flow hedges transferred to profit and loss

Fair value movements on derivatives designated in net investment hedges

Amortisation of loss on cash flow hedge

Net available for sale gains/(losses) taken to equity

Tax on items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss 

Other comprehensive income for the period, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the period

Profit attributable to:
Owners of the Parent

Non-controlling interests

Total comprehensive income attributable to:
Owners of the Parent

Non-controlling interests

Basic earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

Diluted earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)

Diluted weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)

Notes

1

1

2

2

2

3

3

10

4

20

4

21

21

21

4

24

24

5

5

5

5

2016
$m

21,319

1,683

23,002

(4,126)

18,876

(326)

(5,890)

(9,413)

1,655

4,902

67

(1,384)

(33)

3,552

(146)

3,406

(575)

136

(439)

(1,050)

(591)

(115)

195

(4)

1

139

86

(1,339)

(1,778)

1,628

3,499

(93)

1,722

(94)

$2.77

$2.76

1,265

1,266

2015
$m

23,641

1,067

24,708

(4,646)

20,062

(339)

(5,997)

(11,112)

1,500

4,114

46

(1,075)

(16)

3,069

(243)

2,826

652

(199)

453

(528)

(333)

–

–

14

1

(32)

87

(791)

(338)

2,488

2,825

1

2,488

–

$2.23

$2.23

1,264

1,265

2014
$m

26,095

452

26,547

(5,842)

20,705

(324)

(5,579)

(13,000)

335

2,137

78

(963)

(6)

1,246

(11)

1,235

(766)

216

(550)

(823)

(529)

–

–

100

1

245

50

(956)

(1,506)

(271)

1,233

2

(266)

(5)

$0.98

$0.98

1,262

1,264

Dividends declared and paid in the period

23

3,540

3,537

3,532

All activities were in respect of continuing operations.

$m means millions of US dollars.

138

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

at 31 December

Assets

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment

Goodwill

Intangible assets

Investments in associates and joint ventures

Other investments

Derivative financial instruments

Other receivables

Deferred tax assets

Current assets
Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Other investments

Derivative financial instruments

Income tax receivable

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Trade and other payables

Derivative financial instruments

Provisions

Income tax payable

Non-current liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Deferred tax liabilities

Retirement benefit obligations

Provisions

Other payables

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the Company
Share capital

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Merger reserve

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Notes

2016
$m

2015
Restated*
$m

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

4

14

15

11

12

16

17

18

12

19

17

12

4

20

19

18

22

21

21

24

6,848

11,658

27,586

99

727

343

901

1,102

49,264

2,334

4,573

884

27

426

5,018

13,262

62,526

(2,307)

(10,486)

(18)

(1,065)

(1,380)

(15,256)

(14,501)

(117)

(3,956)

(2,186)

(353)

(9,488)

(30,601)

(45,857)

16,669

316

4,351

153

448

1,446

8,140

14,854

1,815

16,669

6,413

11,800

22,646

85

458

446

907

1,294

44,049

2,143

6,622

613

2

387

6,240

16,007

60,056

(916)

(11,663)

(9)

(798)

(1,483)

(14,869)

(14,137)

(1)

(2,665)

(1,974)

(444)

(7,457)

(26,678)

(41,547)

18,509

316

4,304

153

448

1,435

11,834

18,490

19

18,509

2014
$m

6,010

11,550

20,981

59

502

465

1,112

1,219

41,898

1,960

7,232

795

21

329

6,360

16,697

58,595

(2,446)

(11,886)

(21)

(623)

(2,354)

(17,330)

(8,397)

–

(1,796)

(2,951)

(484)

(7,991)

(21,619)

(38,949)

19,646

316

4,261

153

448

1,420

13,029

19,627

19

19,646

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*  (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:12)(cid:17)

The Financial Statements from pages 138 to 196 were approved by the Board on 2 February 2017 and were signed on its behalf by

Pascal Soriot 
Director 

Marc Dunoyer
Director

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

139

 
 
Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

for the year ended 31 December

At 1 January 2014

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income

Transfer to other reserves1

Transactions with owners
Dividends

Issue of Ordinary Shares

Share-based payments

Transfer from non-controlling interests to payables

True-up to Astra AB non-controlling interest buy out

Net movement

At 31 December 2014

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income

Transfer to other reserves1

Transactions with owners
Dividends

Issue of Ordinary Shares

Share-based payments

Net movement

At 31 December 2015

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income

Transfer to other reserves1

Transactions with owners
Dividends

Dividends paid by subsidiary to non-controlling interest

Acerta put option (Note 24)

Changes in non-controlling interest (Note 25)

Issue of Ordinary Shares

Share-based payments

Net movement

At 31 December 2016

Share
capital
$m

315

Share
premium
account
$m

3,983

Capital
redemption
reserve
$m

153

Merger
reserve
$m

433

Other
reserves
$m

1,380

Total
attributable
to owners
$m

Non-
controlling
interests
$m

Retained
earnings
$m

16,960

1,233

(1,499)

(40)

23,224

1,233

(1,499)

–

–

–

–

–

1

–

–

–

1

316

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

278

–

–

–

278

4,261

–

–

–

–

43

–

43

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

153

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

15

15

448

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

316

4,304

153

448

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

47

–

47

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

40

–

–

–

–

–

40

1,420

–

–

15

–

–

–

15

1,435

–

–

11

–

–

–

–

–

–

(3,532)

(3,532)

–

(93)

–

–

279

(93)

–

15

(3,931)

(3,597)

13,029

2,825

(337)

(15)

19,627

2,825

(337)

–

(3,537)

(3,537)

–

(131)

(1,195)

11,834

3,499

43

(131)

(1,137)

18,490

3,499

(1,777)

(1,777)

(11)

–

(3,540)

(3,540)

–

–

(1,825)

(1,825)

–

–

(40)

–

47

(40)

316

4,351

153

448

1,446

8,140

14,854

11

(3,694)

(3,636)

Total
equity
$m

23,253

1,235

(1,506)

–

(3,532)

279

(93)

(5)

15

(3,607)

19,646

2,826

(338)

–

(3,537)

43

(131)

(1,137)

18,509

3,406

(1,778)

–

(3,540)

(13)

(1,825)

1,903

47

(40)

(1,840)

16,669

29

2

(7)

–

–

–

–

(5)

–

(10)

19

1

(1)

–

–

–

–

–

19

(93)

(1)

–

–

(13)

–

1,903

–

–

1,796

1,815

1  Amounts charged or credited to other reserves relate to exchange adjustments arising on goodwill.

140

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

for the year ended 31 December

Notes

3

10

2

18

25

18

10

Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before tax

Finance income and expense

Share of after tax losses of associates and joint ventures

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

Decrease in trade and other receivables

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables and provisions

Gains on disposal of intangible assets

Fair value movements on contingent consideration arising from business combinations

Non-cash and other movements

Cash generated from operations

Interest paid

Tax paid

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Upfront payments on business combinations

Payment of contingent consideration from business combinations

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of intangible assets

Disposal of intangible assets

Purchase of non-current asset investments

Disposal of non-current asset investments

Movement in short-term investments and fixed deposits

Payments to joint ventures

Interest received

Payments made by subsidiaries to non-controlling interests

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of share capital

Repayment of obligations under finance leases

Issue of loans

Repayment of loans

Dividends paid

Hedge contracts relating to dividend payments

Payments to acquire non-controlling interests

Movement in short-term borrowings

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents in the period

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

Exchange rate effects

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

16

2016
$m

3,552

1,317

33

2,357

1,610

(343)

(341)

(1,301)

(1,158)

(492)

5,234

(677)

(412)

4,145

(2,564)

(293)

(1,446)

82

(868)

1,427

(230)

3

(166)

(41)

140

(13)

(3,969)

176

47

(16)

2,491

–

(3,561)

18

–

(303)

(1,324)

(1,148)

6,051

21

4,924

2015
$m

3,069

1,029

16

2,852

152

(315)

114

(961)

(432)

(350)

5,174

(496)

(1,354)

3,324

(2,446)

(579)

(1,328)

47

(1,460)

1,130

(57)

93

283

(45)

123

–

(4,239)

(915)

43

(42)

5,928

(884)

(3,486)

(51)

–

(630)

878

(37)

6,164

(76)

6,051

2014
$m

1,246

885

6

3,282

311

108

2,089

–

512

353

8,792

(533)

(1,201)

7,058

(3,804)

(657)

(1,012)

158

(1,740)

–

(130)

59

34

(70)

140

(10)

(7,032)

26

279

(36)

919

(750)

(3,521)

(14)

(102)

520

(2,705)

(2,679)

8,995

(152)

6,164

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141

 
Financial Statements

Group Accounting Policies

Basis of accounting and preparation 
(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:98)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)
The Consolidated Financial Statements 
have been prepared under the historical cost 
convention, modified to include revaluation 
to fair value of certain financial instruments 
as described below, in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006 and International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 
adopted by the EU (adopted IFRSs) in response 
to the IAS regulation (EC 1606/2002). The 
Consolidated Financial Statements also comply 
fully with IFRSs as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

During the year, the Group has adopted 
the amendments to IFRS 11 Accounting for 
Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations, 
amendments to IAS 16 ‘Property, Plant and 
Equipment’ and IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’ 
Clarification of Acceptable Methods of 
Depreciation and Amortisation, and 
amendments to IAS 1 Disclosure Initiative, 
which were all effective for periods beginning 
on or after 1 January 2016.

The adoption has not had a significant impact 
on the Group’s profit for the period, net assets 
or cash flows.

The Company has elected to prepare the 
Company Financial Statements in accordance 
with UK Accounting Standards, including 
FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’. 
These are presented on pages 198 to 202 and  
the Accounting Policies in respect of Company 
information are set out on page 200.

The Consolidated Financial Statements 
are presented in US dollars, which is the 
Company’s functional currency.

In preparing their individual Financial 
Statements, the accounting policies of 
some overseas subsidiaries do not conform 
with IASB issued IFRSs. Therefore, where 
appropriate, adjustments are made in order 
to present the Consolidated Financial 
Statements on a consistent basis.

Basis for preparation of Financial 
Statements on a going concern basis
Information on the business environment 
AstraZeneca operates in, including the factors 
underpinning the pharmaceutical industry’s 
future growth prospects, is included in the 
Strategic Report. Details of the product 
portfolio of the Group (including patent 
expiry dates for key marketed products), 
our approach to product development and  
our development pipeline are covered in detail 
with additional information by Therapy Area in 
the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report.

The financial position of the Group, its cash 
flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities 
are described in the Financial Review from 
page 62. In addition, Note 26 to the Financial 
Statements includes the Group’s objectives, 
policies and processes for managing its 
capital, its financial risk management objectives, 
details of its financial instruments and hedging 
activities and its exposures to credit, market 
and liquidity risk. Further details of the Group’s 
cash balances and borrowings are included in 
Notes 16 and 17 to the Financial Statements.

The Group has considerable financial resources 
available. As at 31 December 2016, the Group 
has $5.7bn in financial resources (cash 
balances of $5.0bn and undrawn committed 
bank facilities of $3.0bn that are available until 
April 2020, with only $2.3bn of debt due within 
one year). The Group’s revenues are largely 
derived from sales of products which are 
covered by patents which provide a relatively 
high level of resilience and predictability to 
cash inflows, although our revenue is expected 
to continue to be significantly impacted by 
the expiry of patents over the medium term. 
In addition, government price interventions in 
response to budgetary constraints are 
expected to continue to adversely affect 
revenues in many of our mature markets. 
However, we anticipate new revenue streams 
from both recently launched medicines and 
products in development, and the Group 
has a wide diversity of customers and 
suppliers across different geographic areas. 
Consequently, the Directors believe that, 
overall, the Group is well placed to manage 
its business risks successfully.

After making enquiries, the Directors have a 
reasonable expectation that the Company 
and the Group have adequate resources to 
continue in operational existence for the 
foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue 
to adopt the going concern basis in preparing 
the Annual Report and Financial Statements.

Estimates and judgements
The preparation of the Financial Statements in 
conformity with generally accepted accounting 
principles requires management to make 
estimates and judgements that affect the 
reported amounts of assets and liabilities at 
the date of the Financial Statements and the 
reported amounts of revenues and expenses 
during the reporting period. Actual results 
could differ from those estimates.

Judgements include matters such as the 
determination of operating segments while 
estimates focus on areas such as carrying 
values, estimated useful lives, potential 
obligations and contingent consideration.

AstraZeneca’s management considers the 
following to be the most important accounting 
policies in the context of the Group’s operations.

The accounting policy descriptions set out 
the areas where judgements and estimates 
need exercising, the most significant of 
which are revenue recognition, research and 
development (including impairment reviews 
of associated intangible assets), business 
combinations and goodwill, litigation and 
environmental liabilities, employee benefits 
and taxation.

Further information on estimates and critical 
judgements made in applying accounting 
policies, including details of significant methods 
and assumptions used, is detailed in the 
Financial Review from page 62 and is included 
in Notes 4, 8, 9, 20, 25 and 28 to the Financial 
Statements. Financial risk management 
policies are detailed in Note 26.

Revenue
Revenues comprise Product Sales  
and Externalisation Revenue. 

Revenues exclude inter-company revenues 
and value-added taxes.

Product Sales
Product Sales represent net invoice value less 
estimated rebates, returns and chargebacks. 
Sales are recognised when the significant 
risks and rewards of ownership have been 
transferred to a third party. In general, this is 
upon delivery of the products to wholesalers. 
In markets where returns are significant 
(currently only in the US), estimates of returns 
are accounted for at the point revenue is 
recognised. In markets where returns are not 
significant, they are recorded when returned. 

For the US market, we estimate the quantity 
and value of goods which may ultimately 
be returned at the point of sale. Our returns 
accruals are based on actual experience 
over the preceding 12 months for established 
products together with market-related 
information such as estimated stock levels 
at wholesalers and competitor activity which 
we receive via third party information services. 
For newly launched products, we use rates 
based on our experience with similar products 
or a predetermined percentage. 

When a product faces generic competition, 
particular attention is given to the possible 
levels of returns and, in cases where the 
circumstances are such that the level of returns 
(and, hence, revenue) cannot be measured 
reliably, revenues are only recognised when 
the right of return expires, which is generally on 
ultimate prescription of the product to patients. 

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Externalisation Revenue
Externalisation Revenue includes income from 
collaborative arrangements on the Group’s 
products where the Group retains a significant 
ongoing interest and there is no derecognition 
of an intangible asset. These may include 
development arrangements, commercialisation 
arrangements and collaborations.

Income may take the form of upfront access 
fees, milestones and/or sales royalties. 
Generally, upfront access fees are recognised 
upon delivery of the access. Where the Group 
provides ongoing services, revenue in respect 
of this element will be recognised over the 
duration of those services. Milestones and sales 
royalties are recognised when virtually certain 
and the amount can be reliably estimated. 

Further detail on key judgements and 
estimates is included in the Financial Review 
from page 62.

Research and development
Research expenditure is recognised in profit in 
the year in which it is incurred.

Internal development expenditure is capitalised 
only if it meets the recognition criteria of IAS 38 
‘Intangible Assets’. Where regulatory and other 
uncertainties are such that the criteria are not 
met, the expenditure is recognised in profit 
and this is almost invariably the case prior to 
approval of the drug by the relevant regulatory 
authority. Where, however, recognition criteria 
are met, intangible assets are capitalised and 
amortised on a straight-line basis over their 
useful economic lives from product launch. 
At 31 December 2016, no amounts have met 
recognition criteria.

Payments to in-license products and 
compounds from third parties for new research 
and development projects (in process research 
and development), generally taking the form 
of upfront payments and milestones, are 
capitalised. Where payments made to 
third parties represent future research and 
development activities, an evaluation is made 
as to the nature of the payments. Such 
payments are expensed if they represent 
compensation for subcontracted research 
and development services not resulting in a 
transfer of intellectual property. By contrast, 
payments are capitalised if they represent 
compensation for the transfer of intellectual 
property developed at the risk of the third 
party. Since acquired products and 
compounds will only generate sales and 
cash inflows following launch, our policy is to 
minimise the period between final approval 
and launch if it is within AstraZeneca’s control 
to do so. Assets capitalised are amortised, on 
a straight-line basis, over their useful economic 
lives from product launch. Under this policy, it 
is not possible to determine precise economic 
lives for individual classes of intangible assets. 
However, lives do not exceed 25 years.

Intangible assets relating to products in 
development are subject to impairment testing 
annually. All intangible assets are tested for 
impairment when there are indications that the 
carrying value may not be recoverable. Any 
impairment losses are recognised immediately 
in profit. Intangible assets relating to products 
which fail during development (or for which 
development ceases for other reasons) are 
tested for impairment at the point of 
termination and are written down to their 
recoverable amount (which is usually nil).

If, subsequent to an impairment loss being 
recognised, development restarts or other 
facts and circumstances change indicating 
that the impairment is less or no longer exists, 
the value of the asset is re-estimated and its 
carrying value is increased to the recoverable 
amount, but not exceeding the original value, 
by recognising an impairment reversal in profit.

Business combinations and goodwill
On the acquisition of a business, fair values 
are attributed to the identifiable assets and 
liabilities and contingent liabilities unless the 
fair value cannot be measured reliably, in which 
case the value is subsumed into goodwill. 
Where the Group fully acquires, through 
a business combination, assets that were 
previously held in joint operations, the Group 
has elected not to uplift the book value of the 
existing interest in the asset held in the joint 
operation to fair value at the date full control is 
taken. Where fair values of acquired contingent 
liabilities cannot be measured reliably, the 
assumed contingent liability is not recognised 
but is disclosed in the same manner as other 
contingent liabilities.

Where not all of the equity of a subsidiary 
is acquired the non-controlling interest is 
recognised either at fair value or at the 
non-controlling interest’s proportionate 
share of the net assets of the subsidiary, 
on a case-by-case basis. Put options over 
non-controlling interests are recognised as 
a financial liability, with a corresponding entry 
in either retained earnings or against 
non-controlling interest reserves on a 
case-by-case basis.

Future contingent elements of consideration, 
which may include development and launch 
milestones, revenue threshold milestones 
and revenue-based royalties, are fair valued 
at the date of acquisition using decision-tree 
analysis with key inputs including probability 
of success, consideration of potential delays 
and revenue projections based on the Group’s 
internal forecasts. Unsettled amounts of 
consideration are held at fair value within 
payables with changes in fair value recognised 
immediately in profit.

Goodwill is the difference between the fair value 
of the consideration and the fair value of net 
assets acquired.

Goodwill arising on acquisitions is capitalised 
and subject to an impairment review, both 
annually and when there is an indication that 
the carrying value may not be recoverable. 
Between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 
2002, goodwill was amortised over its 
estimated useful life; such amortisation 
ceased on 31 December 2002.

The Group’s policy up to and including 
1997 was to eliminate goodwill arising upon 
acquisitions against reserves. Under IFRS 1 
‘First-time Adoption of International Financial 
Reporting Standards’ and IFRS 3 ‘Business 
Combinations’, such goodwill will remain 
eliminated against reserves.

Joint arrangements and associates
The Group has arrangements over which it 
has joint control and which qualify as joint 
operations or joint ventures under IFRS 11 
‘Joint Arrangements’. For joint operations, the 
Group recognises its share of revenue that it 
earns from the joint operations and its share of 
expenses incurred. The Group also recognises 
the assets associated with the joint operations 
that it controls and the liabilities it incurs under 
the joint arrangement. For joint ventures and 
associates, the Group recognises its interest 
in the joint venture as an investment and uses 
the equity method of accounting.

Employee benefits
The Group accounts for pensions and other 
employee benefits (principally healthcare) 
under IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’. In respect 
of defined benefit plans, obligations are 
measured at discounted present value while 
plan assets are measured at fair value. The 
operating and financing costs of such plans 
are recognised separately in profit; current 
service costs are spread systematically over 
the lives of employees and financing costs are 
recognised in full in the periods in which they 
arise. Remeasurements of the net defined 
pension liability, including actuarial gains and 
losses, are recognised immediately in other 
comprehensive income.

Where the calculation results in a surplus to 
the Group, the recognised asset is limited 
to the present value of any available future 
refunds from the plan or reductions in future 
contributions to the plan. Payments to defined 
contribution plans are recognised in profit as 
they fall due.

Taxation
The current tax payable is based on taxable 
profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from 
reported profit because taxable profit excludes 
items that are either never taxable or tax 
deductible or items that are taxable or tax 
deductible in a different period. The Group’s 
current tax assets and liabilities are calculated 
using tax rates that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the reporting date.

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Financial Statements

Deferred tax is provided using the balance 
sheet liability method, providing for temporary 
differences between the carrying amounts 
of assets and liabilities for financial reporting 
purposes and the amounts used for taxation 
purposes. Deferred tax assets are recognised 
to the extent that it is probable that taxable 
profit will be available against which the asset 
can be utilised. This requires judgements to 
be made in respect of the availability of future 
taxable income.

No deferred tax asset or liability is recognised 
in respect of temporary differences associated 
with investments in subsidiaries and branches 
where the Group is able to control the timing 
of reversal of the temporary differences and it 
is probable that the temporary differences will 
not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The Group’s deferred tax assets and liabilities 
are calculated using tax rates that are 
expected to apply in the period when the 
liability is settled or the asset realised based 
on tax rates that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the reporting date.

Accruals for tax contingencies require 
management to make judgements and 
estimates of exposures in relation to tax audit 
issues. Tax benefits are not recognised unless 
the tax positions will probably be sustained 
based upon management’s interpretation 
of applicable laws and regulations. Once 
considered to be probable, management 
reviews each material tax benefit to assess 
whether a provision should be taken against 
full recognition of that benefit on the basis of 
potential settlement through negotiation and/or 
litigation. Accruals for tax contingencies are 
measured using the single best estimate of 
likely outcome approach. Any liability to pay 
interest on tax liabilities is provided for in the 
tax charge. See Note 28 to the Financial 
Statements for further details.

Share-based payments
All plans are assessed and have been 
classified as equity settled. The grant date 
fair value of employee share plan awards is 
calculated using a modified version of the 
binomial model. In accordance with IFRS 2 
‘Share-based Payment’, the resulting cost is 
recognised in profit over the vesting period 
of the awards, being the period in which the 
services are received. The value of the charge 
is adjusted to reflect expected and actual 
levels of awards vesting, except where the 
failure to vest is as a result of not meeting 
a market condition. Cancellations of equity 
instruments are treated as an acceleration of 
the vesting period and any outstanding charge 
is recognised in profit immediately.

Property, plant and equipment
The Group’s policy is to write off the difference 
between the cost of each item of property, 
plant and equipment and its residual value over 
its estimated useful life on a straight-line basis. 
Assets under construction are not depreciated.

Reviews are made annually of the estimated 
remaining lives and residual values of individual 
productive assets, taking account of 
commercial and technological obsolescence 
as well as normal wear and tear. Under this 
policy it becomes impractical to calculate 
average asset lives exactly. However, the total 
lives range from approximately 10 to 50 years 
for buildings, and three to 15 years for plant 
and equipment. All items of property, plant 
and equipment are tested for impairment 
when there are indications that the carrying 
value may not be recoverable. Any impairment 
losses are recognised immediately in profit.

Borrowing costs
The Group has no borrowing costs with 
respect to the acquisition or construction 
of qualifying assets. All other borrowing 
costs are recognised in profit as incurred 
and in accordance with the effective interest 
rate method.

Leases
Leases are classified as finance leases if they 
transfer substantially all the risks and rewards 
incidental to ownership, otherwise they are 
classified as operating leases. Assets and 
liabilities arising on finance leases are initially 
recognised at fair value or, if lower, the present 
value of the minimum lease payments. 
The discount rate used in calculating the 
present value of the minimum lease payments 
is the interest rate implicit in the lease. Finance 
charges under finance leases are allocated 
to each reporting period so as to produce 
a constant periodic rate of interest on the 
remaining balance of the finance liability. 
Rentals under operating leases are charged 
to profit on a straight-line basis.

Subsidiaries
A subsidiary is an entity controlled, directly 
or indirectly, by AstraZeneca PLC. Control is 
regarded as the exposure or rights to the 
variable returns of the entity when combined 
with the power to affect those returns.

The financial results of subsidiaries are 
consolidated from the date control is 
obtained until the date that control ceases.

Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and 
net realisable value. The first in, first out or an 
average method of valuation is used. For 
finished goods and work in progress, cost 
includes directly attributable costs and certain 
overhead expenses (including depreciation). 
Selling expenses and certain other overhead 
expenses (principally central administration 
costs) are excluded. Net realisable value is 

determined as estimated selling price less all 
estimated costs of completion and costs to be 
incurred in selling and distribution.

Write-downs of inventory occur in the general 
course of business and are recognised in cost 
of sales.

Trade and other receivables
Financial assets included in trade and other 
receivables are recognised initially at fair value. 
Subsequent to initial recognition they are 
measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest rate method, less any impairment 
losses. Trade receivables that are subject to 
debt factoring arrangements are derecognised 
if they meet the conditions for derecognition 
detailed in IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: 
Recognition and Measurement’.

Trade and other payables
Financial liabilities included in trade and other 
payables are recognised initially at fair value. 
Subsequent to initial recognition they are 
measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest rate method.

Financial instruments
The Group’s financial instruments include 
interests in leases, trade and other receivables 
and payables, liabilities for contingent 
consideration under business combinations, 
and rights and obligations under employee 
benefit plans which are dealt with in specific 
accounting policies.

The Group’s other financial instruments include:

 > cash and cash equivalents
 > fixed deposits
 > other investments
 > bank and other borrowings
 > derivatives.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash 
in hand, current balances with banks and 
similar institutions and highly liquid investments 
with maturities of three months or less when 
acquired. They are readily convertible into 
known amounts of cash and are held at 
amortised cost.

Fixed deposits
Fixed deposits, principally comprising funds 
held with banks and other financial institutions, 
are initially measured at fair value, plus direct 
transaction costs, and are subsequently 
measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest rate method at each reporting date. 
Changes in carrying value are recognised 
in profit.

Other investments
Where investments have been classified as 
held for trading, they are measured initially at 
fair value and subsequently remeasured to fair 
value at each reporting date. Changes in fair 
value are recognised in profit.

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In all other circumstances, the investments 
are classified as ‘available for sale’, initially 
measured at fair value (including direct 
transaction costs) and subsequently 
remeasured to fair value at each reporting date. 
Changes in carrying value due to changes in 
exchange rates on monetary available for sale 
investments or impairments are recognised 
in profit with other operating income and 
expense. All other changes in fair value are 
recognised in other comprehensive income.

Impairments are recorded in profit when there 
is a decline in the value of an investment that 
is deemed to be other than temporary. On 
disposal of the investment, the cumulative 
amount recognised in other comprehensive 
income is recognised in profit as part of the 
gain or loss on disposal.

Bank and other borrowings
The Group uses derivatives, principally 
interest rate swaps, to hedge the interest rate 
exposure inherent in a portion of its fixed 
interest rate debt. In such cases the Group will 
either designate the debt as fair value through 
profit or loss when certain criteria are met or 
as the hedged item under a fair value hedge.

If the debt instrument is designated as fair 
value through profit or loss, the debt is initially 
measured at fair value (with direct transaction 
costs being included in profit as an expense) 
and is remeasured to fair value at each 
reporting date with changes in carrying value 
being recognised in profit (along with changes 
in the fair value of the related derivative). 
Such a designation has been made where this 
significantly reduces an accounting mismatch 
which would result from recognising gains and 
losses on different bases.

If the debt is designated as the hedged item 
under a fair value hedge, the debt is initially 
measured at fair value (with direct transaction 
costs being amortised over the life of the debt), 
and is remeasured for fair value changes in 
respect of the hedged risk at each reporting 
date with changes in carrying value being 
recognised in profit (along with changes in the 
fair value of the related derivative).

If the debt is designated in a cash flow hedge, 
the debt is measured at amortised cost 
(with gains or losses taken to profit and 
direct transaction costs being amortised over 
the life of the debt). The related derivative is 
remeasured for fair value changes at each 
reporting date with the portion of the gain or 
loss on the derivative that is determined to 
be an effective hedge recognised in other 
comprehensive income. The amounts that 
have been recognised in other comprehensive 
income are reclassified to profit in the same 
period that the hedged forecast cash flows 
affect profit.

Other interest-bearing loans are initially 
measured at fair value (with direct transaction 
costs being amortised over the life of the bond) 
and are subsequently measured at amortised 
cost using the effective interest rate method at 
each reporting date. Changes in carrying value 
are recognised in profit.

Derivatives
Derivatives are initially measured at fair value 
(with direct transaction costs being included 
in profit as an expense) and are subsequently 
remeasured to fair value at each reporting 
date. Changes in carrying value are 
recognised in profit.

Foreign currencies
Foreign currency transactions, being 
transactions denominated in a currency other 
than an individual Group entity’s functional 
currency, are translated into the relevant 
functional currencies of individual Group entities 
at average rates for the relevant monthly 
accounting periods, which approximate to 
actual rates.

Monetary assets and liabilities arising from 
foreign currency transactions are retranslated 
at exchange rates prevailing at the reporting 
date. Exchange gains and losses on loans 
and on short-term foreign currency borrowings 
and deposits are included within finance 
expense. Exchange differences on all other 
foreign currency transactions are recognised in 
operating profit in the individual Group entity’s 
accounting records.

Non-monetary items arising from foreign 
currency transactions are not retranslated in the 
individual Group entity’s accounting records.

In the Consolidated Financial Statements, 
income and expense items for Group entities 
with a functional currency other than US dollars 
are translated into US dollars at average 
exchange rates, which approximate to actual 
rates, for the relevant accounting periods. 
Assets and liabilities are translated at the 
US dollar exchange rates prevailing at the 
reporting date. Exchange differences arising 
on consolidation are recognised in other 
comprehensive income.

If certain criteria are met, non-US dollar 
denominated loans or derivatives are 
designated as net investment hedges of 
foreign operations. Exchange differences 
arising on retranslation of net investments, 
and of foreign currency loans which are 
designated in an effective net investment 
hedge relationship, are recognised in other 
comprehensive income in the Consolidated 
Financial Statements. Foreign exchange 
derivatives hedging net investments in foreign 
operations are carried at fair value. Effective 
fair value movements are recognised in 
other comprehensive income, with any 

ineffectiveness taken to profit. Gains and 
losses accumulated in the translation reserve 
will be recycled to profit when the foreign 
operation is sold.

Litigation and environmental liabilities
AstraZeneca is involved in legal disputes, the 
settlement of which may involve cost to the 
Group. Provision is made where an adverse 
outcome is probable and associated costs, 
including related legal costs, can be estimated 
reliably. In other cases, appropriate disclosures 
are included.

Where it is considered that the Group is 
more likely than not to prevail, or in the rare 
circumstances where the amount of the legal 
liability cannot be estimated reliably, legal costs 
involved in defending the claim are charged to 
profit as they are incurred.

Where it is considered that the Group has 
a valid contract which provides the right to 
reimbursement (from insurance or otherwise) 
of legal costs and/or all or part of any loss 
incurred or for which a provision has been 
established, the best estimate of the amount 
expected to be received is recognised as an 
asset only when it is virtually certain.

AstraZeneca is exposed to environmental 
liabilities relating to its past operations, 
principally in respect of soil and groundwater 
remediation costs. Provisions for these costs 
are made when there is a present obligation 
and where it is probable that expenditure on 
remedial work will be required and a reliable 
estimate can be made of the cost. Provisions 
are discounted where the effect is material.

Impairment
The carrying values of non-financial assets, 
other than inventories and deferred tax assets, 
are reviewed at least annually to determine 
whether there is any indication of impairment. 
For goodwill, intangible assets under 
development and for any other assets where 
such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable 
amount is estimated based on the greater of 
its value in use and its fair value less cost to 
sell. In assessing value in use, the estimated 
future cash flows, adjusted for the risks 
specific to each asset, are discounted to 
their present value using a discount rate that 
reflects current market assessments of the 
time value of money, the general risks affecting 
the pharmaceutical industry and other risks 
specific to each asset. For the purpose of 
impairment testing, assets are grouped 
together into the smallest group of assets that 
generates cash inflows from continuing use 
that are largely independent of the cash flows 
of other assets. Impairment losses are 
recognised immediately in profit.

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revenue and income streams including, but 
not limited to, the impact on revenue from 
collaborative arrangements, licence income 
and milestone revenues.

IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ was issued by the IASB in 
January 2016 and is effective for accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. 
The new standard will replace IAS 17 ‘Leases’ 
and will eliminate the classification of leases as 
either operating leases or finance leases and, 
instead, introduce a single lessee accounting 
model. The standard has yet to be endorsed by 
the EU. The adoption of IFRS 16 is not expected 
to have a significant impact on the Group’s net 
results or net assets, although the full impact 
will be subject to further assessment.

In addition, the following amendments have 
been issued: 

 > Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 Sale or 
Contribution of Assets between an Investor 
and its Associate or Joint Venture. The IASB 
has deferred these amendments until a date 
to be determined by the IASB, although 
early application is permitted.

 > Amendments to IAS 12 Recognition of 

Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses, 
effective for periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2017.

 > Amendments to IAS 7 Disclosure Initiative, 
effective for periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2017.

 > Amendments to IFRS 2 Classification and 
Measurement of Share-based Payment 
Transactions, effective for periods beginning 
on or after 1 January 2018.

The above amendments are not expected 
to have a significant impact on the Group’s 
net results, net assets or disclosures. 
The amendments have yet to be endorsed 
by the EU.

Financial Statements

International accounting transition
On transition to using adopted IFRSs in the 
year ended 31 December 2005, the Group 
took advantage of several optional exemptions 
available in IFRS 1 ‘First-time Adoption of 
International Financial Reporting Standards’. 
The major impacts which are of continuing 
importance are detailed below:

 > Business combinations – IFRS 3 ‘Business 

Combinations’ has been applied from 
1 January 2003, the date of transition,  
rather than being applied fully retrospectively. 
As a result, the combination of Astra and 
Zeneca is still accounted for as a merger, 
rather than through purchase accounting.  
If purchase accounting had been adopted, 
Zeneca would have been deemed to have 
acquired Astra.

 > Cumulative exchange differences – the 
Group chose to set the cumulative 
exchange difference reserve at 1 January 
2003 to nil.

Applicable accounting standards and 
interpretations issued but not yet adopted
IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ was finalised 
by the IASB in July 2014 and is effective for 
accounting periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2018. The new standard will replace 
existing accounting standards. It is applicable 
to financial assets and liabilities, and will 
introduce changes to existing accounting 
concerning classification and measurement, 
impairment (introducing an expected-loss 
method), hedge accounting, and on the 
treatment of gains arising from the impact of 
credit risk on the measurement of liabilities 
held at fair value. The standard was endorsed 
by the EU on 22 November 2016. The adoption 
of IFRS 9 is not expected to have a significant 
impact on the Group’s net results or net 
assets, although the full impact will be subject 
to further assessment. The Group will early 
adopt the treatment of fair value changes 
arising from changes in own credit risk from 
1 January 2017. 

IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with 
Customers’ was issued by the IASB in May 
2014. It is effective for accounting periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2018. The 
new standard will replace existing accounting 
standards, and provides enhanced detail on 
the principle of recognising revenue to reflect 
the transfer of goods and services to 
customers at a value which the Company 
expects to be entitled to receive. The standard 
also updates revenue disclosure requirements. 
The standard was endorsed by the EU on 
22 September 2016. The adoption of IFRS 15 
is not expected to have a significant impact 
on the Group’s recognition of Product Sales. 
The Group is continuing to assess the impact 
of IFRS 15 on the results of the Group for other 

146

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Notes to the Group Financial Statements

1 Revenue
Product Sales

Oncology: 
Faslodex 

Zoladex 

Iressa 

Tagrisso 

Casodex 

Arimidex 

Lynparza 

Others 

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: 
Crestor 

Brilinta 

Farxiga 

Seloken/Toprol-XL 

Onglyza 

Bydureon 

Atacand 

Byetta 

Plendil

Tenormin

Others 

Respiratory:
Symbicort 

Pulmicort 

Tudorza/Eklira 

Daliresp/Daxas

Rhinocort

Others 

Other:
Nexium 

Seroquel XR 

Synagis 

Local Anaesthetics

Losec/Prilosec 

Seroquel IR

Merrem

Diprivan

FluMist/Fluenz 

Others 

Product Sales

2016
$m

 830 

 816 

 513 

 423 

 247 

 232 

 218 

 104 

2015
$m

 704 

 816 

 543 

 19 

 267 

 250 

 94 

 132 

2014
$m

 720 

 924 

 623 

 – 

 320 

 298 

 – 

 142 

 3,383 

 2,825 

 3,027 

 3,401 

 5,017 

 5,512 

 839 

 835 

 737 

 720 

 578 

 315 

 254 

 136 

 106 

 195 

 619 

 492 

 710 

 786 

 580 

 358 

 316 

 234 

 118 

 259 

 476 

 225 

 758 

 820 

 440 

 501 

 327 

 249 

 161 

 333 

 8,116 

 9,489 

 9,802 

 2,989 

 1,061 

 170 

 154 

 112 

 267 

 3,394 

 1,014 

 190 

 104 

 120 

165

 3,801 

 946 

 13 

 – 

 139 

 164 

 4,753 

 4,987 

 5,063 

 2,032 

 735 

 677 

 329 

 276 

 231 

 201 

 143 

 104 

339

 2,496 

 1,025 

 662 

 404 

 340 

 250 

 241 

 200 

 288 

434

 3,655 

 1,224 

 900 

 488 

 422 

 178 

 253 

 252 

 295 

 536 

 5,067 

 21,319 

 6,340 

 23,641 

 8,203 

 26,095 

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S

t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Externalisation Revenue
Externalisation Revenue in 2016 was $1,683m (2015: $1,067m; 2014: $452m).

In 2016, Externalisation Revenue includes $520m from Aspen Global Incorporated for our anaesthetics medicines portfolio, $298m from the sale of 
commercialisation rights for Plendil in China to China Medical System Holdings Ltd, and $175m from Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the US rights 
to Toprol-XL. 

In 2015, Externalisation Revenue includes $450m on entering into a collaboration with Celgene on durvalumab, $200m on entering into a collaboration 
with Daiichi Sankyo on Movantik and $100m on entering into a collaboration with Valeant on brodalumab.

In 2014, Externalisation Revenue includes $250m from a licence agreement with Pfizer on Nexium OTC.

Royalty income of $119m (2015: $87m; 2014: $53m) is included in Externalisation Revenue.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

147

 
Financial Statements

2 Operating profit
Operating profit includes the following significant items:

Selling, general and administrative costs
In 2016, selling, general and administrative costs includes a credit of $999m (2015: credit of $378m; 2014: charge of $529m) resulting from changes 
in the fair value of contingent consideration arising from the acquisition of the diabetes alliance with BMS. These adjustments reflect revised estimates 
for future sales performance for the products acquired and, as a result, revised estimates for future royalties payable.

In 2016, selling, general and administrative costs also includes a total of $223m (2015: $313m) of legal provisions relating to a number of legal 
proceedings in various jurisdictions in relation to several marketed products.

In July 2014, the US Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations that affected the recognition of the annual Branded Pharmaceutical Fee, 
imposed by the health care reform legislation in 2010. As a result, entities covered by the legislation now accrue for the obligation as each sale 
occurs. AstraZeneca recorded a catch-up charge of $226m in 2014 to reflect this new basis, $113m of which was recorded in selling, general  
and administrative costs and $113m as a deduction from revenue.

Further details of impairment charges for 2016, 2015 and 2014 are included in Notes 7 and 9.

Other operating income and expense

Royalties
Income

Amortisation

Impairment of intangible assets

Gains on disposal of intangible assets

Net gains/(losses) on disposal of other non-current assets

Other income

Other expense

Other operating income and expense

2016
$m

406

(86)

–

1,301

29

146

(141)

1,655

2015
$m 

322

(114)

(64)

961

85

327

(17)

1,500

2014
$m

533

(212)

(18)

–

(235)

290

(23)

335

Royalty amortisation and impairment relates to income streams acquired with MedImmune and amounts relating to our arrangements with Merck.

Gains on disposal of intangible assets in 2016 includes $368m on the disposal of the small molecule antibiotics business in most markets outside 
the US, $321m on the disposal of Rest of World rights to Rhinocort Aqua, $231m on the disposal of global rights to MEDI2070 and $183m on the 
disposal of Rest of World rights to Imdur.

Gains on disposal of intangible assets in 2015 includes $380m on the disposal of US rights to Entocort, $215m on the disposal of Rest of World 
rights to Entocort, $193m on the disposal of global rights to Myalept and $165m on the disposal of global rights to Caprelsa.

Net losses on disposal of non-current assets in 2014 included a loss of $292m on disposal of Alderley Park.

Restructuring costs
The tables below show the costs that have been charged in respect of restructuring programmes by cost category and type. Severance provisions 
are detailed in Note 19.

Cost of sales

Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Total charge

Severance costs

Accelerated depreciation and impairment

Relocation costs

Loss on disposal of Alderley Park

Other

Total charge

2016
$m

130

178

823

(24)

1,107

2016
$m

505

46

18

–

538

1,107

2015
$m

158

258

618

–

2014
$m

107

497

662

292

1,034

1,558

2015
$m

298

81

34

–

621

1,034

2014
$m

246

153

209

292

658

1,558

Other costs are those incurred in designing and implementing the Group’s various restructuring initiatives including costs of decommissioning sites 
impacted by changes to our global footprint, temporary leave costs during relocation, internal project costs, and external consultancy fees.

148

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

2 Operating profit continued
Financial instruments
Included within operating profit are the following net gains and losses on financial instruments:

Losses on forward foreign exchange contracts

Gains/(losses) on receivables and payables

Gains and losses on available for sale investments

Total

2016
$m

(216)

132

–

(84)

2015
$m

(22)

(36)

74

16

2014
$m

(98)

(64)

31

(131)

Gains and losses on available for sale investments includes no gains or losses (2015: gains of $43m; 2014: gains of $9m) which have been reclassified 
from other comprehensive income.

3 Finance income and expense

Finance income
Returns on fixed deposits and equity securities

Returns on short-term deposits

Fair value gains on debt and interest rate swaps

Net exchange gains

Discount unwind on other long-term assets

Total

Finance expense
Interest on debt and commercial paper

Interest on overdrafts, finance leases and other financing costs

Net interest on post-employment defined benefit plan net liabilities (Note 20)

Net exchange losses

Discount unwind on contingent consideration arising from business combinations (Note 18)

Discount unwind on other long-term liabilities

Fair value losses on debt and interest rate swaps

Total

Net finance expense

Financial instruments
Included within finance income and expense are the following net gains and losses on financial instruments:

Interest and fair value adjustments in respect of debt designated at fair value through profit or loss, net of derivatives

Interest and changes in carrying values of debt designated as hedged items, net of derivatives

Interest and fair value changes on fixed and short-term deposits, equity securities and other derivatives

Interest on debt, overdrafts, finance leases and commercial paper held at amortised cost

2016
$m

8

35

–

8

16

67

(565)

(52)

(63)

–

(497)

(190)

(17)

(1,384)

(1,317)

2016
$m

(14)

(21)

74

(553)

2015
$m

8

28

10

–

–

46

(361)

(31)

(77)

(36)

(524)

(46)

–

(1,075)

(1,029)

2015
$m

6

(10)

46

(384)

2014
$m

10

23

16

29

–

78

(383)

(35)

(92)

–

(391)

(62)

–

(963)

(885)

2014
$m

(7)

8

45

(415)

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S

t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Fair value losses of $29m (2015: $30m fair value losses; 2014: $29m fair value losses) on interest rate fair value hedging instruments and $30m fair 
value gains (2015: $30m fair value gains; 2014: $29m fair value gains) on the related hedged items have been included within interest and changes 
in carrying values of debt designated as hedged items, net of derivatives. All fair value hedge relationships were effective during the year.

Fair value losses of $12m (2015: $5m fair value losses; 2014: $4m fair value losses) on derivatives related to debt instruments designated at fair value 
through profit or loss and $9m fair value gains (2015: $15m fair value gains; 2014: $3m fair value gains) on debt instruments designated at fair value 
through profit or loss have been included within interest and fair value adjustments in respect of debt designated at fair value through profit or loss, 
net of derivatives. Ineffectiveness on the net investment hedge taken to profit was $nil (2015: $nil; 2014: $nil). 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

149

 
Financial Statements

4 Taxation
Taxation recognised in the profit for the period in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income is as follows:

Current tax expense
Current year

Adjustment to prior years

Total

Deferred tax expense
Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Adjustment to prior years

Total

Taxation recognised in the profit for the period

Taxation relating to components of other comprehensive income is as follows:

Current and deferred tax

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:
Remeasurement of the defined benefit liability

Deferred tax impact of reduction in UK tax rate

Share-based payments

Total

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Foreign exchange arising on consolidation

Foreign exchange arising on designating borrowings in net investment hedges

Net available for sale (gains)/losses recognised in other comprehensive income

Other

Total

Taxation relating to components of other comprehensive income

2016
$m

384

(14)

370

(94)

(130)

(224)

146

2016
$m

110

(25)

51

136

63

83

(61)

1

86

222

2015
$m

1,037

(404)

633

(482)

92

(390)

243

2015
$m

(133)

(58)

(8)

(199)

(8)

80

14

1

87

(112)

2014
$m

981

(109)

872

(833)

(28)

(861)

11

2014
$m

182

–

34

216

(39)

150

(64)

3

50

266

The reported tax rate of 4% for the year ended 31 December 2016 benefited from a $453m adjustment following agreements between the Canadian 
tax authority and the UK and Swedish tax authorities in respect of transfer pricing arrangements for the 13-year period from 2004 to 2016. Excluding 
these effects, the reported tax rate for the year was 17%.

The cash tax paid for the year was $412m which was 12% of profit before tax. Cash tax was lower in 2016 due to refunds arising in relation to 
agreement of prior period tax liabilities and audit settlements.

Taxation has been provided at current rates on the profits earned for the periods covered by the Group Financial Statements. The 2016 prior period 
current tax adjustment relates mainly to net reductions in provisions for tax contingencies totalling $67m and tax accrual to tax return adjustments. 
The 2015 prior period current tax adjustment relates mainly to a $186m tax benefit following agreement of US federal tax liabilities of open years to 
2008, net reductions in provisions for tax contingencies totalling $259m and tax accrual to tax return adjustments. The 2014 prior period current tax 
adjustment relates mainly to a reduction in provisions for tax contingencies, including a benefit of $117m arising from the inter-governmental 
agreement of a transfer pricing matter, partially offset by tax accrual to tax return adjustments.

The 2016 prior period deferred tax adjustments relate mainly to tax accrual to tax return adjustments and releases in provisions for tax 
contingencies. The 2015 and 2014 prior period deferred tax adjustments relate mainly to tax accrual to tax return adjustments. 

To the extent that dividends remitted from overseas subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates are expected to result in additional taxes, appropriate 
amounts have been provided for. No deferred tax has been provided for unremitted earnings of Group companies overseas as these are considered 
permanently employed in the business of these companies. Unremitted earnings may be liable to overseas taxes and/or UK taxation (after allowing for 
double tax relief) if distributed as dividends. The aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries and branches 
for which deferred tax liabilities have not been recognised totalled approximately $6,884m at 31 December 2016 (2015: $6,957m; 2014: $6,128m).

Factors affecting future tax charges
As a group with worldwide operations, AstraZeneca is subject to several factors that may affect future tax charges, principally the levels and mix  
of profitability in different jurisdictions, transfer pricing regulations, tax rates imposed and tax regime reforms. In 2016, the UK Government enacted 
legislation to reduce the main rate of UK Statutory Corporation Tax to 17% by 2020. Details of material tax exposures and items currently under 
audit and negotiation are set out in Note 28.

150

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

4 Taxation continued
Tax reconciliation to UK statutory rate
The table below reconciles the UK statutory tax charge to the Group’s total tax charge.

Profit before tax

Notional taxation charge at UK corporation tax rate of 20% (2015: 20.25%; 2014: 21.5%)

Differences in effective overseas tax rates

Deferred tax (credit)/charge relating to reduction in UK and other tax rates1

Unrecognised deferred tax asset2

Items not deductible for tax purposes

Items not chargeable for tax purposes

Other items3

Adjustments in respect of prior periods4

Total tax charge for the year

2016
$m

 3,552 

 710 

 (233)

 (16)

 242 

 132 

 (7) 

 (538)

 (144)

 146 

2015
$m

3,069

621

(144)

(25)

149

29

–

(75)

(312)

243

2014
$m

1,246

268

(195)

23

34

50

(39)

7

(137)

11

1  The 2016 item relates to the reduction in the UK Statutory Corporation Tax rate from 18% to 17% effective from 1 April 2020. The 2015 item relates to the reduction in the UK Statutory Corporation 
Tax rate from 20% to 18% previously announced to be effective from 1 April 2020. The 2014 item relates to the reduction in the UK Statutory Corporation Tax rate from 23% to 20% effective from  
1 April 2015.

2  Includes an amount of $122m in relation to a write down of a previously recognised deferred tax asset. 
3  Other items relate to the release of tax contingencies following agreements between the Canadian tax authority and the UK and Swedish tax authorities in respect of transfer pricing arrangements 

for the 13-year period from 2004 to 2016 (credit of $453m) and release of certain tax contingencies following the expiry of the relevant statute of limitations (credit of $280m) partially offset by 
provision build for transfer pricing contingencies (charge of $195m). Other items in 2015 included the impact of internal transfers of intellectual property (tax charge of $181m) and the release  
of certain tax contingencies following the expiry of the relevant statute of limitations (tax credit of $256m). Other items in 2014 included the impact of internal transfers of intellectual property 
including recognition of deferred tax benefits acquired as part of a business combination (tax charge of $304m), and the release of certain tax contingencies following the expiry of the relevant 
(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:98)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:26)(cid:80)(cid:12)(cid:17)

4  (cid:41)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:19)(cid:17)

AstraZeneca is domiciled in the UK but operates in other countries where the tax rates and tax laws are different to those in the UK. The impact  
of differences in effective overseas tax rates on the Group’s overall tax charge is noted above. Profits arising from our manufacturing operation in 
Puerto Rico are granted special status and are taxed at a reduced rate compared with the normal rate of tax in that territory under a tax incentive 
grant continuing until 2031.

Deferred tax
The movements in the net deferred tax balance during the year are as follows:

Pension and 
post-retirement 
benefits
$m

Intercompany
inventory 
transfers
$m

Losses and 
tax credits 
carried forward3
$m

Accrued
expenses 
and other
$m

Net deferred tax balance at 1 January 2014

Taxation expense

Other comprehensive income

Additions through business combinations4

Exchange

Net deferred tax balance at 31 December 2014

Taxation expense

Other comprehensive income

Additions through business combinations (restated)5

Exchange

Net deferred tax balance at 31 December 2015 (restated)5

Income statement

Other comprehensive income

Additions through business combinations6

Exchange

Other movements7

Net deferred tax balance at 31 December 20168

Intangibles,
property, plant
& equipment1
$m

(3,064)

543

150

(147)

40

(2,478)

355

80

(1,206)

(12)

(3,261)

(132)

83

(1,827)

(1)

(11)

(5,149)

510

(4)

215

–

(93)

628

30

(198)

–

(33)

427

11

101

–

(74)

–

465

Untaxed
reserves2
$m

(1,114)

368

–

–

168

(578)

(156)

–

–

42

(692)

(53)

–

–

48

–

736

(6)

–

(35)

(65)

630

156

–

–

(48)

738

314

–

–

(38)

–

573

(44)

–

–

(4)

525

58

–

229

(8)

804

151

–

50

(1)

–

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S

t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Total
$m

(1,622)

861

330

(145)

(1)

(577)

390

(127)

(977)

(80)

(1,371)

224

160

(1,777)

(79)

(11)

(2,854)

737

4

(35)

37

(47)

696

(53)

(9)

–

(21)

613

(67)

(24)

–

(13)

–

509

1,014

(697)

1,004

1  Includes deferred tax on contingent liabilities in respect of intangibles.
2  Untaxed reserves relate to taxable profits where the tax liability is deferred to later periods.
3  Includes losses and tax credits carried forward which will expire within nine to 20 years.
4  The deferred tax liability of $145m relates to the acquisition of BMS’s share of Global Diabetes Alliance Assets ($28m) and the acquisition of Definiens Group ($117m).
5  (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:28)(cid:26)(cid:26)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:12)(cid:17)
6  The deferred tax liability of $1,777m relates to the acquisition of Acerta Pharma.
7  (cid:36)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:17)
8  (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:46)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:20)(cid:98)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:16)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)

future taxable profits against which the deductible temporary differences can be utilised.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

151

 
Financial Statements

4 Taxation continued
The net deferred tax balance, before the offset of balances within countries, consists of:

Intangibles,
property, plant 
& equipment
$m

Pension and 
post-retirement 
benefits
$m

Intercompany
inventory
transfers
$m

Untaxed
reserves
$m

Losses and 
tax credits 
carried forward
$m

Accrued
expenses 
and other
$m

Deferred tax assets at 31 December 2014

Deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2014

Net deferred tax balance at 31 December 2014

Deferred tax assets at 31 December 2015 (restated)*

Deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2015

Net deferred tax balance at 31 December 2015 (restated)*

Deferred tax assets at 31 December 2016

Deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2016

Net deferred tax balance at 31 December 2016

1,212

(3,690)

(2,478)

1,055

(4,316)

(3,261)

875

(6,024)

(5,149)

631

(3)

628

430

(3)

427

465

–

465

657

(27)

630

780

(42)

738

1,014

–

1,014

–

(578)

(578)

–

(692)

(692)

–

(697)

(697)

525

–

525

804

–

804

1,004

–

1,004

838

(142)

696

732

(119)

613

629

(120)

509

*  (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:12)(cid:17)

Analysed in the statement of financial position, after offset of balances within countries, as:

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax balance

2016
$m

1,102

(3,956)

(2,854)

2015
Restated*
$m

1,294

(2,665)

(1,371)

Total
$m

3,863

(4,440)

(577)

3,801

(5,172)

(1,371)

3,987

(6,841)

(2,854)

2014
$m

1,219

(1,796)

(577)

*  (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:12)(cid:17)

Unrecognised deferred tax assets
Deferred tax assets of $542m have not been recognised in respect of deductible temporary differences (2015: $414m; 2014: $216m) because it is 
not probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the Group can utilise the benefits therefrom.

5 Earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

Profit for the year attributable to equity holders ($m)

Basic earnings per Ordinary Share

Diluted earnings per Ordinary Share

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue for basic earnings (millions)

Dilutive impact of share options outstanding (millions)

Diluted weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)

The earnings figures used in the calculations above are post-tax.

2016

3,499

$2.77

$2.76

1,265

1

1,266

2015

2,825

$2.23

$2.23

1,264

1

1,265

2014

1,233

$0.98

$0.98

1,262

2

1,264

6 Segment information
AstraZeneca is engaged in a single business activity of biopharmaceuticals and the Group does not have multiple operating segments. 
AstraZeneca’s biopharmaceuticals business consists of the discovery and development of new products, which are then manufactured, marketed 
and sold. All of these functional activities take place (and are managed) globally on a highly integrated basis. These individual functional areas are 
not managed separately. 

The SET, established and chaired by the CEO, is the vehicle through which he exercises the authority delegated to him from the Board for the 
management, development and performance of our business. It is considered that the SET is AstraZeneca’s chief operating decision making 
body (as defined by IFRS 8 ‘Operating Segments’). The operation of the SET is principally driven by the management of the commercial operations, 
R&D, and manufacturing and supply. In addition to the CEO, CFO, the General Counsel and the Chief Compliance Officer, the SET comprises 10 
Executive Vice-Presidents representing IMED, MedImmune, Global Medicines Development, North America, Europe, International East, International 
West, GPPS, Operations & Information Technology, and Human Resources. All significant operating decisions are taken by the SET. While members 
of the SET have responsibility for implementation of decisions in their respective areas, operating decision making is at SET level as a whole. Where 
necessary, these are implemented through cross-functional sub-committees that consider the Group-wide impact of a new decision. For example, 
product launch decisions would be initially considered by the SET and, on approval, passed to an appropriate sub-team for implementation. 
The impacts of being able to develop, produce, deliver and commercialise a wide range of pharmaceutical products drive the SET decision 
making process.

152

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

6 Segment information continued
In assessing performance, the SET reviews financial information on an integrated basis for the Group as a whole, substantially in the form of, and 
on the same basis as, the Group’s IFRS Financial Statements. The high upfront cost of discovering and developing new products coupled with the 
relatively insignificant and stable unit cost of production means that there is not the clear link that exists in many manufacturing businesses between 
the revenue generated on an individual product sale and the associated cost and hence margin generated on a product. Consequently, the profitability 
of individual drugs or classes of drugs is not considered a key measure of performance for the business and is not monitored by the SET.

Resources are allocated on a Group-wide basis according to need. In particular, capital expenditure, in-licensing, and R&D resources are allocated 
between activities on merit, based on overall therapeutic considerations and strategy under the aegis of the Group’s Early Stage Product 
Committees and a single Late Stage Product Committee. 

Geographic areas
The following tables show information by geographic area and, for Total Revenue and property, plant and equipment, material countries. The figures 
show the Total Revenue, operating profit and profit before tax made by companies located in that area/country, together with segment assets, 
segment assets acquired, net operating assets, and property, plant and equipment owned by the same companies; export sales and the related 
profit are included in the area/country where the legal entity resides and from which those sales were made.

UK
External

Intra-Group

Continental Europe
Belgium

France

Germany

Italy

Spain

Sweden

Others

Intra-Group

The Americas
Canada

US

Others

Intra-Group

Asia, Africa & Australasia
Australia

China

Japan

Others

Intra-Group

Continuing operations

Intra-Group eliminations

Total Revenue

2016
$m

1,849

7,503

9,352

163

899

615

529

440

1,522

1,412

4,108

9,688

495

7,828

846

3,487

2015
$m

2,176

6,001

8,177

176

1,015

608

544

426

645

1,448

4,664

9,526

530

9,949

1,018

2,167

12,656

13,664

385

2,650

2,145

1,224

85

6,489

38,185

(15,183)

23,002

435

2,548

1,985

1,205

46

6,219

37,586

(12,878)

24,708

Total Revenue

2014
$m

1,878

4,718

6,596

260

1,325

687

688

495

639

1,794

4,763

10,651

583

10,692

1,165

2,346

14,786

657

2,228

2,202

1,254

56

6,397

38,430

(11,883)

26,547

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S

t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Export sales from the UK totalled $8,421m for the year ended 31 December 2016 (2015: $6,851m; 2014: $5,709m). Intra-Group pricing is determined 
on an arm’s length basis.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

153

 
Financial Statements

6 Segment information continued

UK

Continental Europe

The Americas

Asia, Africa & Australasia

Continuing operations

UK

Continental Europe

The Americas

Asia, Africa & Australasia

Continuing operations

UK

Continental Europe

The Americas

Asia, Africa & Australasia

Continuing operations

2016
$m

(526)

3,695

1,259

474

4,902

2016
$m

5,127

15,731

26,044

917

47,819

2016
$m

362

8,494

688

129

9,673

Operating (loss)/profit

(Loss)/profit before tax

2015
$m

(743)

3,412

1,101

344

4,114

2015
Restated*
$m

6,251

8,690

26,431

937

42,309

2015
Restated*
$m

1,478

653

4,147

172

6,450

2014
$m

(851)

1,780

818

390

2,137

2016
$m

(950)

3,136

919

447

3,552

2015
$m

(1,113)

3,023

821

338

3,069

2014
$m

(1,174)

1,477

549

394

1,246

Non-current assets1

Total assets

2014
$m

5,826

8,764

24,750

874

40,214

2016
$m

12,704

18,174

28,792

2,856

62,526

2015
Restated*
$m

14,712

10,636

31,536

3,172

60,056

2014
$m

14,926

11,184

29,324

3,161

58,595

Assets acquired 2

Net operating assets3

2014
$m

2,703

6,362

2,732

199

11,996

2016
$m

3,306

8,479

20,969

1,030

33,784

2015
$m 

3,713

3,704

22,334

1,458

31,209

2014
$m

3,002

4,110

20,190

1,570

28,872

*  (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:12)(cid:17)
1  Non-current assets exclude deferred tax assets and derivative financial instruments.
2  Included in Assets acquired are those assets that are expected to be used during more than one period (property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets).
3  Net operating assets exclude short-term investments, cash, short-term borrowings, loans, derivative financial instruments, retirement benefit obligations and non-operating receivables 

(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:98)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)

UK

Sweden

US

Rest of the world

Continuing operations

Geographic markets
The table below shows Product Sales in each geographic market in which customers are located.

UK

Continental Europe

The Americas

Asia, Africa & Australasia

Continuing operations

2016
$m

1,026

1,142

3,233

1,447

6,848

2016
$m

487

4,987

8,717

7,128

21,319

Property, plant and equipment

2015
$m 

1,024

1,023

2,986

1,380

6,413

2015
$m 

588

5,180

11,031

6,842

23,641

2014
$m

824

971

2,830

1,385

6,010

2014
$m

773

6,394

11,892

7,036

26,095

Product Sales are recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to a third party. In general this is upon 
delivery of the products to wholesalers. Transactions with one wholesaler (2015: two; 2014: two) individually represented greater than 10% of Product 
Sales. The value of these transactions recorded as Product Sales were $2,851m (2015: $3,458m and $2,757m; 2014: $3,261m and $2,674m).

154

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
7 Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Capital expenditure

Additions through business combinations (Note 25)

Transfers in from other non-current assets

Transfer of assets into use

Disposals and other movements

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2014

Capital expenditure

Additions through business combinations (Note 25)

Transfer of assets into use

Disposals and other movements

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2015

Capital expenditure

Transfer of assets into use

Disposals and other movements

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2016

Depreciation
At 1 January 2014

Charge for year

Disposals and other movements

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2014

Charge for year

Impairment

Disposals and other movements

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2015

Charge for year

Impairment

Disposals and other movements

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2016

Net book value
At 31 December 2014

At 31 December 2015

At 31 December 2016

Land and
buildings
$m

Plant and
equipment
$m

Assets in course
of construction
$m

Total property,
plant and
equipment
$m

5,683

8,453

34

213

156

136

(976)

(334)

4,912

23

21

269

(239)

(174)

4,812

29

222

(236)

(211)

4,616

2,952

252

(639)

(214)

2,351

198

9

(203)

(102)

2,253

185

2

(222)

(126)

2,092

2,561

2,559

2,524

184

206

124

405

(962)

(698)

7,712

223

–

359

(442)

(384)

7,468

206

109

(700)

(540)

771

874

96

70

(541)

(27)

(123)

1,120

1,155

–

(628)

(3)

(76)

1,568

1,214

(331)

(16)

(143)

14,907

1,092

515

350

–

(1,965)

(1,155)

13,744

1,401

21

–

(684)

(634)

13,848

1,449

–

(952)

(894)

6,543

2,292

13,451

6,137

524

(744)

(534)

5,383

479

19

(411)

(288)

5,182

424

–

(656)

(439)

4,511

2,329

2,286

2,032

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,120

1,568

2,292

9,089

776

(1,383)

(748)

7,734

677

28

(614)

(390)

7,435

609

2

(878)

(565)

6,603

6,010

6,413

6,848

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S

t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Impairment charges in 2015 were attributable to assets dedicated to the production and manufacture of Caprelsa, for which global product rights 
were divested during the year, and to strategy changes affecting manufacturing operations in the US. These charges have been recognised in cost 
of sales.

The net book value of land and buildings comprised:
Freeholds

Leaseholds

2016
$m

2,326

198

2015
$m 

2,432

127

2014
$m

2,489

72

Included within plant and equipment are Information Technology assets held under finance leases with a net book value of $43m (2015: $70m; 
2014: $74m).

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

155

 
Financial Statements

8 Goodwill

Cost
At 1 January

Additions through business combinations (Note 25)

Exchange and other adjustments

At 31 December 

Amortisation and impairment losses
At 1 January

Exchange and other adjustments

At 31 December

Net book value at 31 December

2016
$m

12,113

19

(163)

11,969

313

(2)

311

2015
Restated*
$m

11,868

388

(143)

12,113

318

(5)

313

2014
$m

10,307

1,841

(280)

11,868

326

(8)

318

11,658

11,800

11,550

*  (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:12)(cid:17)

For the purpose of impairment testing of goodwill, the Group is regarded as a single cash-generating unit.

The recoverable amount is based on value in use using discounted risk-adjusted projections of the Group’s pre-tax cash flows over 10 years which 
is considered by the Board as a reasonable period given the long development and life-cycle of a medicine. The projections include assumptions 
about product launches, competition from rival products and pricing policy as well as the possibility of generics entering the market. In setting these 
assumptions we consider our past experience, external sources of information (including information on expected increases and ageing of the 
populations in our established markets and the expanding patient population in newer markets), our knowledge of competitor activity and our 
assessment of future changes in the pharmaceutical industry. The 10-year period is covered by internal budgets and forecasts. Given that internal 
budgets and forecasts are prepared for all projections, no general growth rates are used to extrapolate internal budgets and forecasts for the 
purposes of determining value in use. No terminal value is included as these cash flows are more than sufficient to establish that an impairment 
does not exist. The methods used to determine recoverable amounts have remained consistent with the prior year.

In arriving at value in use, we disaggregate our projected pre-tax cash flows into groups reflecting similar risks and tax effects. For each group of 
cash flows we use an appropriate discount rate reflecting those risks and tax effects. In arriving at the appropriate discount rate for each group of 
cash flows, we adjust AstraZeneca’s post-tax weighted average cost of capital (7.0% for 2016, 2015 and 2014) to reflect the impact of risks relevant 
to that group of assets, the time value of money and tax effects. The weighted average pre-tax discount rate we used was approximately 10% 
(2015: 10%; 2014: 10%).

As a further check, we compare our market capitalisation to the book value of our net assets and this indicates significant surplus at 31 December 
2016 (and 31 December 2015 and 31 December 2014).

No goodwill impairment was identified.

The Group has also performed sensitivity analysis calculations on the projections used and discount rate applied. The Directors have concluded 
that, given the significant headroom that exists, and the results of the sensitivity analysis performed, there is no significant risk that reasonable 
changes in any key assumptions would cause the carrying value of goodwill to exceed its value in use.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

9 Intangible assets

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Additions through business combinations (Note 25)

Additions – separately acquired

Disposals

Exchange and other adjustments 

At 31 December 2014

Additions through business combinations (Note 25)

Additions – separately acquired

Disposals

Exchange and other adjustments 

At 31 December 2015

Additions through business combinations (Note 25)

Additions – separately acquired

Disposals

Exchange and other adjustments 

At 31 December 2016

Amortisation and impairment losses
At 1 January 2014

Amortisation for year

Impairment

Disposals

Exchange and other adjustments 

At 31 December 2014

Amortisation for year

Impairment

Disposals

Exchange and other adjustments 

At 31 December 2015

Amortisation for year

Impairment

Disposals

Exchange and other adjustments 

At 31 December 2016

Net book value 
At 31 December 2014

At 31 December 2015

At 31 December 2016

Other intangibles consist mainly of licensing and rights to contractual income streams.

Product, 
marketing and
distribution rights
$m

Other
intangibles
$m

Software
development
costs
$m

25,553

6,926

907

(23)

(1,464)

31,899

3,162

1,341

(198)

(886)

35,318

7,307

789

(339)

(1,472)

41,603

10,944

2,008

81

(23)

(465)

12,545

1,718

143

(31)

(271)

14,104

1,454

43

(25)

(481)

2,499

575

25

–

(287)

2,812

–

60

(4)

(73)

2,795

–

32

(15)

(232)

2,580

1,682

193

18

–

(240)

1,653

174

–

(2)

(52)

1,773

162

1

(15)

(85)

15,095

1,836

19,354

21,214

26,508

1,159

1,022

744

2,090

–

115

(41)

(138)

2,026

–

77

(14)

(70)

2,019

–

77

(141)

(127)

1,828

1,469

183

23

(41)

(76)

1,558

107

5

(14)

(47)

1,609

85

1

(124)

(77)

1,494

468

410

334

Total
$m

30,142

7,501

1,047

(64)

(1,889)

36,737

3,162

1,478

(216)

(1,029)

40,132

7,307

898

(495)

(1,831)

46,011

14,095

2,384

122

(64)

(781)

15,756

1,999

148

(47)

(370)

17,486

1,701

45

(164)

(643)

18,425

20,981

22,646

27,586

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Financial Statements

9 Intangible assets continued 
Amortisation charges are recognised in profit as follows:

Year ended 31 December 2014
Cost of sales

Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Total

Year ended 31 December 2015
Cost of sales

Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Total

Year ended 31 December 2016
Cost of sales

Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Total

Impairment charges are recognised in profit as follows:

Year ended 31 December 2014
Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Total

Year ended 31 December 2015
Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Total

Year ended 31 December 2016
Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Total

Product, 
marketing and
distribution rights
$m

Other
intangibles
$m

Software
development
costs
$m

701

–

1,203

104

2,008

369

–

1,321

28

1,718

124

–

1,327

3

1,454

–

60

25

108

193

–

57

31

86

174

–

48

31

83

162

–

–

183

–

183

–

–

107

–

107

–

–

85

–

85

Product, 
marketing and
distribution rights
$m

Other
intangibles
$m

Software
development
costs
$m

81

–

–

81

79

–

64

143

32

11

43

–

–

18

18

–

–

–

–

1

–

1

–

23

–

23

–

5

–

5

–

1

1

Total
$m

701

60

1,411

212

2,384

369

57

1,459

114

1,999

124

48

1,443

86

1,701

Total
$m

81

23

18

122

79

5

64

148

33

12

45

Impairment charges and reversals
Impairment charges relate to the termination, or reassessment of the likelihood of success, of several individual projects, none of which had significant 
capitalised values.

The write downs in value of intangible assets, other than those arising from termination of R&D activities, were determined based on value in use 
calculations using discounted risk-adjusted projections of the products’ expected post-tax cash flows over a period reflecting the patent-protected 
lives of the individual products. The full period of projections is covered by internal budgets and forecasts. In arriving at the appropriate discount rate 
to use for each product, we adjust AstraZeneca’s post-tax weighted average cost of capital (7.0% for 2016, 2015 and 2014) to reflect the impact of 
risks and tax effects specific to the individual products. The weighted average pre-tax discount rate we used was approximately 13% (2015: 13%; 
2014: 13%).

By their nature, the value in use calculations are sensitive to the underlying methods, assumptions and estimates. Consistent with prior years, as 
part of the impairment review process, management has identified that reasonably possible changes in certain key assumptions may cause the 
carrying amount of the intangible assets to exceed the recoverable amount. At 31 December 2016, the Group held intangible assets for products in 
development of $14,261m (2015: $8,732m; 2014: $6,598m), for which the most sensitive assumption is the probability of technical success, and 
intangible assets for launched products of $12,991m (2015: $13,504m; 2014: $13,915m), for which the most sensitive assumptions are the projected 
market share of the therapeutic area and expected pricing. In particular, where a trial is unsuccessful and there is no alternative use for the development 
asset, this will result in a full impairment. As detailed in Note 25, we have recognised significant intangible assets for late stage development 
programmes and launched products on business combinations at their fair value at acquisition. Management has identified that the impairment 
review calculations on these assets, in particular those from Acerta Pharma, ZS Pharma, BMS’s share of the Global Diabetes Alliance and Almirall’s 
respiratory franchise, are especially sensitive to the key assumptions noted above. Given their nature, impairment adjustments triggered by future 
events that have yet to occur may be material. In addition, there is a significant risk that impairments recognised in any one period may be subject 
to material adjustments in future periods.

158

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

9 Intangible assets continued 
Significant assets

Intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Acerta Pharma1

Intangible assets arising from the acquisition of ZS Pharma1

RSV franchise assets arising from the acquisition of MedImmune 

Intangible assets arising from the restructuring of a joint venture with Merck

Farxiga/Forxiga intangible assets acquired from BMS

Intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Ardea

Intangible assets acquired from Almirall and Actavis

Bydureon intangible assets acquired from BMS

Onglyza intangible assets acquired from BMS

Other diabetes intangible assets acquired from BMS

Intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Pearl Therapeutics1

Intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Omthera1

Intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Amplimmune1

Intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Takeda

FluMist intangible assets arising from the acquisition of MedImmune

Roxadustat intangible assets acquired from FibroGen1

1  Assets in development are not amortised but are tested annually for impairment.

All the assets listed above are classified as Product, marketing and distribution rights.

10 Investments in associates and joint ventures

At 1 January

Additions

Share of after tax losses

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December

Carrying value
$m

Remaining amortisation 
period

7,307

3,162

2,503

1,587

1,427

1,359

1,318

1,161

1,055

1,235

877

533

470

456

415

301

Not amortised

Not amortised

9 years

2 to 14 years

11 years

11 years

3 to 22 years

14 years

7 years

6 to 17 years

Not amortised

Not amortised

Not amortised

3 to 8 years

15 years

Not amortised

2016
$m

85

65

(33)

(18)

99

2015
$m

59

45

(16)

(3)

85

2014
$m

–

70

(6)

(5)

59

In 2015, AstraZeneca established the subsidiaries Entasis Therapeutics Ltd and Entasis Therapeutics Inc. (collectively known as ‘Entasis’) for the 
development of early stage infection assets. On 29 March 2016, Entasis closed a Series B financing, raising $25m from four third-party investors. 
Under the funding agreement, a new board of directors was appointed, and a voting rights agreement was put in place committing to reduce 
AstraZeneca’s voting interest to approximately 49%. Since AstraZeneca no longer has overall control of Entasis, it is now treated as an associate 
rather than a wholly owned subsidiary of the Group. The results of Entasis were deconsolidated from the Group on 29 March, with an investment  
in associate of $24m recognised. There was no gain or loss recognised on deconsolidation.

On 1 December 2015, AstraZeneca entered into a joint venture agreement with Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics Co., Ltd. to develop a biosimilar using the 
combined capabilities of the two parties. The agreement resulted in the formation of a joint venture entity based in the UK, Centus Biotherapeutics 
Limited. AstraZeneca contributed $45m in cash to the joint venture entity and has a 50% interest in the joint venture. An additional contribution of 
$10m was made in 2016.

On 30 April 2014, AstraZeneca entered into a joint venture agreement with Samsung Biologics Co., Ltd. to develop a biosimilar using the combined 
capabilities of the two parties. The agreement resulted in the formation of a joint venture entity based in the UK, Archigen Biotech Limited, with a 
branch in South Korea. AstraZeneca contributed $70m in cash to the joint venture entity and has a 50% interest in the joint venture. An additional 
contribution of $30m was made in 2016.

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All investments are accounted for using the equity method.

Aggregated summarised financial information for the associate and joint venture entities is set out below.

Non-current assets

Current assets

Current liabilities

Net assets

Amount attributable to AstraZeneca

Exchange adjustments

Carrying value of investments in associate and joint ventures

2016
$m

144

128

(20)

252

125

(26)

99

2015
$m

123

75

(11)

187

93

(8)

85

2014
$m

76

58

(6)

128

64

(5)

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

159

 
Financial Statements

11 Other investments

Non-current investments
Equity securities available for sale

Total

Current investments
Equity securities and bonds available for sale

Fixed deposits

Total

2016
$m

727

727

847

37

884

2015
$m 

458

458

548

65

613

2014
$m

502

502

775

20

795

The equity securities and bonds available for sale in current investments include $nil (2015: $467m; 2014: $775m) held in a custody account. Further 
details of this custody account are included in Note 20.

Impairment charges of $21m in respect of available for sale securities are included in other operating income and expense (2015: $17m; 2014: $23m).

Equity securities and bonds available for sale are held at fair value. The fair value of listed investments is based on year end quoted market prices. 
For unlisted investments whose fair value cannot be reliably measured, cost is considered to approximate to fair value. Fixed deposits are held at 
amortised cost with carrying value being a reasonable approximation of fair value given their short-term nature.

None of the financial assets or liabilities have been reclassified in the year.

Fair value hierarchy
The table below analyses equity securities and bonds available for sale, contained within other investments and carried at fair value, by valuation 
method. The different levels have been defined as follows:

 > Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 > Level 2:  inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (ie as prices) or indirectly 

(ie derived from prices).

 > Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

2016
$m

933

–

641

1,574

2015
$m 

654

–

352

1,006

2014
$m

927

–

350

1,277

Equity securities available for sale that are analysed at Level 3 include investments in private biotech companies. In the absence of specific market data, 
these unlisted investments are held at cost, adjusted as necessary for impairments and revaluations on new funding rounds, which approximates to 
fair value. Movements in Level 3 investments are detailed below.

At 1 January

Additions

Revaluations

Transfers out

Disposals

Impairments and exchange adjustments

At 31 December

2016
$m

352

210

110

(12)

(2)

(17)

641

2015
$m 

350

49

–

(22)

(6)

(19)

352

2014
$m

209

107

95

(35)

–

(26)

350

Assets are transferred in or out of Level 3 on the date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

12 Derivative financial instruments

Interest rate swaps designated in a fair value hedge

Interest rate swaps related to instruments designated at fair value through profit and loss

Cross currency swaps designated in a net investment hedge

Other derivatives 

31 December 2014

Interest rate swaps designated in a fair value hedge

Interest rate swaps related to instruments designated at fair value through profit and loss

Cross currency swaps designated in a net investment hedge

Other derivatives 

31 December 2015

Interest rate swaps designated in a fair value hedge

Interest rate swaps related to instruments designated at fair value through profit and loss

Cross currency swaps designated in a net investment hedge

Cross currency swaps designated in a cashflow hedge

Other derivatives

31 December 2016

Non-current 
assets
$m

Current 
assets
$m

Current 
liabilities
$m

Non-current
liabilities
$m

79

82

304

–

465

–

–

–

21

21

–

–

–

(21)

(21)

–

–

–

–

–

Non-current 
assets
$m

Current
assets
$m

Current
liabilities
$m

Non-current
liabilities
$m

49

77

320

–

446

–

–

–

2

2

–

–

–

(9)

(9)

–

–

–

(1)

(1)

Non-current 
assets
$m

Current
assets
$m

Current
liabilities
$m

Non-current
liabilities
$m

–

65

278

–

–

343

19

–

–

–

8

27

–

–

–

–

(18)

(18)

(2)

–

–

(115)

–

(117)

Total
$m

79

82

304

–

465

Total
$m

49

77

320

(8)

438

Total
$m

17

65

278

(115)

(10)

235

All derivatives are held at fair value and fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy as defined in Note 11. None of the derivatives have been reclassified 
in the year.

The fair value of interest rate swaps and cross-currency swaps is estimated using appropriate zero coupon curve valuation techniques to discount 
future contractual cash flows based on rates at current year end.

The fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts and currency options are estimated by cash flow accounting models using appropriate yield 
curves based on market forward foreign exchange rates at the year end. The majority of forward foreign exchange contracts for existing transactions 
had maturities of less than one month from year end. 

The interest rates used to discount future cash flows for fair value adjustments, where applicable, are based on market swap curves at the reporting 
date, and were as follows.

Derivatives

2016

2015

2014

1.5% to 2.2% 1.2% to 2.1% 1.2% to 2.3%

13 Non-current other receivables
Non-current other receivables of $901m (2015: $907m; 2014: $1,112m) include a prepayment of $380m (2015: $617m; 2014: $906m) which represents 
the long-term element of minimum contractual royalties payable to Shionogi under the global licence agreement for Crestor, which was renegotiated 
in December 2013. The resulting modified royalty structure, which includes fixed minimum and maximum payments in years until 2020, has resulted 
in the Group recognising liabilities, and corresponding prepayments, for the discounted value of total minimum payments. The current portion of the 
prepayment is $116m (2015: $260m; 2014: $323m) and is reported in amounts due within one year (see Note 15).

Non-current other receivables also include $178m (2015: $158m; 2014: $150m) prepayments in relation to our research collaboration with Moderna 
Therapeutics and $175m (2015: $nil; 2014: $nil) receivable related to the disposal of the small molecule antibiotics business.

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14 Inventories

Raw materials and consumables

Inventories in process

Finished goods and goods for resale

Inventories

2016
$m

811

1,060

463

2,334

2015
$m 

960

545

638

2,143

2014
$m

663

501

796

1,960

The Group recognised $2,644m (2015: $2,942m; 2014: $3,214m) of inventories as an expense within cost of sales during the year.

Inventory write-offs in the year amounted to $198m (2015: $112m; 2014: $126m).

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

161

 
Financial Statements

15 Current trade and other receivables

Amounts due within one year
Trade receivables

Less: Amounts provided for doubtful debts (Note 26)

Other receivables 

Prepayments and accrued income

Amounts due after more than one year
Other receivables 

Prepayments and accrued income

Trade and other receivables

2016
$m

2,625

(42)

2,583

852

879

4,314

140

119

259

4,573

2015
$m 

4,685

(52)

4,633

543

1,268

6,444

28

150

178

6,622

All financial assets included within current trade and other receivables are held at amortised costs with carrying value being a reasonable 
approximation of fair value.

16 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand

Short-term deposits

Cash and cash equivalents

Unsecured bank overdrafts

Cash and cash equivalents in the cash flow statement

2016
$m

782

4,236

5,018

(94)

4,924

2015
$m 

1,250

4,990

6,240

(189)

6,051

2014
$m

4,816

(54)

4,762

1,050

1,262

7,074

22

136

158

7,232

2014
$m

1,009

5,351

6,360

(196)

6,164

The Group holds $91m (2015: $110m; 2014: $114m) of cash and cash equivalents which is required to meet insurance solvency, capital and security 
requirements, and which, as a result, is not readily available for the general purposes of the Group.

Cash and cash equivalents are held at amortised cost. Fair value approximates to carrying value.

17 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Current liabilities
Bank overdrafts

Finance leases

5.125% Non-callable bond

5.9% Callable bond

Other loans (Commercial paper)

Total

Non-current liabilities
Finance leases

5.9% Callable bond

Floating rate notes

1.75% Callable bond

1.95% Callable bond

2.375% Callable bond

0.875% Non-callable bond

0.25% Callable bond

7% Guaranteed debentures

0.75% Callable bond

3.375% Callable bond

1.25% Callable bond

5.75% Non-callable bond

6.45% Callable bond

4% Callable bond

4.375% Callable bond

Other loans

Total

euros

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

euros

euros

US dollars

euros

US dollars

euros

pounds sterling

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

Repayment
dates

On demand

2015

2017

Within one year

2017

2018

2018

2019

2020

2021

2021

2023

2024

2025

2028

2031

2037

2042

2045

2016
$m

94

87

–

1,769

357

2,307

6

–

399

998

998

1,589

782

522

350

937

1,976

827

426

2,719

986

979

7

2015
$m 

189

67

–

–

660

916

28

1,796

399

997

997

1,586

812

–

355

–

1,971

–

515

2,719

986

976

–

2014
$m

196

48

912

–

1,290

2,446

60

1,825

–

–

996

–

902

–

370

–

–

–

540

2,718

986

–

–

14,501

14,137

8,397

All loans and borrowings above are unsecured, except for finance leases which are secured against the Information Technology assets to which they 
relate (see Note 7). 

162

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

17 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings continued
Set out below is a comparison by category of carrying values and fair values of all the Group’s interest-bearing loans and borrowings.

2014
Overdrafts

Finance leases due within one year

Finance leases due after more than one year

Loans due within one year

Loans due after more than one year

Total at 31 December 2014

2015
Overdrafts

Finance leases due within one year

Finance leases due after more than one year

Loans due within one year

Loans due after more than one year

Total at 31 December 2015

2016
Overdrafts

Finance leases due within one year

Finance leases due after more than one year

Loans due within one year

Loans due after more than one year

Total at 31 December 2016

Instruments in a
fair value hedge
relationship1
$m

Instruments
designated
at fair value2
$m

Instruments
 designated in 
cash flow hedge3
$m

Amortised
cost4
$m

–

–

–

–

828

828

–

–

–

–

1,398

1,398

–

–

–

770

598

1,368

–

–

–

–

370

370

–

–

–

–

355

355

–

–

–

–

350

350

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,286

2,286

196

48

60

2,202

7,139

9,645

189

67

28

660

12,356

13,300

94

87

6

1,356

11,261

12,804

Total
carrying
value
$m

196

48

60

2,202

8,337

10,843

189

67

28

660

14,109

15,053

94

87

6

2,126

14,495

16,808

Fair
value
$m

196

48

60

2,202

9,662

12,168

189

67

28

660

15,132

16,076

94

87

6

2,161

15,826

18,174

1  Instruments designated as hedged items in fair value hedge relationships with respect to interest rate risk include a designated portion of the US dollar 5.9% Callable bond repayable in 2017, 

(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:98)(cid:68)(cid:98)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:27)(cid:17)

2  Instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss include the US dollar 7% guaranteed debentures repayable in 2023.
3  Instruments designated in a cash flow hedge include the euro 0.25%, euro 0.75% and euro 1.25% Callable bonds repayable in 2021, 2024 and 2028 respectively.
4  (cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:29)(cid:98)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:26)(cid:80)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:29)(cid:98)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:22)(cid:80)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)

(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:20)(cid:98)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:29)(cid:98)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:80)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:29)(cid:98)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:25)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:80)(cid:12)(cid:17)

The fair value of fixed-rate publicly traded debt is based on year end quoted market prices; the fair value of floating rate debt is nominal value, as mark 
to market differences would be minimal given the frequency of resets. The carrying value of loans designated at fair value through profit or loss is the 
fair value; this falls within the Level 1 valuation method as defined in Note 11. For loans designated in a fair value hedge relationship, carrying value is 
initially measured at fair value and remeasured for fair value changes in respect of the hedged risk at each reporting date. All other loans are held at 
amortised cost. Fair values, as disclosed in the table above, are all determined using the Level 1 valuation method as defined in Note 11, with the 
exception of overdrafts and finance leases, where fair value approximates to carrying values.

A loss of $8m was made during the year on the fair value of bonds designated at fair value through profit or loss, due to decreased credit risk. A gain 
of $40m has been made on these bonds since designation due to increased credit risk. Changes in credit risk had no material effect on any other 
financial assets and liabilities recognised at fair value in the Group Financial Statements. The change in fair value attributable to changes in credit risk 
is calculated as the change in fair value not attributable to market risk. The amount payable at maturity on bonds designated at fair value through 
profit or loss is $288m.

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The interest rates used to discount future cash flows for fair value adjustments, where applicable, are based on market swap curves at the reporting 
date, and were as follows:

Loans and borrowings

2016

2015

2014

1.5% to 2.2% 1.2% to 2.1% 1.2% to 2.3%

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

163

 
Financial Statements

18 Trade and other payables

Current liabilities
Trade payables

Value added and payroll taxes and social security

Rebates and chargebacks

Accruals

Contingent consideration

Other payables

Total

Non-current liabilities
Accruals

Contingent consideration

Other payables

Total

2016
$m

2,990

240

2,812

2,855

527

1,062

2015
$m

3,469

207

3,307

2,983

396

1,301

10,486

11,663

292

4,930

4,266

9,488

256

6,015

1,186

7,457

2014
$m

3,492

201

3,530

3,231

347

1,085

11,886

219

6,552

1,220

7,991

Non-current other payables includes $1,901m arising from the put option over the non-controlling interest in Acerta Pharma (see Note 24). The put 
option liability is remeasured each period based on the latest assessment of the expected redemption amount, with remeasurements taken to 
selling, general and administrative costs (see Note 2). Interest arising from amortising the liability is included within Finance expense (see Note 3).

With the exception of contingent consideration payables of $5,457m (2015: $6,411m; 2014: $6,899m) held within other payables, that arose on 
business combinations (see Note 25), and which are held at fair value within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as defined in Note 11, all other financial 
liabilities are held at amortised cost with carrying value being a reasonable approximation of fair value. 

Contingent consideration

At 1 January

Additions arising on business combinations (Note 25)

Settlements

Revaluations

Discount unwind

Foreign exchange

At 31 December

2016
$m

6,411

–

(293)

(1,158)

497

–

5,457

2015
$m

6,899

–

(579)

(432)

524

(1)

6,411

2014
$m

514

6,138

(657)

512

391

1

6,899

As detailed in Note 25, contingent consideration arising from business combinations is fair valued using decision-tree analysis, with key inputs 
including the probability of success, consideration of potential delays and the expected levels of future revenues. 

Revaluations of contingent consideration are recognised in selling, general and administrative costs and include a decrease of $999m in 2016 
(2015: a decrease of $378m; 2014: an increase of $529m) based on revised milestone probabilities, and revenue and royalty forecasts, relating 
to the acquisition of BMS’s share of the Global Diabetes Alliance.

Management has identified that reasonably possible changes in certain key assumptions including the likelihood of achieving successful trial results, 
obtaining regulatory approval, the projected market share of the therapeutic area and expected pricing for launched products may cause the 
calculated fair value of the above contingent consideration to vary materially in future years.

The maximum development and sales milestones payable under outstanding contingent consideration arrangements arising on business 
combinations are as follows:

Acquisitions

Spirogen 

Amplimmune 

Omthera Pharmaceuticals 

Pearl Therapeutics 

BMS’s share of Global Diabetes Alliance 

Almirall

Definiens

Year

2013

2013

2013

2013

2014

2014

2014

Nature of
contingent consideration

Maximum future milestones
$m

Milestones

Milestones

Milestones

Milestones

Milestones and royalties

Milestones and royalties

Milestones

216

275

120

465

700

1,005

150

As detailed in Note 25, the amount of royalties payable under the arrangements is inherently uncertain and difficult to predict, given the direct link 
to future sales and the range of outcomes cannot be reliably estimated. The maximum amount of royalties payable in each year is with reference to 
net sales.

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19 Provisions

At 1 January 2014

Additions arising on business acquisitions

Charge for year 

Cash paid

Reversals

Exchange and other movements

At 31 December 2014

Additions arising on business acquisitions

Charge for year 

Cash paid

Reversals

Exchange and other movements

At 31 December 2015

Charge for year 

Cash paid

Reversals

Exchange and other movements

At 31 December 2016

Due within one year

Due after more than one year

Total

Severance
$m

Environmental
$m

Employee 
benefits
$m

771

39

254

(472)

(21)

(45)

526

–

338

(408)

(40)

(13)

403

578

(433)

(40)

(21)

487

87

–

15

(17)

–

(1)

84

–

8

(25)

–

–

67

11

(19)

–

–

59

152

–

8

(16)

–

19

163

–

7

(12)

–

–

158

6

(21)

–

–

143

Legal
$m

59

–

91

(71)

(4)

(1)

74

–

313

(69)

–

39

357

223

(126)

–

(16)

438

2016
$m

1,065

353

1,418

Other 
provisions
$m

320

–

66

(57)

(39)

(30)

260

10

40

(43)

(12)

2

257

170

(87)

(39)

(10)

291

2015
$m

798

444

1,242

Total
$m

1,389

39

434

(633)

(64)

(58)

1,107

10

706

(557)

(52)

28

1,242

988

(686)

(79)

(47)

1,418

2014
$m

623

484

1,107

AstraZeneca is undergoing a global restructuring initiative which involves rationalisation of the global supply chain, the sales and marketing 
organisation, IT and business support infrastructure, and R&D. Employee costs in connection with the initiatives are recognised in severance 
provisions. Final severance costs are often subject to the completion of the requisite consultations on the areas impacted.

Details of the environmental and legal provisions are provided in Note 28.

Employee benefit provisions include the Deferred Bonus Plan. Further details are included in Note 27.

Other provisions comprise amounts relating to specific contractual or constructive obligations and disputes.

No provision has been released or applied for any purpose other than that for which it was established.

20 Post-retirement benefits
Pensions
Background
The Company and most of its subsidiaries offer retirement plans which cover the majority of employees in the Group. Many of these plans are 
‘defined contribution’, where AstraZeneca’s contribution and resulting charge is fixed at a set level or is a set percentage of employees’ pay.

However, several plans, mainly in the UK, the US and Sweden, are ‘defined benefit’, where benefits are based on employees’ length of service and 
linked to their salary. The major defined benefit plans, apart from the collectively bargained Swedish plan (which is still open to employees born before 
1979), have been closed to new entrants since 2000. During 2010, following consultation with its UK employees’ representatives, AstraZeneca 
introduced a freeze on pensionable pay at 30 June 2010 levels for defined benefit members of the UK Pension Fund.

The major defined benefit plans are funded through separate, fiduciary-administered assets. The cash funding of the plans, which may from time 
to time involve special payments, is designed, in consultation with independent qualified actuaries, to ensure that the assets together with future 
contributions should be sufficient to meet future obligations. The funding is monitored rigorously by AstraZeneca and appropriate fiduciaries including 
with reference to AstraZeneca’s credit rating, market capitalisation, cash flows and the solvency and maturity of the relevant pension scheme.

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Financial Statements

20 Post-retirement benefits continued
Financing principles
92% of the Company’s defined benefit obligations at 31 December 2016 are in schemes within the UK, the US and Sweden. In these countries,  
the pension obligations are funded with reference to the following financing principles:

 > The Company has a fundamental belief in funding the benefits it promises to employees.

 > The Company considers its pension arrangements in the context of its broader capital structure. In general, it does not believe in committing 

excessive capital for funding while it has better uses of capital within the business nor does it wish to generate surpluses.

 > The pension funds are not part of the Company’s core business. The Company believes in taking some measured and rewarded risks with the 

investments underlying the funding, subject to a long-term plan to reduce those risks when opportunities arise.

 > The Company recognises that deciding to hold certain investments may cause volatility in the funding position. The Company would not wish  
to amend its contribution level for relatively small deviations from its preferred funding level, because it is expected that there will be short-term 
volatility, but it is prepared to react appropriately to more significant deviations. 

 > The Company proactively engages with local Fiduciary Bodies to provide oversight and input in relation to funding and investment strategy and 

to help facilitate liability management exercises appropriate to each pension plan.

 > The Company considers the use of alternative methods of providing security that do not require immediate cash funding but help mitigate 

exposure of the pension arrangement to the credit risk of the Company.

These principles are appropriate to AstraZeneca’s business at the present date; should circumstances change they may require review.

AstraZeneca has developed a long-term funding framework to implement these principles, which targets full funding on a low risk funding measure 
over the long term, as the pension funds mature. This framework determines the cash contributions payable to the pension funds, but does not 
affect the IAS 19 liabilities. 

UK
With regard to the Company’s UK defined benefit pension fund, the above principles are modified in light of the UK regulatory requirements 
(summarised below) and resulting discussions with the Pension Fund Trustee.

Role of Trustees (UK)
The UK Pension Fund is governed and administered by a corporate Trustee which is legally separate from the Company. The Trustee Directors are 
comprised of representatives appointed by both the employer and employees, and include an independent professional Trustee Director. The Trustee 
Directors are required by law to act in the interest of all relevant beneficiaries and are responsible in particular for the asset investment policy and the 
day-to-day administration of the benefits. They are also responsible for jointly agreeing with the employer the level of contributions due to the UK 
Pension Fund (see below).

Funding requirements (UK)
UK legislation requires that pension schemes are funded prudently (ie to a level in excess of the current expected cost of providing benefits). On a 
triennial basis, the Trustee and the Company must agree the contributions required (if any) to ensure the Fund is fully funded over time on a suitable 
prudent measure. The last full actuarial valuation of the AstraZeneca Pension Fund was carried out by a qualified actuary as at 31 March 2013. An 
updated actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2016 is in the process of being finalised with discussions ongoing between the Trustee and the Company.

A lump sum contribution of £51m ($72m) was made to help narrow the deficit in March 2016, with a further £51m contribution due before 
31 March 2017. 

The Company entered into a long-term funding agreement with the Trustee on 21 October 2016. Under this agreement, the Company will grant a 
charge in favour of the Trustee over the new Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which would crystallise only in the event of the Company’s insolvency. 
This charge will provide security in respect of future UK Pension Fund contributions and replaces a charge over assets in a ring-fenced custodial 
account held by AstraZeneca with HSBC. Since the Trustee’s charge over this custodial account has been released, these assets are now available 
for the Company to use in the business.

Under the funding assumptions used to set the statutory funding target, the key assumptions as at 31 March 2013 were as follows: long-term UK price 
inflation set at 3.55% per annum, salary increases at 0% per annum (as a result of pensionable pay levels being frozen in 2010), pension increases at 
3.2% per annum and investment returns at 4.86% per annum. The resulting valuation of the Fund’s liabilities on that basis were £4,887m ($5,997m) 
compared to a market value of assets at 31 March 2013 of £4,394m ($5,392m).

Under the governing documentation of the UK Pension Fund, any future surplus in the Fund would be returnable to AstraZeneca by refund assuming 
gradual settlement of the liabilities over the lifetime of the Fund. As such, there are no adjustments required in respect of IFRIC 14 ‘IAS 19 – The 
Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction’.

Liability Management Exercises (UK)
During 2016, the Company conducted a Pensions Increase Exchange (‘PIE’) exercise in two stages. This exercise offers certain pensioner members 
the option of taking a higher amount of pension right away, in exchange for giving up any potential future inflation linked increases on all, or part of 
their pension. Stage 1 was completed in 2016. Stage 2 commenced in 2016 and is due to complete by the end of June 2017.

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20 Post-retirement benefits continued
Regulation (UK)
The UK pensions market is regulated by the Pensions Regulator whose statutory objectives and regulatory powers are described on its website, 
www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk.

Rest of Group
The IAS 19 positions for the US and Sweden as at 31 December 2016 are shown below. These plans account for 29% of the Group’s defined benefit 
obligations. The US and Sweden pension funds are governed by fiduciary bodies with responsibility for the investment policies of those funds. These 
plans are funded in line with the Company’s financing principles and contributions are paid as prescribed by the long-term funding framework.

 > The US defined benefits programme was actuarially revalued at 31 December 2016, when plan obligations were $1,795m and plan assets were 

$1,563m. This includes obligations in respect of the non-qualified plan which is largely unfunded.

 > The Swedish defined benefits programme was actuarially revalued at 31 December 2016, when plan obligations were estimated to amount to 

$1,521m and plan assets were $1,009m.

On current bases, it is expected that contributions (excluding those in respect of past service deficit contributions) during the year ending 31 December 
2017 for the three main countries will be approximately $55m.

Post-retirement benefits other than pensions
In the US, and to a lesser extent in certain other countries, AstraZeneca’s employment practices include the provision of healthcare and life assurance 
benefits for retired employees. As at 31 December 2016, some 3,283 retired employees and covered dependants currently benefit from these 
provisions and some 10,381 current employees will be eligible on their retirement. AstraZeneca accrues for the present value of such retiree 
obligations over the working life of the employee. In practice, these benefits will be funded with reference to the financing principles.

The cost of post-retirement benefits other than pensions for the Group in 2016 was $17m (2015: $23m; 2014: $20m). Plan assets were $285m and 
plan obligations were $309m at 31 December 2016. These benefit plans have been included in the disclosure of post-retirement benefits under IAS 19.

Financial assumptions
Qualified independent actuaries have updated the actuarial valuations under IAS 19 of the major defined benefit schemes operated by the Group to 
31 December 2016. The assumptions used by the actuaries are chosen from a range of possible actuarial assumptions which, due to the long-term 
nature of the schemes, may not necessarily be borne out in practice. These assumptions were as follows:

Inflation assumption

Rate of increase in salaries

Rate of increase in pensions in payment

Discount rate

1  (cid:51)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:46)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)

2016

2015

UK

Rest of Group

UK

Rest of Group

3.2%

–1

3.0%

2.7%

2.1%

3.1%

0.9%

3.3%

3.0%

–1

3.0%

3.8%

2.1%

3.0%

0.8%

3.8%

Discount rate and methodology changes
Over 2016, the Company’s discount rates were based on yields on long-term AA-rated fixed income instruments, using a single discount rate for each 
pension plan to value the defined benefit obligations, service cost and interest cost. The discount rate was based on the duration of cash flows 
underlying the defined benefit obligations. From 2017, for the largest plans, the Company will move to a multiple discount rate approach. This will 
result in separate discount rates for defined benefit obligations, service cost and interest cost. This change had no effect on the 2016 expense, and 
will not affect the future measurement of the defined benefit obligations, but will impact the service cost and interest cost in future years.

Demographic assumptions
The mortality assumptions are based on country-specific mortality tables. These are compared to actual AstraZeneca experience and adjusted 
where sufficient data is available. Additional allowance for future improvements in life expectancy is included for all major schemes where there is 
credible data to support this continuing trend.

The table below illustrates life expectancy assumptions at age 65 for male members retiring in 2016 and members expected to retire in 2036 
(2015: 2015 and 2035 respectively).

Country

UK

US

Sweden

Life expectancy assumption for a male member retiring at age 65

2016

23.3

22.4

21.8

2036

24.6

23.9

23.6

2015

23.2

22.9

20.5

2035

24.5

24.4

22.4

The Company adopted the CMI 2015 Mortality Projections Model with a 1% long-term improvement rate in 2015.

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Financial Statements

20 Post-retirement benefits continued
Risks associated with the Company’s defined benefit pensions
The UK defined benefit plan accounts for 63% of the Group’s defined benefit obligations and exposes the Company to a number of risks, the most 
significant of which are:

Risk

Description

Mitigation

Volatile asset 
returns 

The Defined Benefit Obligation (DBO) is calculated using 
a discount rate set with reference to AA-rated corporate 
bond yields; asset returns that differ from the discount rate 
will create an element of volatility in the solvency ratio. 
The UK Pension Fund holds a significant proportion (around 
72.5%) in growth assets. Although these growth assets are 
expected to outperform corporate bonds in the long term, 
they can lead to volatility and mismatching risk in the short 
term. The allocation to growth assets is monitored to ensure 
it remains appropriate given the UK Pension Fund’s 
long-term objectives.

In order to mitigate investment risk, changes to investment 
strategy, including to the portfolio of growth assets, were 
completed during 2016 to establish a suitably diversified range 
of asset classes, return drivers and investment managers. 
The investment strategy will continue to evolve to further 
improve the expected risk/return profile as opportunities arise.

The Trustee has hedged the vast majority (over 90%) of 
unintended non-sterling, overseas currency risk within the 
UK Pension Fund assets.

Changes in 
bond yields 

A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase the 
present value placed on the DBO for accounting purposes.

Inflation risk 

A significant proportion of the DBO is indexed in line with 
price inflation (specifically inflation in the UK Retail Price 
Index) and higher inflation will lead to higher liabilities 
(although, in most cases, this is capped at an annual 
increase of 5%). 

Life expectancy 

The majority of the UK Pension Fund’s obligations are to 
provide benefits for the life of the member, so increases in 
life expectancy will result in an increase in the liabilities.

The interest rate hedge of the UK Pension Fund significantly 
increased in 2016 via additional investments in gilts and interest 
rate derivatives. The hedge is set at 75% of total assets and 
protects to some degree against falling interest rates 
(approximately 55% hedged at the end of 2015).

Note that there are some differences in the bonds and 
instruments held by the UK Pension Fund to hedge interest 
rate risk on the statutory and long-term funding basis (gilts) 
and the bonds analysed to set the DBO discount rate on 
an accounting basis (AA corporate bonds). As such, there 
remains some mismatching risk on an accounting basis 
should yields on gilts and swaps diverge compared to 
corporate bonds (ie the ‘credit spread’ between gilts and 
corporate bonds narrows). The UK Pension Fund retains 
some exposure to corporate bonds to help mitigate this risk.

The UK Pension Fund holds index-linked gilts and derivative 
instruments such as swaps, which provide a hedge against 
higher-than-expected inflation increases on the DBO. 

The inflation hedge of the UK Pension Fund significantly 
increased in 2016 via additional investments in such assets, 
so that overall, the hedge is approximately 75% as a proportion 
of total assets (approximately 60% hedged at the end of 2015). 
The PIE exercise will further reduce the inflation sensitivity of the 
liabilities and mitigate this risk.

The UK Pension Fund entered into a longevity swap during  
2013 which provides hedging against the longevity risk of 
increasing life expectancy over the next 77 years for around 
10,000 of the UK Pension Fund’s current pensioners and covers 
$2.4bn of the UK Pension Fund’s liabilities. A one-year increase 
in life expectancy will result in a $200m increase in pension  
fund assets.

Other risks
There are a number of other risks of running the UK Pension Fund including operational risks (such as paying out the wrong benefits) and legislative 
risks (such as the government increasing the burden on pension funds through new legislation). These are mitigated in so far as possible via the 
governance structure in place which oversees and administers the pension funds.

168

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20 Post-retirement benefits continued
Post-retirement scheme deficit
The assets and obligations of the defined benefit schemes operated by the Company at 31 December 2016, as calculated in accordance with 
IAS 19, are shown below. The fair values of the schemes’ assets are not intended to be realised in the short term and may be subject to significant 
change before they are realised. The present value of the schemes’ obligations is derived from cash flow projections over long periods and is 
therefore inherently uncertain.

Scheme assets
Equity: Global (exc Emerging markets)

Equity: Emerging markets

Government bonds: Global (exc Emerging markets)

Government bonds: Emerging markets

Investment grade corporate bonds (AAA-BBB):  
Global (exc Emerging markets)

Investment grade corporate bonds (AAA-BBB): Emerging markets

Other corporate bonds: Global (exc Emerging markets)

Other corporate bonds: Emerging markets

Derivatives: Interest rate contracts

Derivatives: Inflation rate contracts

Derivatives: Foreign exchange contracts

Derivatives: Other

Derivatives: Longevity swap

Investment funds: Private equity funds (no quoted market price)

Investment funds: Hedge funds

Investment funds: Other

Cash and cash equivalents

Others 

Total fair value of scheme assets1

Scheme obligations

Present value of scheme obligations in respect of:

Active membership

Deferred membership

Pensioners

Total value of scheme obligations

Deficit in the scheme as recognised in the  
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

1  (cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:29)(cid:98)(cid:7)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:17)

Fair value of scheme assets

At beginning of year

Interest income on scheme assets

Expenses

Actuarial gains/(losses)

Exchange adjustments

Employer contributions

Participant contributions

Settlements

Benefits paid

Scheme assets’ fair value at end of year

UK
$m

Rest of Group
$m

704

158

1,624

–

83

9

222

114

(43)

(63)

32

(7)

(43)

–

1,133

1,751

211

252

6,137

(679)

(1,806)

(4,633)

(7,118)

769

–

124

2

951

–

112

2

(4)

(13)

3

–

–

1

360

287

141

244

2,979

(1,590)

(1,046)

(1,548)

(4,184)

2016

Total
$m

1,473

158

1,748

2

1,034

9

334

116

(47)

(76)

35

(7)

(43)

1

1,493

2,038

352

496

9,116

UK
$m

Rest of Group
$m

1,362

140

1,614

3

2,273

30

61

23

(111)

(92)

(84)

(140)

(37)

–

531

390

436

68

770

1

421

59

940

–

6

2

(32)

9

3

–

–

–

154

373

159

89

2015

Total
$m

2,132

141

2,035

62

3,213

30

67

25

(143)

(83)

(81)

(140)

(37)

–

685

763

595

157

6,467

2,954

9,421

(2,269)

(2,852)

(6,181)

(11,302)

(1,094)

(1,862)

(4,495)

(7,451)

(1,420)

(986)

(1,538)

(3,944)

(2,514)

(2,848)

(6,033)

(11,395)

(981)

(1,205)

(2,186)

(984)

(990)

(1,974)

UK
$m

Rest of Group
$m

6,467

221

(5)

858

(1,228)

130

4

–

(310)

6,137

2,954

104

(9)

84

(26)

62

–

–

(190)

2,979

2016

Total
$m

9,421

325

(14)

942

(1,254)

192

4

–

(500)

9,116

UK
$m

7,311

257

(5)

(375)

(311)

360

5

(447)

(328)

6,467

Rest of Group
$m

3,235

100

(10)

(64)

(97)

42

–

–

(252)

2,954

2015

Total
$m

10,546

357

(15)

(439)

(408)

402

5

(447)

(580)

9,421

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The actual return on the plan assets was a gain of $1,267m (2015: loss of $82m).

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

169

 
Financial Statements

20 Post-retirement benefits continued
Movement in post-retirement scheme obligations

Present value of obligations in scheme at beginning of year

(7,451)

(3,944)

UK
$m

Rest of Group
$m

Current service cost

Past service credit/(cost)

Participant contributions

Benefits paid

Interest expense on post-retirement scheme obligations

Actuarial (losses)/gains

Settlements

Exchange adjustments

Present value of obligations in scheme at end of year

The obligations arise from the following plans:

(20)

27

(4)

310

(253)

(1,189)

–

1,462

(7,118)

(82)

15

(4)

190

(135)

(328)

–

104

(4,184)

UK
$m

Rest of Group
$m

2016

Total
$m

(11,395)

(102)

42

(8)

500

(388)

(1,517)

–

1,566

(11,302)

2016

Total
$m

UK
$m

Rest of Group
$m

(8,842)

(34)

(44)

(5)

328

(301)

613

447

387

(4,655)

(105)

16

–

252

(133)

478

–

203

2015

Total
$m

(13,497)

(139)

(28)

(5)

580

(434)

1,091

447

590

(7,451)

(3,944)

(11,395)

UK
$m

Rest of Group
$m

2015

Total
$m

Funded – pension schemes

Funded – post-retirement healthcare

Unfunded – pension schemes

Unfunded – post-retirement healthcare

Total

(7,101)

(3,309)

(10,410)

(7,429)

(3,142)

(10,571)

–

–

(17)

(7,118)

(279)

(583)

(13)

(279)

(583)

(30)

(4,184)

(11,302)

–

–

(22)

(7,451)

(281)

(506)

(15)

(281)

(506)

(37)

(3,944)

(11,395)

The weighted average duration of the post-retirement scheme obligations in the UK is 18 years and 15 years in the Rest of Group. 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income disclosures
The amounts that have been charged to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, in respect of defined benefit schemes for the year 
ended 31 December 2016, are set out below.

Operating profit
Current service cost

Past service credit/(cost)

Expenses

Total charge to operating profit

Finance expense
Interest income on scheme assets

Interest expense on post-retirement scheme obligations

Net interest on post-employment  
defined benefit plan liabilities

Charge before taxation

Other comprehensive income
Difference between the actual return and the  
expected return on the post-retirement scheme assets

Experience gains/(losses) arising on the  
post-retirement scheme obligations

Changes in financial assumptions underlying the  
present value of the post-retirement scheme obligations

Changes in demographic assumptions

Remeasurement of the defined benefit liability

UK
$m

Rest of Group
$m

(20)

27

(5)

2

221

(253)

(32)

(30)

858

220

(1,409)

–

(331)

(82)

15

(9)

(76)

104

(135)

(31)

(107)

84

(6)

(377)

55

(244)

2016

Total
$m

(102)

42

(14)

(74)

325

(388)

(63)

(137)

942

214

(1,786)

55

(575)

UK
$m

(34)

(44)

(5)

(83)

257

(301)

(44)

(127)

(375)

3

370

240

238

Rest of Group
$m

(105)

16

(10)

(99)

100

(133)

(33)

(132)

(64)

56

386

36

414

2015

Total
$m

(139)

(28)

(15)

(182)

357

(434)

(77)

(259)

(439)

59

756

276

652

Past service credit in 2016 includes a credit to operating income of £54m ($74m) arising from the PIE exercise in the UK, as referred to in the Liability 
Management Exercises section on page 166, and a credit to operating income of $16m arising from a restructuring programme in the US which will 
involuntarily terminate certain targeted participants in the Defined Benefit Pension Plan, AZ Supplemental Plan and the VEBA Retiree Health Plan. 
The past service credit in 2016 has been partially offset by costs predominantly related to enhanced pensions in early retirement in the UK and Sweden.

Group costs in respect of defined contribution schemes during the year were $352m (2015: $302m). 

2015 settlements included $447m relating to the removal of the Investment Account (defined contribution) section of the UK Pension Fund from both 
the UK assets and liabilities with a net impact of $nil on the overall deficit.

170

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

20 Post-retirement benefits continued
Rate sensitivities
The following table shows the US dollar effect of a change in the significant actuarial assumptions used to determine the retirement benefits obligations 
in our three main defined benefit pension obligation countries.

Discount rate
UK ($m)

US ($m)

Sweden ($m)

Total ($m)

Inflation rate1
UK ($m)

US ($m)

Sweden ($m)

Total ($m)

Rate of increase in salaries
UK ($m)

US ($m)

Sweden ($m)

Total ($m)

Mortality rate
UK ($m)

US ($m)

Sweden ($m)

Total ($m)

+0.5%

546

107

128

781

+0.5%

(510)

(12)

(147)

(669)

+0.5%

–

(9)

(33)

(42)

+1 year

(300)2

(27)

(57)

(384)

2016

-0.5%

(712)

(114)

(149)

(975)

2016

-0.5%

486

12

127

625

2016

-0.5%

–

9

30

39

2016

-1 year

2923

28

57

377

+0.5%

530

111

143

784

+0.5%

(525)

(14)

(159)

(698)

+0.5%

–

(12)

(66)

(78)

+1 year

(313)

(24)

(63)

(400)

2015

-0.5%

(600)

(118)

(164)

(882)

2015

-0.5%

517

15

140

672

2015

-0.5%

–

12

58

70

2015

-1 year

314

25

62

401

1  Rate of increase in pensions in payment follows inflation.
2  Of the $300m increase, $200m is covered by the longevity swap.
3  Of the $292m decrease, $196m is covered by the longevity swap.

The sensitivity to the financial assumptions shown above has been estimated taking into account the approximate duration of the liabilities and the 
overall profile of the plan membership. The sensitivity to the life expectancy assumption has been estimated based on the distribution of the plan 
cash flows.

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171

 
Financial Statements

21 Reserves
Retained earnings
The cumulative amount of goodwill written off directly to reserves resulting from acquisitions, net of disposals, amounted to $613m (2015: $624m; 
2014: $639m) using year end rates of exchange. At 31 December 2016, 276,303 shares, at a cost of $19m, have been deducted from retained 
earnings (2015: 49,105 shares, at a cost of $4m; 2014: 168,388 shares, at a cost of $10m).

There are no significant statutory or contractual restrictions on the distribution of current profits of subsidiaries; undistributed profits of prior years 
are, in the main, permanently employed in the businesses of these companies. The undistributed income of AstraZeneca companies overseas 
might be liable to overseas taxes and/or UK taxation (after allowing for double taxation relief) if they were to be distributed as dividends (see Note 4).

Cumulative translation differences included within retained earnings
At 1 January

Foreign exchange arising on consolidation

Exchange adjustments on goodwill (recorded against other reserves)

Foreign exchange arising on designating borrowings in net investment hedges

Fair value movement on derivatives designated in net investment hedges

Net exchange movement in retained earnings

At 31 December

2016
$m

(372)

(1,050)

(11)

(591)

(4)

(1,656)

(2,028)

2015
$m

490

(528)

(15)

(333)

14

(862)

(372)

2014
$m

1,782

(823)

(40)

(529)

100

(1,292)

490

Cumulative amounts with respect to cash flow hedges included within retained earnings are $80m (2015: $nil; 2014: $nil).

Other reserves
The other reserves arose from the cancellation of £1,255m of share premium account by the Company in 1993 and the redenomination of share 
capital ($157m) in 1999. The reserves are available for writing off goodwill arising on consolidation and, subject to guarantees given to preserve 
creditors at the date of the court order, are available for distribution. 

22 Share capital of the Company

Issued Ordinary Shares ($0.25 each) 

Redeemable Preference Shares (£1 each – £50,000)

At 31 December

Allotted, called-up and fully paid

2016
$m

316

–

316

2015
$m

316

–

316

2014
$m

316

–

316

The Redeemable Preference Shares carry limited class voting rights and no dividend rights. This class of shares is capable of redemption at par at 
the option of the Company on the giving of seven days’ written notice to the registered holder of the shares.

The movements in the number of Ordinary Shares during the year can be summarised as follows:

At 1 January 

Issues of shares (share schemes)

At 31 December

No. of shares

2016

2015

2014

1,264,122,670

1,263,143,338

1,257,170,087

1,106,754

979,332

5,973,251

1,265,229,424

1,264,122,670

1,263,143,338

Details of Directors’ interests in shares are shown in the Directors’ Remuneration Report from page 103.

Share repurchases
No Ordinary Shares were repurchased by the Company in 2016 (2015: nil; 2014: nil).

Shares held by subsidiaries
No shares in the Company were held by subsidiaries in any year. 

23 Dividends to shareholders

Final

Interim

Total

2016
Per share

$1.90

$0.90

$2.80

2015
Per share

$1.90

$0.90

$2.80

2014
Per share

$1.90

$0.90

$2.80

2016
$m

2,402

1,138

3,540

2015
$m

2,400

1,137

3,537

2014
$m

2,395

1,137

3,532

The second interim dividend, to be confirmed as final, is $1.90 per Ordinary Share and $2,404m in total. This will be payable on 20 March 2017.

On payment of the dividends, exchange losses of $3m (2015: $nil; 2014: losses of $3m) arose. These exchange losses are included in Note 3.

172

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

24 Non-controlling interests 
Following the acquisition of a majority stake in Acerta Pharma on 2 February 2016, the Group Financial Statements at 31 December 2016 reflect 
equity of $1,808m and total comprehensive income of $95m attributable to the non-controlling interests, held by other parties, of Acerta Pharma 
B.V. and its subsidiaries. The following summarised financial information, for Acerta Pharma B.V. and its subsidiaries, is presented on a stand-alone 
basis since the acquisition date, and before the impact of Group-related adjustments:

Total Revenue

Loss after tax

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Non-current assets

Current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net liabilities

Net cash outflow from operating activities

Net cash inflow from investing activities

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents in the year

2016
$m

–

(212)

–

(212)

2016
$m

73

79

152

(171)

(171)

(19)

2016
$m

(223)

139

(84)

The non-controlling interest in Acerta Pharma is subject to a put option, exercisable by the minority shareholders at certain points in the future, not 
earlier than the commercial launch of acalabrutinib. This put option gives rise to a liability which is recorded at the present value of the expected 
redemption amount, calculated using a simulation model based on forecast revenue and earnings of Acerta Pharma, and is recorded within 
Non-current other payables (see Note 18). The corresponding debit has been recorded in retained earnings.

25 Acquisitions of business operations
2016 Acquisitions
Acerta Pharma 
On 2 February 2016, AstraZeneca completed an agreement to invest in a majority equity stake in Acerta Pharma, a privately-owned biopharmaceutical 
company based in the Netherlands and US. The transaction provides AstraZeneca with a potential best-in-class irreversible oral Bruton’s tyrosine 
kinase (BTK) inhibitor, acalabrutinib (ACP-196), currently in Phase III development for B-cell blood cancers and in Phase I/II clinical trials in multiple 
solid tumours. Acerta Pharma has approximately 150 employees.

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca has acquired 55% of the issued share capital of Acerta Pharma for an upfront payment of $2.5bn. 
A further payment of $1.5bn will be paid either on receipt of the first regulatory approval for acalabrutinib for any indication in the US, or the end of 
2018, depending on which is first. The agreement also includes options which, if exercised, provide the opportunity for Acerta Pharma’s shareholders 
to sell, and AstraZeneca to buy, the remaining 45% of shares in Acerta Pharma. The options can be exercised at various points in time, conditional 
on the first approval of acalabrutinib in both the US and Europe and when the extent of the commercial opportunity has been fully established, at a 
price of approximately $3bn net of certain costs and payments incurred by AstraZeneca and net of agreed future adjusting items, using a pre-agreed 
pricing mechanism.

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The acquiring entity within the Group was a Swedish krona functional currency subsidiary. Foreign currency risk arises from the retranslation of the 
US dollar denominated liabilities arising from the transaction. To manage this foreign currency risk these liabilities have been designated as the 
hedge instrument in a net investment hedge of the Group’s underlying US dollar net investments. Exchange differences on the retranslation of the 
contingent consideration liability are recognised in other comprehensive income to the extent that the hedge is effective. Any ineffectiveness is 
taken to profit.

AstraZeneca’s 55% holding is a controlling interest and Acerta Pharma’s combination of intangible product rights with an established workforce and 
their operating processes requires that the transaction is accounted for as a business combination in accordance with IFRS 3. 

Goodwill is principally attributable to the value of the specialist know-how inherent in the acquired workforce and the accounting for deferred taxes. 
Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. 

Acerta Pharma’s results have been consolidated into the Group’s results from 2 February 2016. From the period from acquisition to 31 December 
2016, Acerta Pharma had no revenues and its loss after tax was $212m. 

If the acquisition had taken effect at the beginning of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurred (1 January 2016), on a pro forma basis, 
the revenue of the combined Group for 2016 would have been unchanged and the profit after tax would have been $3,367m. This pro forma 
information does not purport to represent the results of the combined Group that actually would have occurred had the acquisition taken place 
on 1 January 2016 and should not be taken to be representative of future results.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

173

 
Financial Statements

25 Acquisitions of business operations continued
The fair values assigned to the Acerta Pharma business combination completed in 2016 were:

Non-current assets
Intangible assets (Note 9)

Current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities

Total net assets acquired

Non-controlling interests

Goodwill (Note 8)

Fair value of total consideration

Less: fair value of deferred consideration

Total upfront consideration

Less: cash and cash equivalents acquired

Net cash outflow

Acquisition costs were immaterial.

Fair value
$m

7,307

253

(90)

(1,777)

5,693

(1,903)

19

3,809

(1,332)

2,477

(94)

2,383

2015 Acquisitions
ZS Pharma
On 17 December 2015, AstraZeneca completed the acquisition of ZS Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company based in San Mateo, California. 
ZS Pharma uses its proprietary ion-trap technology to develop novel treatments for hyperkalaemia, a serious condition of elevated potassium in 
the bloodstream, typically associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic heart failure (CHF).

The acquisition gives AstraZeneca access to the potassium-binding compound ZS-9, a potential best-in-class treatment for hyperkalaemia.

ZS Pharma represents a strong fit with AstraZeneca’s pipeline and portfolio in Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease, one of the Company’s three 
main therapy areas. AstraZeneca’s strategy focuses on reducing morbidity, mortality and organ damage by addressing multiple risk factors across 
cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. ZS-9 complements the Company’s increasing focus on CKD and CHF, including the 
investigational medicine roxadustat, which is currently in Phase III development for patients with anaemia associated with CKD, as well as its leading 
Diabetes portfolio.

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca acquired 100% of the share capital of ZS Pharma for $90 per share in an all-cash transaction, 
or approximately $2.7bn in aggregate transaction value.

ZS Pharma has around 200 employees across three sites in California, Texas and Colorado. The combination of intangible product rights with 
an established workforce and their associated operating processes, principally those related to research and development and manufacturing, 
requires that the transaction is accounted for as a business combination in accordance with IFRS 3.

Goodwill is principally attributable to the commercial synergies AstraZeneca expects to be able to realise upon launch of ZS-9, the value of the 
specialist know-how inherent in the acquired workforce and the accounting for deferred taxes. Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for 
tax purposes.

ZS Pharma’s results have been consolidated into the Group’s results from 17 December 2015. From the period from acquisition to 31 December 
2015, ZS Pharma’s revenues and loss were immaterial.

If the acquisition had taken effect at the beginning of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurred (1 January 2015), on a pro forma basis, 
the revenue of the combined Group for 2015 would have been unchanged and the profit after tax would have been $2,702m. This pro forma 
information does not purport to represent the results of the combined Group that actually would have occurred had the acquisition taken place on 
1 January 2015 and should not be taken to be representative of future results.

Given the proximity of the completion of the transaction to the date the 2015 Financial Statements were approved, the finalisation of the accounting 
entries for this transaction was not complete. Our provisional assessment of the fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired, as detailed in the 
2015 Financial Statements, was revised during 2016 as a result of new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed at the date 
of acquisition that impact the value of deferred tax. This has resulted in a reduction to both deferred tax liabilities and goodwill of $68m.

174

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

25 Acquisitions of business operations continued
The final fair values assigned to the ZS Pharma business combination are detailed below:

Non-current assets
Intangible assets (Note 9)

Property, plant and equipment (Note 7)

Current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities

Other liabilities

Total net assets acquired

Goodwill (Note 8)

Total upfront consideration

Less: cash and cash equivalents acquired

Less: upfront consideration settled in January 2016

Net cash outflow

Acquisition costs were immaterial.

Fair value
$m

3,162

21

3,183

169

(50)

(977)

(13)

(990)

2,312

388

2,700

(73)

(181)

2,446

2014 Acquisitions
BMS’s share of Global Diabetes Alliance Assets
On 1 February 2014, AstraZeneca completed the acquisition of BMS’s interests in the companies’ diabetes alliance. The acquisition provided 
AstraZeneca with 100% ownership of the intellectual property and global rights for the development, manufacture and commercialisation of the 
diabetes business, including Onglyza (saxagliptin), Kombiglyze XR (saxagliptin and metformin HCl extended release), Komboglyze (saxagliptin and 
metformin HCl), Farxiga (dapagliflozin, marketed as Forxiga outside the US), Byetta (exenatide), Bydureon (exenatide extended release for injectable 
suspension), Myalept (metreleptin) and Symlin (pramlintide acetate). 

The transaction consolidated worldwide ownership of the diabetes business within AstraZeneca, leveraging its primary and specialty care capabilities 
and its geographical reach, especially in emerging markets. The transaction included the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Amylin 
Pharmaceuticals, LLC, and the asset purchase of the additional intellectual property and global rights not already owned by AstraZeneca, for the 
development, manufacture and commercialisation of Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR, Komboglyze and Farxiga, including associated BMS employees. 
This combination of intangible product rights and manufacturing assets with an established workforce and their associated operating processes, 
principally those related to the global manufacturing and selling and marketing operations, required that the acquisition be accounted for as a 
business combination in accordance with IFRS 3. 

Upfront consideration for the acquisition of $2.7bn was paid on 1 February 2014, with further payments of up to $1.4bn being payable for future 
regulatory, launch and sales-related milestones as well as various sales-related royalty payments up until 2025. The amount of royalties payable 
under the agreement is inherently uncertain and difficult to predict, given the direct link to future sales and the range of outcomes cannot be reliably 
estimated. The maximum amount payable in each year is with reference to net sales. AstraZeneca also agreed to make payments up to $225m 
when certain additional assets are transferred. Contingent consideration was fair valued using decision-tree analysis, with key inputs including the 
probability of success, consideration of potential delays and the expected levels of future revenues. In accordance with IFRS 3, the fair value of 
contingent consideration, including future royalties, was recognised immediately as a liability. 

The acquiring entity within the Group was a Swedish krona functional currency subsidiary. Foreign currency risk arises from the retranslation of the 
US dollar denominated contingent consideration. To manage this foreign currency risk the contingent consideration liability has been designated as 
the hedge instrument in a net investment hedge of the Group’s underlying US dollar net investments. Exchange differences on the retranslation of 
the contingent consideration liability are recognised in other comprehensive income to the extent that the hedge is effective. Any ineffectiveness is 
taken to profit.

In addition to the acquired interests, AstraZeneca entered into certain agreements with BMS to maintain the manufacturing and supply chain of 
the full portfolio of diabetes products and to deliver specified clinical trials with an agreed number of R&D and manufacturing employees dedicated 
to diabetes remaining with BMS to progress the diabetes portfolio and support the transition for these areas. Payments by AstraZeneca to BMS 
in relation to these arrangements are expensed as incurred. No amounts were recognised in the initial acquisition accounting in relation to these 
arrangements but were separated, at fair value, from the business combination accounting.

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The terms of the agreement partially reflected settlement of the launch and sales-related milestones under the pre-existing Onglyza and Farxiga 
collaboration agreements, which were terminated in relation to the acquisition. The expected value of those pre-existing milestones was $0.3bn 
and was recognised as a separate component of consideration and excluded from the business combination accounting. Subsequently, these 
separate intangible assets have been recognised.

Goodwill of $1,530m arising on the transaction is underpinned by a number of elements, which individually cannot be quantified. Most significant 
among these are the synergies AstraZeneca expects to be able to generate through more efficient manufacturing processes and the incremental 
value accessible through strategic and operational independence upon taking full control of the alliance. Goodwill of $1.5bn is expected to be 
deductible for tax purposes.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

175

 
Financial Statements

25 Acquisitions of business operations continued
The fair value of receivables acquired as part of the acquisition approximated the gross contractual amounts receivable. There were no significant 
amounts which were not expected to be collected. 

The results from the additional acquired interests in the diabetes alliance were consolidated into the Group’s results from 1 February 2014, which 
added revenue of $895m in the period to 31 December 2014. Due to the highly integrated nature of the diabetes alliance, and the fact that it is not 
operated through a separate legal entity, the incremental direct costs associated with the additional acquired interest are not separately identifiable 
and it is impracticable therefore to disclose the profit or loss recognised in the period since acquisition.

If the acquisition had taken effect at the beginning of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurred (1 January 2014), on a pro forma basis, 
the revenue of the combined Group for 2014 would have been $26,174m. As detailed above, it is impracticable to disclose a pro forma profit after 
tax. This pro forma information does not purport to represent the results of the combined Group that actually would have occurred had the 
acquisition taken place on 1 January 2014 and should not be taken to be representative of future results. 

Almirall
On 31 October 2014, the Group completed the agreement with Almirall to transfer the rights to Almirall’s respiratory franchise to AstraZeneca.

The transaction provided AstraZeneca with 100% of the rights for the development and commercialisation of Almirall’s existing proprietary respiratory 
business, including rights to revenues from Almirall’s existing collaborations, as well as its pipeline of investigational novel therapies. The franchise 
includes Eklira (aclidinium); Duaklir Genuair, the combination of aclidinium with formoterol which had been filed for registration in the EU and developed 
in the US (EU approval received in November 2014); LAS100977 (abediterol), a once-daily long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) in Phase II; an M3 
antagonist beta2-agonist (MABA) platform in pre-clinical development (LAS191351, LAS194871) and Phase I (LAS190792); and multiple pre-clinical 
programmes. Almirall Sofotec, an Almirall subsidiary focused on the development of innovative proprietary devices, also transferred to AstraZeneca. 
In addition, Almirall employees dedicated to the respiratory business, including Almirall Sofotec employees, transferred to AstraZeneca.

Upfront consideration for the acquisition of $878m was paid in November 2014, with further payments of up to $1.22bn being payable for future 
development, launch, and sales-related milestones. AstraZeneca also agreed to make various sales-related royalty payments. The amount of royalties 
payable under the agreement is inherently uncertain and difficult to predict, given the direct link to future sales and the range of outcomes cannot be 
reliably estimated. The maximum amount payable in each year is with reference to net sales. Contingent consideration was fair valued using decision-
tree analysis, with key inputs including the probability of success, consideration of potential delays and the expected levels of future revenues.

The acquiring entity within the Group was a pounds sterling functional currency subsidiary. Foreign currency risk arises from the retranslation of the 
contingent consideration. To manage this foreign currency risk the contingent consideration liability has been designated as the hedge instrument 
in a net investment hedge. Exchange differences on the retranslation of the contingent consideration liability are recognised in other comprehensive 
income to the extent that the hedge is effective. Any ineffectiveness is taken to profit.

Almirall’s pipeline of novel respiratory assets and its device capabilities further strengthen AstraZeneca’s Respiratory portfolio, which includes 
Symbicort and Pulmicort, as well as the investigational medicines in development. The addition of aclidinium and the combination of aclidinium 
with formoterol, both in proprietary Genuair device, allows AstraZeneca to offer patients a choice between dry powder inhaler and metered-dose 
inhaler devices across a range of molecules and combinations.

The combination of intangible product rights with an established workforce and their associated operating processes, principally those related to 
the selling and marketing operations, requires that the transaction is accounted for as a business combination in accordance with IFRS 3. 

Goodwill of $311m is underpinned by a number of elements, which individually cannot be quantified. Most significant among these is the premium 
attributable to the significant competitive advantage associated with AstraZeneca’s complementary portfolio and that attributable to a highly skilled 
workforce. Goodwill of $0.3bn is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Almirall’s respiratory franchise results were consolidated into the Group’s results from 31 October 2014. For the period from acquisition to 
31 December 2014, Almirall’s respiratory franchise revenues were $13m. Due to the highly integrated nature of the respiratory franchise, and the 
fact that it is not operated through a separate legal entity, the incremental direct costs associated with the acquired interest are not separately 
identifiable and it is impracticable therefore to disclose the profit or loss recognised in the period since acquisition.

If the acquisition had taken effect at the beginning of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurred (1 January 2014), on a pro forma basis, 
the revenue of the combined Group for 2014 would have been $26,198m. As detailed above, it is impracticable to disclose a pro forma profit after 
tax. This pro forma information does not purport to represent the results of the combined Group that actually would have occurred had the 
acquisition taken place on 1 January 2014 and should not be taken to be representative of future results.

Definiens
On 25 November 2014, AstraZeneca completed the acquisition of Definiens Group, a privately-held German company focused on imaging and data 
analysis technology, known as Tissue Phenomics™, which dramatically improves the identification of biomarkers in tumour tissue.

Definiens’ technology provides detailed cell-by-cell readouts from target structures on tissue slides and allows the correlation of this information 
with data derived from other sources, generating new knowledge and supporting better decisions in research, diagnostics and therapy.

AstraZeneca acquired 100% of Definiens’ shares for an upfront consideration of $150m and contingent consideration of up to $150m based on 
reaching three predetermined development milestones. Contingent consideration was fair valued using decision-tree analysis, with key inputs 
including the probability of success and consideration of potential delays.

176

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

25 Acquisitions of business operations continued
The acquiring entity within the Group was a pounds sterling functional currency subsidiary. Foreign currency risk arises from the retranslation of the 
US dollar denominated contingent consideration. To manage this foreign currency risk the contingent consideration liability has been designated as 
the hedge instrument in a net investment hedge of the Group’s underlying US dollar net investments. Exchange differences on the retranslation of 
the contingent consideration liability are recognised in other comprehensive income to the extent that the hedge is effective. Any ineffectiveness is 
taken to profit.

Definiens’ results were consolidated into the Group’s results from 25 November 2014. For the period from acquisition to 31 December 2014, Definiens’ 
revenues were immaterial, in the context of the Group’s revenues, and its loss after tax was immaterial.

If the acquisition had taken effect at the beginning of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurred (1 January 2014), on a pro forma basis, 
the revenue of the combined Group for 2014 would have been unchanged and the change in profit after tax would have been immaterial. This pro 
forma information does not purport to represent the results of the combined Group that actually would have occurred had the acquisition taken 
place on 1 January 2014 and should not be taken to be representative of future results.

The fair values assigned to the business combinations completed in 2014 were:

2014 acquisitions

Non-current assets
Intangible assets (Note 9)

Property, plant and equipment (Note 7)

Current assets

Current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities

Total net assets acquired

Goodwill (Note 8)

Fair value of total consideration
Less: fair value of contingent consideration (Note 18)

Total upfront consideration

Less: cash and cash equivalents acquired

Net cash outflow

BMS’s share of
Global Diabetes
Alliance Assets
$m

5,746

478

6,224

480

(278)

(84)

6,342

1,530

7,872
(5,169)

2,703

–

2,703

Almirall
$m

1,400

37

1,437

24

(2)

(11)

1,448

311

1,759
(881)

878

(2)

876

Definiens
$m

355

–

355

–

–

(117)

238

–

238
(88)

150

–

150

Total
$m

7,501

515

8,016

504

(280)

(212)

8,028

1,841

9,869
(6,138)

3,731

(2)

3,729

Acquisition costs arising on acquisitions in 2014 were immaterial.

26 Financial risk management objectives and policies
The Group’s principal financial instruments, other than derivatives, comprise bank overdrafts, finance leases, loans, current and non-current 
investments, cash and short-term deposits. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to manage the Group’s funding and liquidity 
requirements. The Group has other financial assets and liabilities such as trade receivables and trade payables, which arise directly from 
its operations. 

The principal financial risks to which the Group is exposed are those of liquidity, interest rate, foreign currency and credit. Each of these is managed 
in accordance with Board-approved policies. These policies are set out below.

The Group uses foreign currency borrowings, foreign currency forwards and swaps, currency options, cross-currency swaps and interest rate swaps 
for the purpose of hedging its foreign currency and interest rate risks. The Group may designate certain financial instruments as fair value hedges, 
cash flow hedges or net investment hedges in accordance with IAS 39. Key controls applied to transactions in derivative financial instruments are: 
to use only instruments where good market liquidity exists, to revalue all financial instruments regularly using current market rates and to sell options 
only to offset previously purchased options or as part of a risk management strategy. The Group is not a net seller of options, and does not use 
derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Capital management
The capital structure of the Group consists of shareholders’ equity (Note 22), debt (Note 17) and cash (Note 16). For the foreseeable future, the Board 
will maintain a capital structure that supports the Group’s strategic objectives through:

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 > managing funding and liquidity risk
 > optimising shareholder return
 > maintaining a strong, investment-grade credit rating.

The Group utilises factoring arrangements for selected trade receivables. These factoring arrangements qualify for full derecognition of the associated 
trade receivables under IAS 39.

Funding and liquidity risk are reviewed regularly by the Board and managed in accordance with policies described below.

The Board’s distribution policy comprises a regular cash dividend and, subject to business needs, a share repurchase component. The Board 
regularly reviews its shareholders’ return strategy, and in 2012 decided to suspend share repurchases in order to retain strategic flexibility.

The Group’s net debt position (loans and borrowings net of cash and cash equivalents, current investments and derivative financial instruments) 
has increased from a net debt position of $7,762m at the beginning of the year to a net debt position of $10,657m at 31 December 2016, primarily 
as a result of increased outflows from investing activities, including acquisitions.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

177

 
Financial Statements

26 Financial risk management objectives and policies continued
Liquidity risk
The Board reviews the Group’s ongoing liquidity risks annually as part of the planning process and on an ad hoc basis. The Board considers 
short-term requirements against available sources of funding, taking into account forecast cash flows. The Group manages liquidity risk by 
maintaining access to a number of sources of funding which are sufficient to meet anticipated funding requirements. Specifically, the Group uses US 
commercial paper, committed bank facilities and cash resources to manage short-term liquidity and manages long-term liquidity by raising funds 
through the capital markets. The Group is assigned short-term credit ratings of P-2 by Moody’s and A-2 by Standard and Poor’s. The Group’s 
long-term credit rating is A3 stable outlook by Moody’s and A- stable outlook by Standard and Poor’s.

In addition to cash and cash equivalents of $5,018m, fixed deposits of $37m, less overdrafts of $94m at 31 December 2016, the Group has 
committed bank facilities of $3bn available to manage liquidity. At 31 December 2016, the Group has issued $3,494m under a Euro Medium Term 
Note programme and $12,763m under a SEC-registered programme. The Group regularly monitors the credit standing of the banking group and 
currently does not anticipate any issue with drawing on the committed facilities should this be necessary. The committed facilities of $3bn mature 
in April 2021 and were undrawn at 31 December 2016.

The maturity profile of the anticipated future contractual cash flows including interest in relation to the Group’s financial liabilities, on an undiscounted 
basis and which, therefore, differs from both the carrying value and fair value, is as follows:

Within one year

In one to two years

In two to three years

In three to four years

In four to five years

In more than five years

Effect of interest

Effect of discounting, fair values and issue costs

31 December 2014

Within one year

In one to two years

In two to three years

In three to four years

In four to five years

In more than five years

Effect of interest

Effect of discounting, fair values and issue costs

31 December 2015

Within one year

In one to two years

In two to three years

In three to four years

In four to five years

In more than five years

Effect of interest

Effect of discounting, fair values and issue costs

31 December 2016

Bank
overdrafts
and other
loans
$m

1,488

–

–

–

–

–

1,488

(2)

–

1,486

Bank
overdrafts
and other
loans
$m

851

–

–

–

–

–

851

(2)

–

849

Bank
overdrafts
and other
loans
$m

 455 

–

–

–

7

–

Bonds
$m

1,490

401

2,151

298

1,298

10,135

15,773

(6,461)

(63)

9,249

Bonds
$m

568

2,318

1,865

1,444

2,025

14,192

22,412

(8,194)

(109)

14,109

Bonds
$m

 2,374 

 1,921 

 1,500 

 2,080 

 1,756 

 14,796 

 462 

 24,427 

 (4)

–

 (8,111)

 (59)

 458 

 16,257 

Trade
and other
payables
$m

11,909

1,720

936

924

1,323

7,002

23,814

–

(3,937)

19,877

Trade
and other
payables
$m

11,701

1,522

1,110

1,277

2,187

5,313

23,110

–

(3,990)

19,120

Total
non-derivative
financial
instruments
$m

Interest
rate swaps
$m

Cross-
currency
swaps
$m

Total
derivative
financial
instruments
$m

14,932

2,166

3,118

1,230

2,622

17,137

41,205

(6,485)

(4,000)

30,720

(52)

(52)

(52)

(16)

(16)

(62)

(250)

250

(161)

(161)

(16)

(16)

(16)

(19)

(325)

–

(392)

83

5

(304)

(68)

(68)

(68)

(35)

(341)

(62)

(642)

333

(156)

(465)

Total
non-derivative
financial
instruments
$m

Interest
rate swaps
$m

Cross-
currency
swaps
$m

Total
derivative
financial
instruments
$m

13,186

3,881

2,997

2,731

4,214

19,505

46,514

(8,242)

(4,099)

34,173

(54)

(54)

(19)

(15)

(15)

(44)

(201)

201

(126)

(126)

(17)

(17)

(26)

(330)

–

–

(390)

67

3

(320)

(71)

(71)

(45)

(345)

(15)

(44)

(591)

268

(123)

(446)

Trade
and other
payables
$m

Total
non-derivative
financial
instruments
$m

 10,566 

 13,437 

 4,986 

 1,144 

 1,666 

 877 

 3,624 

 22,863 

–

 (2,889)

 19,974 

 6,931 

 2,660 

 3,756 

 2,643 

 18,420 

 47,847 

 (8,117)

 (2,948)

 36,782 

Interest
rate swaps
$m

Cross-
currency
swaps
$m

Total
derivative
financial
instruments
$m

 (54)

 (19)

 (15)

 (15)

 (15)

 (30)

 (148)

 148 

 (82)

 (82)

32

12

(216)

47

86

320

281

(351)

(93)

(163)

 (22)

 (7)

 (231)

32

71

290

133

(203)

 (175)

(245)

Finance
leases
$m

45

45

31

8

1

–

130

(22)

–

108

Finance
leases
$m

66

41

22

10

2

–

141

(46)

–

95

Finance
leases
$m

 42 

 24 

 16 

 10 

 3 

–

 95 

 (2)

–

 93 

Total
$m

14,864

2,098

3,050

1,195

2,281

17,075

40,563

(6,152)

(4,156)

30,255

Total
$m

13,115

3,810

2,952

2,386

4,199

19,461

45,923

(7,974)

(4,222)

33,727

Total
$m

 13,415 

 6,924 

 2,429 

 3,788 

 2,714 

 18,710 

 47,980 

(8,320)

(3,123)

 36,537 

178

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

26 Financial risk management objectives and policies continued
Where interest payments are on a floating rate basis, it is assumed that rates will remain unchanged from the last business day of each year ended 
31 December.

It is not expected that the cash flows in the maturity profile could occur significantly earlier or at significantly different amounts, with the exception of 
$5,457m of contingent consideration and $1,901m arising from the put option over the non-controlling interest in Acerta Pharma, both held within 
other payables (see Note 18).

Market risk
Interest rate risk
The Group maintains a mix of fixed and floating rate debt. The portion of fixed rate debt was approved by the Board and any variation requires 
Board approval.

A significant portion of the Group’s long-term debt is held at fixed rates of interest. The Group uses interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements 
to manage this mix.

At 31 December 2016, the Group held interest rate swaps with a notional value of $1.6bn, converting the 7% guaranteed debentures payable in 
2023 to floating rates, partially converting the 5.9% callable bond maturing in 2017 to floating rates and partially converting the 1.75% callable bond 
maturing in 2018 to floating rates. No new interest rate swaps were entered into during 2016. At 31 December 2016, swaps with a notional value of 
$1.35bn were designated in fair value hedge relationships and swaps with a notional value of $0.29bn related to debt designated as fair value through 
profit or loss. Designated hedges are expected to be effective and therefore the impact of ineffectiveness on profit is not expected to be material. 
The accounting treatment for fair value hedges and debt designated as fair value through profit or loss is disclosed in the Group Accounting Policies 
section from page 142.

The majority of surplus cash is currently invested in US dollar liquidity funds earning floating rates of interest.

The interest rate profile of the Group’s interest-bearing financial instruments is set out below. In the case of current and non-current financial liabilities, 
the classification includes the impact of interest rate swaps which convert the debt to floating rate.

Financial liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Current

Non-current

Total

Financial assets
Fixed deposits

Cash and cash equivalents

Total

Fixed rate
$m

Floating rate
$m

1,086

13,154

14,240

–

–

–

1,221

1,347

2,568

 37 

 5,018 

 5,055 

2016

Total
$m

2,307

14,501

16,808

 37 

 5,018 

 5,055 

Fixed rate
$m

Floating rate
$m

67

11,986

12,053

–

–

–

849

2,151

3,000

65

6,240

6,305

2015

Total
$m

916

14,137

15,053

65

6,240

6,305

Fixed rate
$m

Floating rate
$m

960

7,199

8,159

–

–

–

1,486

1,198

2,684

20

6,360

6,380

2014

Total
$m

2,446

8,397

10,843

20

6,360

6,380

In addition to the financial assets above, there are $5,519m (2015: $6,494m; 2014: $7,576m) of other current and non-current asset investments and 
other financial assets on which no interest is received. 

Foreign currency risk
The US dollar is the Group’s most significant currency. As a consequence, the Group results are presented in US dollars and exposures are managed 
against US dollars accordingly.

Translational
Approximately 66% of Group external sales in 2016 were denominated in currencies other than the US dollar, while a significant proportion of 
manufacturing, and research and development costs were denominated in pounds sterling and Swedish krona. Surplus cash generated by 
business units is substantially converted to, and held centrally in, US dollars. As a result, operating profit and total cash flow in US dollars will be 
affected by movements in exchange rates.

This currency exposure is managed centrally, based on forecast cash flows. The impact of movements in exchange rates is mitigated significantly 
by the correlations which exist between the major currencies to which the Group is exposed and the US dollar. Monitoring of currency exposures 
and correlations is undertaken on a regular basis and hedging is subject to pre-execution approval.

As at 31 December 2016, 2.5% of interest-bearing loans and borrowings were denominated in pounds sterling and 18.3% were denominated in 
euros. Where there is non-US dollar debt and an underlying net investment of that amount in the same currency, the Group applies net investment 
hedging. Exchange differences on the retranslation of debt designated as net investment hedges are recognised in other comprehensive income  
to the extent that the hedge is effective. Any ineffectiveness is taken to profit.

In 2016, the Group issued €2.2bn of bonds in the euro debt capital markets with maturities of 5, 8 and 12 years. The Group entered into 
cross-currency swaps to convert the proceeds into fixed US dollar debt with a weighted average interest rate of 2.69% and maturities equal to the 
bonds. These instruments were designated in a cash flow hedge. To the extent that the hedge is effective, fair value movements on the revaluation 
of cross-currency swaps designated in a cash flow hedge are taken to other comprehensive income. Any ineffectiveness is taken to profit.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

179

 
Financial Statements

26 Financial risk management objectives and policies continued 
In 2016, the Group entered into a cross-currency swap to convert an additional $69m into fixed Chinese renminbi debt maturing in 2026. This 
instrument was designated in a net investment hedge against the foreign currency risk of the Group’s renminbi net assets. Fair value movements 
on the revaluation of the cross-currency swaps are recognised in other comprehensive income to the extent that the hedge is effective. Any 
ineffectiveness is taken to profit.

Foreign currency risk arises when the Group has intercompany funding and investments in certain subsidiaries operating in countries with exchange 
controls. The most significant risk in this respect is Venezuela, where the Group has approximately $104m equivalent of local currency cash, on 
which there have been delays in obtaining approval for remittance outside the country.

The official exchange rate for essential goods and services is VEF 10/$ (the DIPRO rate) as published by CENCOEX (the National Foreign Trade 
Center). Alternative exchange rates include the SIMADI (Sistema Marginal de Divisas) rate, which was introduced in 2015. At 31 December 2016, 
the SIMADI rate was VEF 673.76/$ (31 December 2015: VEF 199.7/$).

For 2016, the Group used the DIPRO rate for the consolidation of the financial statements of the Venezuelan subsidiaries. The Group believes that 
this rate represents the most appropriate rate for consolidation as it reflects their best expectation of the rate at which profits will be remitted. 

The Group has restructured $153m of intercompany trading balances in order to manage the FX retranslation risk should the DIPRO rate increase 
over the next 12 months. Had the Group applied the SIMADI rate for the consolidation of the financial statements of the Venezuelan subsidiaries, 
the Group would be exposed to a potential income statement devaluation loss of $15m on its total intercompany balances and the local currency 
cash would be reduced to $2m on consolidation.

Transactional
One hundred percent of the Group’s major transactional currency exposures on working capital balances, which typically extend for up to three 
months, are hedged, where practicable, using forward foreign exchange contracts against individual Group companies’ reporting currency. In addition, 
the Group’s external dividend, which is paid principally in pounds sterling and Swedish krona, is fully hedged from announcement to payment date. 
Foreign exchange gains and losses on forward contracts transacted for transactional hedging are taken to profit.

Sensitivity analysis 
The sensitivity analysis set out below summarises the sensitivity of the market value of our financial instruments to hypothetical changes in market 
rates and prices. The range of variables chosen for the sensitivity analysis reflects our view of changes which are reasonably possible over a 
one-year period. Market values are the present value of future cash flows based on market rates and prices at the valuation date. For long-term 
debt, an increase in interest rates results in a decline in the fair value of debt.

The sensitivity analysis assumes an instantaneous 100 basis point change in interest rates in all currencies from their levels at 31 December 2016, 
with all other variables held constant. Based on the composition of our long-term debt portfolio as at 31 December 2016, a 1% increase in interest 
rates would result in an additional $26m in interest expense being incurred per year. The exchange rate sensitivity analysis assumes an instantaneous 
10% change in foreign currency exchange rates from their levels at 31 December 2016, with all other variables held constant. The +10% case 
assumes a 10% strengthening of the US dollar against all other currencies and the -10% case assumes a 10% weakening of the US dollar.

Each incremental 10% movement in foreign currency exchange rates would have approximately the same effect as the initial 10% detailed in the table 
below and each 1% change in interest rates would have approximately the same effect as the 1% detailed in the table below.

31 December 2014

Increase/(decrease) in fair value of financial instruments ($m)

Impact on profit: (loss)/gain ($m)

Impact on equity: gain/(loss) ($m)

31 December 2015

Increase/(decrease) in fair value of financial instruments ($m)

Impact on profit: (loss)/gain ($m)

Impact on equity: gain/(loss) ($m)

31 December 2016

Increase/(decrease) in fair value of financial instruments ($m)

Impact on profit: (loss)/gain ($m)

Impact on equity: gain/(loss) ($m)

+1%

844

–

–

+1%

997

–

–

+1%

1,249

–

–

Interest rates

Exchange rates

-1%

(856)

–

–

+10%

85

(247)

332

-10%

(85)

247

(332)

Interest rates

Exchange rates

-1%

(1,150)

–

–

+10%

136

(91)

227

-10%

(136)

91

(227)

Interest rates

Exchange rates

-1%

(1,390)

–

–

+10%

180

(24)

204

-10%

(180)

24

(204)

There has been no change in the methods and assumptions used in preparing the above sensitivity analysis over the three-year period.

180

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

26 Financial risk management objectives and policies continued 
Credit risk
The Group is exposed to credit risk on financial assets, such as cash balances (including fixed deposits and cash and cash equivalents), derivative 
instruments, trade and other receivables. The Group is also exposed in its net asset position to its own credit risk in respect of the 2023 debentures 
which are accounted for at fair value through profit or loss.

Trade and other receivables
Trade receivable exposures are managed locally in the operating units where they arise and credit limits are set as deemed appropriate for the 
customer. The Group is exposed to customers ranging from government-backed agencies and large private wholesalers to privately owned 
pharmacies, and the underlying local economic and sovereign risks vary throughout the world. Where appropriate, the Group endeavours to 
minimise risks by the use of trade finance instruments such as letters of credit and insurance. The Group establishes an allowance for impairment 
that represents its estimate of incurred losses in respect of specific trade and other receivables where it is deemed that a receivable may not be 
recoverable. When the debt is deemed irrecoverable, the allowance account is written off against the underlying receivable. 

In the US, sales to three wholesalers accounted for approximately 83% of US sales (2015: three wholesalers accounted for approximately 84%; 
2014: three wholesalers accounted for approximately 75%).

The ageing of trade receivables at the reporting date was: 

Not past due

Past due 0-90 days

Past due 90-180 days

Past due > 180 days

Movements in provisions for trade receivables
At 1 January

Income statement

Amounts utilised, exchange and other movements

At 31 December

2016
$m

2,559

14

–

10

2,583

2016
$m

52

–

(10)

42

2015
$m

4,388

189

21

35

4,633

2015
$m

54

2

(4)

52

2014
$m

4,316

354

75

17

4,762

2014
$m

64

(2)

(8)

54

The allowance for impairment has been calculated based on past experience and is in relation to specific customers. Given the profile of our 
customers, including large wholesalers and government-backed agencies, no further credit risk has been identified with the trade receivables 
not past due other than those balances for which an allowance has been made. The income statement charge is recorded in selling, general and 
administrative costs.

Other financial assets
The Group may hold significant cash balances as part of its normal operations, with the amount of cash held at any point reflecting the level of cash 
flow generated by the business and the timing of the use of that cash. The majority of excess cash is centralised within the Group treasury entity 
and is subject to counterparty risk on the principal invested. This risk is mitigated through a policy of prioritising security and liquidity over return, 
and as such cash is only invested in high credit quality investments. Counterparty limits are set according to the assessed risk of each counterparty 
and exposures are monitored against these limits on a regular basis. The majority of the Group’s cash is invested in US dollar AAA-rated liquidity 
funds, fully collateralised repurchase agreements, fixed income securities and short-term bank deposits. 

The most significant concentration of financial credit risk at 31 December 2016 was $3,440m invested in five AAA-rated liquidity funds. The liquidity 
fund portfolios are managed by the related external third party fund managers to maintain the AAA rating. No more than 15% of fund value is invested 
within each individual fund. There were no other significant concentrations of financial credit risk at the reporting date. 

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At 31 December 2016, the Group had investments of $950m (2015: $1,050m; 2014: $300m) in short-term repurchase agreements, which are fully 
collateralised investments. In the event of any default, ownership of the collateral would revert to the Group and would be readily convertible to 
cash. The value of the collateral held at 31 December 2016 was $951m (2015: $1,098m; 2014: $316m). 

All financial derivatives are transacted with commercial banks, in line with standard market practice. The Group has agreements with some bank 
counterparties whereby the parties agree to post cash collateral, for the benefit of the other, equivalent to the market valuation of the derivative 
positions above a predetermined threshold. The carrying value of such cash collateral held by the Group at 31 December 2016 was $242m 
(2015: $451m; 2014: $457m).

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

181

 
Financial Statements

27 Employee costs and share plans for employees
Employee costs
The average number of people, to the nearest hundred, employed by the Group is set out in the table below. In accordance with the Companies 
Act 2006, this includes part-time employees.

Employees
UK

Continental Europe

The Americas

Asia, Africa & Australasia

Continuing operations

2016

2015

2014

7,000

14,700

17,800

22,000

61,500

7,100

14,800

17,500

20,700

60,100

7,200

13,800

16,800

18,100

55,900

Geographical distribution described in the table above is by location of legal entity employing staff. Certain staff will spend some or all of their 
activity in a different location.

The number of people employed by the Group at the end of 2016 was 59,700 (2015: 61,500; 2014: 57,500).

The costs incurred during the year in respect of these employees were:

Salaries

Social security costs

Pension costs

Other employment costs

Total

2016
$m

4,664

584

426

610

6,284

2015
$m

4,603

567

484

474

6,128

2014
$m

4,657

664

459

499

6,279

Severance costs of $578m are not included above (2015: $338m; 2014: $254m).

The Directors believe that, together with the basic salary system, the Group’s employee incentive schemes provide competitive and market-related 
packages to motivate employees. They should also align the interests of employees with those of shareholders, as a whole, through long-term 
share ownership in the Company. The Group’s current UK, Swedish and US schemes are described below; other arrangements apply elsewhere.

Bonus plans
The AstraZeneca UK Performance Bonus Plan
Employees of participating AstraZeneca UK companies are invited to participate in this bonus plan, which rewards strong individual performance. 
Bonuses are paid in cash. 

The AstraZeneca Executive Annual Bonus Scheme
This scheme is a performance bonus scheme for Directors and senior employees who do not participate in the AstraZeneca UK Performance 
Bonus Plan. Annual bonuses are paid in cash and reflect both corporate and individual performance measures. The Remuneration Committee has 
discretion to reduce or withhold bonuses if business performance falls sufficiently short of expectations in any year such as to make the payment of 
bonuses inappropriate.

The AstraZeneca Deferred Bonus Plan
This plan was introduced in 2006 and is used to defer a portion of the bonus earned under the AstraZeneca Executive Annual Bonus Scheme into 
Ordinary Shares in the Company for a period of three years. The plan currently operates only in respect of Executive Directors and members of the 
SET. Awards of shares under this plan are typically made in March each year, the first award having been made in February 2006. Further details of 
this plan can be found in the Directors’ Remuneration Report from page 103.

Sweden
In Sweden, an all-employee performance bonus plan is in operation, which rewards strong individual performance. Bonuses are paid 50% into a 
fund investing in AstraZeneca equities and 50% in cash. The AstraZeneca Executive Annual Bonus Scheme, the AstraZeneca Performance Share 
Plan and the AstraZeneca Global Restricted Stock Plan all operate in respect of relevant AstraZeneca employees in Sweden.

US
In the US, there are two all-employee short-term or annual performance bonus plans in operation to differentiate and reward strong individual 
performance. Annual bonuses are paid in cash. There is also one senior staff long-term incentive scheme, under which 91 participants may be 
eligible for awards granted as AstraZeneca ADSs. AstraZeneca ADSs necessary to satisfy the awards are purchased in the market or funded via a 
share trust. The AstraZeneca Performance Share Plan and the AstraZeneca Global Restricted Stock Plan operate in respect of relevant employees 
in the US.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

27 Employee costs and share plans for employees continued
Share plans 
The charge for share-based payments in respect of share plans is $241m (2015: $211m; 2014: $178m). The plans are equity settled.

The AstraZeneca UK All-Employee Share Plan
The Company offers UK employees the opportunity to buy Partnership Shares (Ordinary Shares). Employees may invest up to £1,800 over a 12 month 
accumulation period and purchase Partnership Shares in the Company with the total proceeds at the end of the period. The purchase price for the 
shares is the lower of the price at the beginning or the end of the 12-month period. In 2010, the Company introduced a Matching Share element, 
the first award of which was made in 2011. Currently one Matching Share is awarded for every four Partnership Shares purchased. Partnership 
Shares and Matching Shares are held in the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)-approved All-Employee Share Plan. At the Company’s AGM in 2002, 
shareholders approved the issue of new shares for the purposes of the All-Employee Share Plan.

The AstraZeneca Performance Share Plan
This plan was approved by shareholders in 2005 for a period of 10 years. Generally, awards could be granted at any time, but not during a closed 
period of the Company. The first grant of awards was made in June 2005 and the last grant of awards was made in March 2014. Awards granted 
under the plan vest after three years and can be subject to the achievement of performance conditions. The Remuneration Committee has 
responsibility for agreeing any awards under the plan and for setting the policy for the way in which the plan should be operated, including agreeing 
performance targets and which employees would be invited to participate. The plan has been replaced by the AstraZeneca 2014 Performance 
Share Plan.

Shares awarded in February 2014
Shares awarded in March 2014

1  Weighted average fair value.

Shares
’000

37
2,368

WAFV1 
pence

N/A
1952

WAFV1 

$

30.55
32.34

The AstraZeneca 2014 Performance Share Plan (PSP)
This plan was approved by shareholders in 2014 for a period of 10 years and replaces the AstraZeneca Performance Share Plan. Generally, awards 
can be granted at any time, but not during a closed period of the Company. The first grant of awards was made in May 2014. Awards granted under 
the plan vest after three years, or in the case of Executive Directors, after an additional two-year holding period, and can be subject to the achievement 
of performance conditions. For awards granted to all participants in 2016, vesting is subject to a combination of measures focused on scientific 
leadership, revenue growth and financial performance. The Remuneration Committee has responsibility for agreeing any awards under the plan 
and for setting the policy for the way in which the plan should be operated, including agreeing performance targets and which employees should 
be invited to participate. Further details of this plan can be found in the Directors’ Remuneration Report from page 103. The main grant of awards  
in 2016 under the plan took place in March with further grants in May and August.

Shares awarded in May 2014

Shares awarded in August 2014

Shares awarded in September 2014

Shares awarded in November 2014

Shares awarded in March 2015

Shares awarded in June 2015

Shares awarded in August 2015

Shares awarded in September 2015

Shares awarded in November 2015

Shares awarded in March 2016

Shares awarded in May 2016

Shares awarded in August 2016

Shares
’000

12

141

40

2

2,223

36

152

8

7

2,673

24

67

WAFV
pence

2133

2156

2250

N/A

2381

2087

2123

N/A

2178

1962

1935

2536

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WAFV
$

35.75

35.79

N/A

36.62

35.29

33.05

33.21

32.32

33.31

28.19

28.64

33.58

The AstraZeneca Investment Plan (AZIP)
This plan was introduced in 2010 and approved by shareholders at the 2010 AGM. The grant of awards in 2016 took place in March. Awards granted 
under the plan vest after eight years and are subject to performance conditions measured over a period of between three and eight years. For awards 
granted in 2016, the performance conditions relate to the annual dividend paid to shareholders and dividend cover over a four-year performance 
period. The awards are then subject to a four-year holding period before they can vest. The Remuneration Committee has responsibility for agreeing 
any awards under the plan and for setting the policy for the way in which the plan should be operated, including agreeing performance targets and 
which employees should be invited to participate. Further details of this plan can be found in the Directors’ Remuneration Report from page 103.

Shares awarded in March 2014

Shares awarded in September 2014

Shares awarded in March 2015

Shares awarded in August 2015

Shares awarded in March 2016

Shares
’000

67

7

64

4

84

WAFV 
pence

3904

4499

4762

N/A

3923

WAFV 
$

64.68

N/A

70.58

66.42

56.38

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Financial Statements

27 Employee costs and share plans for employees continued
The AstraZeneca Global Restricted Stock Plan
This plan was introduced in 2010. The main grant of awards in 2016 under the plan was in March, with a further, smaller grant in August. This plan 
provides for the grant of restricted stock unit (RSU) awards to selected below SET-level employees and is used in conjunction with the AstraZeneca 
Performance Share Plan to provide a mix of RSUs and performance shares. Awards typically vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant and 
are contingent on continued employment with the Company. The Remuneration Committee has responsibility for agreeing any awards under the 
plan and for setting the policy for the way in which the plan should be operated.

Shares awarded in March 2014

Shares awarded in August 2014

Shares awarded in March 2015

Shares awarded in August 2015

Shares awarded in March 2016

Shares awarded in August 2016

Shares
’000

2,076

25

1,966

17

2,695

122

WAFV 
pence

3904

4312

4762

4245

3923

5071

WAFV 
$

64.68

71.57

70.58

66.42

56.38

67.16

The AstraZeneca Restricted Share Plan
This plan was introduced in 2008 and provides for the grant of restricted share awards to key employees, excluding Executive Directors. Awards 
are made on an ad hoc basis with variable vesting dates. The plan has been used four times in 2016 to make awards to 714 employees. The 
Remuneration Committee has responsibility for agreeing any awards under the plan and for setting the policy for the way in which the plan should 
be operated.

Shares awarded in February 2014

Shares awarded in March 2014

Shares awarded in May 2014

Shares awarded in August 2014

Shares awarded in September 2014

Shares awarded in November 2014

Shares awarded in March 2015

Shares awarded in June 2015

Shares awarded in August 2015

Shares awarded in September 2015

Shares awarded in November 2015

Shares awarded in March 2016

Shares awarded in May 2016

Shares awarded in August 2016

Shares awarded in November 2016

Shares
’000

115

155

134

72

64

9

164

69

31

41

41

809

335

37

14

WAFV 
pence

4042

N/A

4265

4312

4499

4672

4762

4174

4245

4199

4355

3923

3869

5071

4233

WAFV 
$

61.10

64.68

71.50

71.57

74.05

73.23

70.58

66.09

66.42

64.64

66.62

56.38

57.28

67.16

53.42

The fair values were determined using a modified version of the binomial model. This method incorporated expected dividends but no other features 
into the measurements of fair value. The grant date fair values of share awards disclosed in this section do not take account of service and non-market 
related performance conditions.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

28 Commitments and contingent liabilities

Commitments
Contracts placed for future capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment and software development costs not 
provided for in these accounts

2016
$m

2015
$m

2014
$m

629

518

438

Guarantees and contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business, for which no security has been given, are not expected to result in any 
material financial loss.

Research and development collaboration payments
The Group has various ongoing collaborations, including in-licensing and similar arrangements with development partners. Such collaborations may 
require the Group to make payments on achievement of stages of development, launch or revenue milestones, although the Group generally has the 
right to terminate these agreements at no cost. The Group recognises research and development milestones as intangible assets once it is committed 
to payment, which is generally when the Group reaches set trigger points in the development cycle. Revenue-related milestones are recognised as 
intangible assets on product launch at a value based on the Group’s long-term revenue forecasts for the related product. The table below indicates 
potential development and revenue-related payments that the Group may be required to make under such collaborations.

Future potential research and development milestone payments

Future potential revenue milestone payments

Total
$m

6,651

5,259

Under 1 year
$m

Years 1 and 2
$m

Years 3 and 4
$m

412

77

1,286

143

647

970

Years 5 
and greater
$m

4,306

4,069

The table includes all potential payments for achievement of milestones under ongoing research and development arrangements. Revenue-related 
milestone payments represent the maximum possible amount payable on achievement of specified levels of revenue as set out in individual contract 
agreements, but exclude variable payments that are based on unit sales (eg royalty-type payments) which are expensed as the associated sale is 
recognised. The table excludes any payments already capitalised in the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2016.

The future payments we disclose represent contracted payments and, as such, are not discounted and are not risk adjusted. As detailed in the 
Risk section from page 214, the development of any pharmaceutical product candidate is a complex and risky process that may fail at any stage  
in the development process due to a number of factors (including items such as failure to obtain regulatory approval, unfavourable data from key 
studies, adverse reactions to the product candidate or indications of other safety concerns). The timing of the payments is based on the Group’s 
current best estimate of achievement of the relevant milestone.

Environmental costs and liabilities
The Group’s expenditure on environmental protection, including both capital and revenue items, relates to costs that are necessary for implementing 
internal systems and programmes, and meeting legal and regulatory requirements for processes and products. This includes investment to conserve 
natural resources and otherwise minimise the impact of our activities on the environment.

They are an integral part of normal ongoing expenditure for carrying out the Group’s research, manufacturing and commercial operations and are 
not separated from overall operating and development costs. There are no known changes in legal, regulatory or other requirements resulting in 
material changes to the levels of expenditure for 2014, 2015 or 2016.

In addition to expenditure for meeting current and foreseen environmental protection requirements, the Group incurs costs in investigating and 
cleaning up land and groundwater contamination. In particular, AstraZeneca has environmental liabilities at some currently or formerly owned, 
leased and third party sites.

In the US, Zeneca Inc., and/or its indemnitees, have been named as potentially responsible parties (PRPs) or defendants at approximately 14 sites 
where Zeneca Inc. is likely to incur future environmental investigation, remediation, operation and maintenance costs under federal, state, statutory or 
common law environmental liability allocation schemes (together, US Environmental Consequences). Similarly, Stauffer Management Company LLC 
(SMC), which was established in 1987 to own and manage certain assets of Stauffer Chemical Company acquired that year, and/or its indemnitees, 
have been named as PRPs or defendants at 34 sites where SMC is likely to incur US Environmental Consequences.

AstraZeneca has also given indemnities to third parties for a number of sites outside the US. These environmental liabilities arise from legacy 
operations that are not currently part of the Group’s business and, at most of these sites, remediation, where required, is either completed or 
nearing completion. AstraZeneca has made provisions for the estimated costs of future environmental investigation, remediation, operation and 
maintenance activity beyond normal ongoing expenditure for maintaining the Group’s R&D and manufacturing capacity and product ranges, where 
a present obligation exists, it is probable that such costs will be incurred and they can be estimated reliably. With respect to such estimated future 
costs, there were provisions at 31 December 2016 in the aggregate of $59m (2015: $67m; 2014: $84m), mainly relating to the US. Where we are 
jointly liable or otherwise have cost-sharing agreements with third parties, we reflect only our share of the obligation. Where the liability is insured in 
part or in whole by insurance or other arrangements for reimbursement, an asset is recognised to the extent that this recovery is virtually certain.

It is possible that AstraZeneca could incur future environmental costs beyond the extent of our current provisions. The extent of such possible 
additional costs is inherently difficult to estimate due to a number of factors, including: (1) the nature and extent of claims that may be asserted  
in the future; (2) whether AstraZeneca has or will have any legal obligation with respect to asserted or unasserted claims; (3) the type of remedial 
action, if any, that may be selected at sites where the remedy is presently not known; (4) the potential for recoveries from or allocation of liability to 
third parties; and (5) the length of time that the environmental investigation, remediation and liability allocation process can take. Notwithstanding 
and subject to the foregoing, we estimate the potential additional loss for future environmental investigation, remediation, remedial operation  
and maintenance activity above and beyond our provisions to be, in aggregate, between $85m and $141m (2015: $71m and $119m; 2014: $50m 
and $80m), which relates mainly to the US.

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185

 
Financial Statements

28 Commitments and contingent 
liabilities continued
Legal proceedings
AstraZeneca is involved in various legal 
proceedings considered typical to its business, 
including actual or threatened litigation and/or 
actual or potential government investigations 
relating to employment matters, product 
liability, commercial disputes, pricing, sales 
and marketing practices, infringement of IP 
rights, and the validity of certain patents and 
competition laws. The more significant matters 
are discussed below.

Most of the claims involve highly complex 
issues. Often these issues are subject to 
substantial uncertainties and, therefore, the 
probability of a loss, if any, being sustained 
and an estimate of the amount of any loss is 
difficult to ascertain. Consequently, for a 
majority of these claims, it is not possible to 
make a reasonable estimate of the expected 
financial effect, if any, that will result from 
ultimate resolution of the proceedings. In these 
cases, AstraZeneca discloses information with 
respect to the nature and facts of the cases.

With respect to each of the legal proceedings 
described below, other than those for which 
provision has been made, we are unable to 
make estimates of the possible loss or range 
of possible losses at this stage, other than as 
set forth in this section. We also do not believe 
that disclosure of the amount sought by 
plaintiffs, if known, would be meaningful with 
respect to those legal proceedings. This is due 
to a number of factors, including (1) the stage 
of the proceedings (in many cases trial dates 
have not been set) and the overall length and 
extent of pre-trial discovery; (2) the entitlement 
of the parties to an action to appeal a decision; 
(3) clarity as to theories of liability, damages 
and governing law; (4) uncertainties in timing of 
litigation; and (5) the possible need for further 
legal proceedings to establish the appropriate 
amount of damages, if any.

While there can be no assurance regarding 
the outcome of any of the legal proceedings 
referred to in this Note 28, based on 
management’s current and considered view 
of each situation, we do not currently expect 
them to have a material adverse effect on our 
financial position. This position could of course 
change over time, not least because of the 
factors referred to above.

In cases that have been settled or adjudicated, 
or where quantifiable fines and penalties have 
been assessed and which are not subject to 
appeal (or other similar forms of relief), or where 
a loss is probable and we are able to make a 
reasonable estimate of the loss, we generally 
indicate the loss absorbed or make a provision 
for our best estimate of the expected loss.

Where it is considered that the Group is more 
likely than not to prevail, legal costs involved in 
defending the claim are charged to profit as 
they are incurred.

Where it is considered that the Group has 
a valid contract which provides the right to 
reimbursement (from insurance or otherwise) 
of legal costs and/or all or part of any loss 
incurred or for which a provision has been 
established, and we consider recovery to 
be virtually certain, the best estimate of the 
amount expected to be received is recognised 
as an asset.

Assessments as to whether or not to recognise 
provisions or assets, and of the amounts 
concerned, usually involve a series of 
complex judgements about future events 
and can rely heavily on estimates and 
assumptions. AstraZeneca believes that the 
provisions recorded are adequate based on 
currently available information and that the 
insurance recoveries recorded will be received. 
However, given the inherent uncertainties 
involved in assessing the outcomes of these 
cases, and in estimating the amount of the 
potential losses and the associated insurance 
recoveries, we could in the future incur 
judgments or insurance settlements that 
could have a material adverse effect on our 
results in any particular period.

IP claims include challenges to the Group’s 
patents on various products or processes 
and assertions of non-infringement of patents. 
A loss in any of these cases could result in loss 
of patent protection on the related product. 
The consequences of any such loss could be 
a significant decrease in product sales, which 
could have a material adverse effect on our 
results. The lawsuits filed by AstraZeneca for 
patent infringement against companies that 
have filed ANDAs in the US, seeking to market 
generic forms of products sold by the Group 
prior to the expiry of the applicable patents 
covering these products, typically also involve 
allegations of non-infringement, invalidity and 
unenforceability of these patents by the 
ANDA filers. In the event that the Group is 
unsuccessful in these actions or the statutory 
30-month stay expires before a ruling is 
obtained, the ANDA filers involved will also have 
the ability, subject to FDA approval, to introduce 
generic versions of the product concerned.

AstraZeneca has full confidence in, and will 
vigorously defend and enforce, its IP.

Over the course of the past several years, 
including in 2016, a significant number of 
commercial litigation claims in which 
AstraZeneca is involved have been resolved, 
particularly in the US, thereby reducing 
potential contingent liability exposure arising 
from such litigation. Similarly, in part due to 
patent litigation and settlement developments, 
greater certainty has been achieved regarding 

possible generic entry dates with respect 
to some of our patented products. At the 
same time, like other companies in the 
pharmaceutical sector and other industries, 
AstraZeneca continues to be subject to 
government investigations around the world. 

Patent litigation
Brilinta (ticagrelor) 
US patent proceedings
In 2015, in response to Paragraph IV notices 
challenging patents listed in the FDA Orange 
Book with reference to Brilinta, AstraZeneca 
filed separate patent infringement lawsuits 
against ANDA filers seeking to market 
ticagrelor. Proceedings are ongoing in the 
US District Court for the District of Delaware. 
Trial is scheduled for March and April 2018.

Byetta (exenatide)
US patent proceedings
In 2014, in the US District Court for the District 
of Delaware (the District Court), AstraZeneca 
filed a patent infringement lawsuit in 
response to a Paragraph IV notice from Teva 
Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (Teva) relating to 
patents listed in the FDA Orange Book with 
reference to Byetta. In June 2016, AstraZeneca 
settled the patent litigation against Teva. The 
District Court entered a consent judgment 
which will enjoin Teva from launching its 
proposed exenatide product until October 
2017, subject to regulatory approval. 
Separately, in December 2015, AstraZeneca 
filed a patent infringement lawsuit in response 
to a Paragraph IV notice from Amneal 
Pharmaceuticals LLC in the District Court. 
Trial is scheduled for December 2017. 

In November 2015, Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC 
and Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH 
(together, Sanofi) served AstraZeneca with 
a complaint for declaratory judgment that 
Sanofi’s proposed lixisenatide product would 
not infringe three AstraZeneca patents. 
Sanofi also alleged invalidity of the patents. 
Separately, in December 2015, Sanofi filed 
petitions in the US Patent Trial and Appeals 
Board (PTAB) for inter partes review of certain 
patents at issue in the above-referenced 
District Court litigations. In October 2016, 
AstraZeneca and Sanofi settled the District 
Court and PTAB proceedings. Sanofi’s claims 
have been dismissed.

Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) 
US patent proceedings 
AstraZeneca has been a defendant in three 
patent infringement lawsuits in the US District 
Court for the District of South Carolina (the 
District Court) which, among other things, 
claimed that AstraZeneca’s Crestor sales 
induce infringement of the plaintiffs’ patents. 

The first lawsuit, filed in April 2011 by plaintiff 
Palmetto Pharmaceuticals, LLC (Palmetto), 
was dismissed by the District Court in 
December 2015 with judgment entered in 

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AstraZeneca’s favour. Palmetto subsequently 
appealed. In December 2016, the Federal 
Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District 
Court’s order dismissing the lawsuit.

The other two lawsuits were filed by 
co-plaintiffs Medical University of South 
Carolina Foundation for Research Development 
and Charleston Medical Therapeutics, Inc. 
(together, CMT) in July and December 2013 
and subsequently consolidated. In February 
2016, the District Court granted AstraZeneca’s 
motion for summary judgment and dismissed 
the two consolidated lawsuits, and CMT 
appealed. In July 2016, AstraZeneca and 
CMT jointly filed a stipulated dismissal of 
CMT’s appeal.

Patent proceedings outside the US 
In Australia, AstraZeneca was unsuccessful in 
defending the validity of certain Crestor patents, 
at trial and on appeal. The patent litigation 
concluded in September 2015. A provision 
was taken in 2015 in respect of claims from 
generic entities which were prevented by 
court order from launching their products in 
Australia before AstraZeneca’s patents were 
subsequently found to be invalid. In April 2016, 
AstraZeneca was notified that the 
Commonwealth of Australia also intended 
to pursue a claim against AstraZeneca in 
relation to alleged losses it suffered in 
connection with the same patent litigation 
and the Commonwealth formally joined the 
proceedings in November 2016. AstraZeneca 
has updated its provisions accordingly.

In France, in February 2016, Biogaran S.A.S. 
(Biogaran) obtained a marketing authorisation 
for its rosuvastatin zinc product. In April 2016, 
AstraZeneca and Shionogi Seiyaku Kabushiki 
Kaisha (Shionogi) sought a preliminary 
injunction to prevent Biogaran from launching 
its product. In July 2016, the Paris Court of 
First Instance declined to issue a preliminary 
injunction. AstraZeneca and Shionogi 
appealed, however, the parties settled the 
preliminary proceedings before the appeal 
hearing. AstraZeneca and Shionogi have 
commenced patent infringement proceedings 
against Biogaran relying on infringement of the 
supplementary protection certificate related to 
the Crestor substance patent (European 
Patent No. EP 0521471). 

In Japan, in March 2015, an individual filed a 
patent invalidation request with the Japanese 
Patent Office (JPO) in relation to the Crestor 
substance patent (Japanese Patent No. JP 
2648897). In July 2016, the JPO dismissed 
the request. The individual appealed to the 
Intellectual Property High Court of Japan 
(the High Court) with the intervention of Nippon 
Chemiphar Co. Ltd (Nippon). In addition, 
Nippon has commenced a separate patent 
invalidation request with the JPO in relation to 

the Crestor substance patent. In November 
2016, the JPO refused Nippon’s request. 
Nippon has appealed to the High Court.

In the Netherlands, in April 2014, AstraZeneca 
received a writ of summons from Resolution 
Chemicals Ltd (Resolution) alleging partial 
invalidity and non-infringement of the 
supplementary protection certificate (SPC) 
related to the Crestor substance patent 
(European Patent No. EP 0521471). In July 
2015, the District Court of the Hague 
determined that the SPC does not extend to 
zinc salts of rosuvastatin and that Resolution’s 
rosuvastatin zinc product does not infringe the 
SPC. In February 2016, the Court of Appeal of 
the Hague overturned the decision and found 
that Resolution’s product does infringe the 
SPC. Resolution appealed, and a hearing was 
held before the Supreme Court in December 
2016. A decision is pending.

In Switzerland, in May 2016, Mepha Pharma AG 
challenged the validity of the supplementary 
protection certificate related to the Crestor 
substance patent (European Patent No. EP 
0521471). AstraZeneca has responded. 

In the UK, in October 2015, Resolution 
commenced an action in the UK Patent Court 
alleging partial invalidity and non-infringement 
of the supplementary protection certificate 
related to the Crestor substance patent 
(European Patent No. EP 0521471). The case 
has been stayed. 

Daliresp (roflumilast) 
US patent proceedings 
In 2015, in response to Paragraph IV notices 
challenging patents listed in the FDA Orange 
Book with reference to Daliresp, AstraZeneca 
filed separate patent infringement lawsuits 
against ANDA filers seeking to market 
roflumilast. Proceedings are ongoing in the 
US District Court for the District of New Jersey. 
No trial date has been set.

Faslodex (fulvestrant) 
US patent proceedings 
AstraZeneca has filed patent infringement 
lawsuits in the US District Court in New Jersey 
(the District Court) relating to four patents listed 
in the FDA Orange Book with reference to 
Faslodex after AstraZeneca received seven 
Paragraph IV notices relating to six ANDAs 
seeking FDA approval to market generic 
versions of Faslodex prior to the expiration of 
AstraZeneca’s patents. In July 2016, 
AstraZeneca settled one of these, the lawsuit 
brought against Sandoz, Inc. (Sandoz), and the 
District Court entered a consent judgment, 
which includes an injunction preventing 
Sandoz from launching a generic fulvestrant 
product until 25 March 2019, or earlier in 
certain circumstances. In August and 
December 2016, AstraZeneca settled the 
lawsuits against three additional ANDA filers, 
and the District Court also entered consent 

judgments ending those lawsuits. The related 
lawsuit in the US District Court in West Virginia, 
that had been stayed pending the District 
Court lawsuits, was also settled and dismissed 
pursuant to a consent judgment. AstraZeneca 
continues to litigate in the District Court against 
two ANDA filers.

In July 2016, AstraZeneca was served with 
four petitions for inter partes review by the 
Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) relating 
to each of the four Orange Book-listed 
patents. In December 2016, the PTAB issued 
an order denying institution of the first of the 
four petitions. In January 2017, the PTAB 
terminated the remaining petitions at the 
request of the parties. 

Patent proceedings outside the US 
In Germany, in July 2015, AstraZeneca was 
served with complaints filed by Hexal AG 
(Hexal) and ratiopharm GmbH (ratiopharm) 
requesting the revocation of the German part 
of European Patent No. EP 1250138 (the ’138 
Patent). In January 2017, the German Federal 
Patent Court declared the patent invalid. 
AstraZeneca intends to appeal. In January 
2017, the Regional Court of Düsseldorf lifted a 
provisional injunction based on the ’138 Patent 
which had been in place against Hexal since 
February 2016. Hexal is also seeking to lift 
the provisional injunction based on European 
Patent No. EP 2266573. In January 2017, 
the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf 
suspended the effects of a provisional 
injunction based on the ’138 Patent which 
had been in place against ratiopharm since 
September 2016.

In Spain, in January 2016, the Barcelona 
Commercial Court ordered a preliminary 
injunction based on European Patent No. EP 
1250138 and European Patent No. EP 
2266573, preventing Sandoz Farmacéutica, 
S.A. from launching generic Faslodex in Spain. 
Sandoz Farmacéutica, S.A. appealed.

In October 2015, Hexal filed a notice of 
opposition against European Patent No. 
EP 2266573, granted in June 2015, at the 
European Patent Office. In February and 
March 2016, further oppositions were filed 
by Actavis Group PTC ehf, Fresenius Kabi 
Deutschland GmbH, Intas Pharmaceuticals 
Ltd. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 
An oral hearing has been scheduled for 
May 2017.

In China, in March 2014, AstraZeneca received 
a request for invalidation of the Faslodex 
formulation patent CN01803546.9 filed by 
Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. at 
the Chinese Patent Office. In September 2014, 
the Patent Re-examination Board of the 
Chinese Patent Board declared the patent 
invalid. AstraZeneca appealed to the Beijing IP 
Court and the appeal was rejected in April 
2016. AstraZeneca appealed this decision to 

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the Beijing Higher People’s Court and the 
appeal was rejected in December 2016. 
AstraZeneca is considering its options.

In Brazil, in February 2013, Eurofarma 
Laboratorios S.A. (Eurofarma) filed a nullity 
action against a formulation patent for Faslodex 
in the 31st Specialized Intellectual Property 
Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro (the Court). 
In October 2015, the Court ruled in Eurofarma’s 
favour and invalidated AstraZeneca’s patent. In 
November 2015, AstraZeneca appealed the 
decision and the appeal remains pending.

Losec/Prilosec (omeprazole) 
Patent proceedings outside the US
In Canada, in 2004, AstraZeneca brought 
proceedings against Apotex Inc. (Apotex) for 
infringement of several patents related to 
Losec. In February 2015, the Federal Court 
of Canada found that Apotex had infringed 
AstraZeneca’s Losec formulation patent 
(Canadian Patent No. 1,292,693). Apotex 
appealed. In January 2017, the Federal Court 
of Appeal (the Appeal Court) upheld the trial 
court’s findings of infringement and validity. 
However, the Appeal Court upheld one aspect 
of Apotex’s appeal relating to a limitation 
period defence, which may lower the amount 
of damages owed by Apotex. A reference to 
determine patent infringement damages is 
scheduled to commence in February 2017.

Movantik/Movantig (naloxegol)
US patent proceedings
In 2015, Neptune Generics LLC, filed a petition 
seeking inter partes review with the Patent 
Office challenging the validity of a patent listed 
in the FDA Orange Book with reference to 
Movantik (US Patent No. 7,786,133). In April 
2016, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
denied the petition.

Patent proceedings outside the US
In Europe, Generics (UK) Ltd (trading as  
Mylan) filed an opposition to the grant of 
European Patent No. EP 1694363 with the 
European Patent Office (EPO). In February 
2016, the Opposition Division of the EPO 
upheld the patent as granted, and dismissed 
the opposition.

In Europe, in September 2016, Generics (UK) 
Ltd; ABG Patentes, SL; and Stada Arzneimittel 
AG filed oppositions to the grant of European 
Patent No. EP 2621496 with the European 
Patent Office. The Patent’s proprietors 
(AstraZeneca AB and Nektar Therapeutics) 
have been invited to file a response to the 
Statements of Opposition.

Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) 
US patent proceedings 
Several separate Nexium, Nexium oral 
suspension and Nexium 24HR (OTC) patent 
litigations are ongoing in the US District Court 

for the District of New Jersey. Proceedings 
are at various stages and no trial dates have 
been set.

Patent proceedings outside the US 
In Canada, in July 2014, the Federal Court 
found the Nexium substance patent (Canadian 
Patent No. 2,139,653) invalid and not infringed 
by Apotex Inc. In July 2015, AstraZeneca’s 
appeal was dismissed. AstraZeneca was 
granted leave to appeal to the Supreme Court 
of Canada and a hearing was held in 
November 2016. A decision is pending.

Onglyza (saxagliptin) and Kombiglyze 
(saxagliptin and metformin) 
US patent proceedings 
AstraZeneca initiated patent infringement 
proceedings against various entities in the 
US District Court for the District of Delaware 
(the District Court) after those entities had 
submitted ANDAs containing a Paragraph IV 
Certification alleging that US Patent No. 
RE44,186, listed in the FDA Orange Book 
with reference to Onglyza and Kombiglyze  XR, 
is invalid and/or will not be infringed by the 
products as described in their ANDAs.  
A trial was held in September 2016 against 
Wockhardt Bio AG and Wockhardt USA LLC, 
Sun Pharma Global FZE, Sun Pharmaceutical 
Industries Ltd, Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, 
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., Aurobindo Pharma 
Ltd., Aurobindo Pharma U.S.A., Inc., Actavis 
Laboratories FL, Inc. and Watson Laboratories, 
Inc. A decision is awaited. In September 2016, 
Apotex Corp. and Apotex, Inc. agreed to be 
bound by the District Court’s decision. 

In June 2016, the US Court of Appeals for the 
Federal Circuit denied Mylan Pharmaceuticals 
Inc. (Mylan) petition for rehearing en banc of 
the decision affirming the denial of Mylan’s 
motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. In 
September 2016, Mylan filed a petition for writ 
of certiorari with the Supreme Court of the 
United States seeking an appeal of that decision 
and, in January 2017, that petition was denied.

In May 2016, the US Patent and Trademark 
Office (USPTO) instituted an inter partes review 
brought by Mylan Pharmaceutical Inc. (the 
Mylan IPR) challenging the validity of US Patent 
No. RE44,186 (the ’186 Patent). Subsequently, 
Wockhardt Bio AG, Teva Pharmaceuticals 
USA, Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., 
Sun Pharma Global FZE and Amneal 
Pharmaceuticals LLC also filed petitions for 
inter partes review challenging the validity of 
the ’186 Patent and joined the Mylan IPR. 
A hearing in the Mylan IPR was held in January 
2017. A decision is awaited. 

Pulmicort Respules (budesonide 
inhalation suspension)
US patent proceedings
In February 2015, the US District Court for the 
District of New Jersey (the District Court) 

determined that the asserted claims of US 
Patent No. 7,524,834 were invalid and denied 
AstraZeneca’s motion for an injunction against 
Apotex, Inc. and Apotex Corp., Breath Limited, 
Sandoz, Inc. and Watson Laboratories, Inc. 
(together, the Generic Challengers) pending 
an appeal of the District Court’s decision. 
AstraZeneca appealed that decision to the 
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 
(the Court of Appeals) and filed an Emergency 
Motion for an Injunction Pending Appeal. 
The Court of Appeals granted AstraZeneca’s 
motion and issued an injunction against the 
Generic Challengers pending appeal. In May 
2015, the Court of Appeals affirmed the 
District Court’s decision and lifted the 
injunction that was issued. Since 2009, various 
injunctions were issued in this matter. Damages 
claims based on those injunctions have been 
filed and a provision has been taken.

Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate) 
Patent proceedings outside the US 
In Denmark, in June 2016, following a 
challenge to the validity of the formulation 
patent covering Seroquel XR by Teva Denmark 
A/S and Accord Healthcare Ltd., the Danish 
Maritime and Commercial High Court found 
the Seroquel XR formulation patent invalid.

In France, in April 2015, Mylan SAS (Mylan) 
brought a patent invalidation action against 
AstraZeneca’s French designation of the 
Seroquel XR formulation patent. In July 2016, 
the Tribunal de grande instance de Paris found 
the Seroquel XR formulation patent invalid.

In Spain, in May 2016, the Supreme Court 
affirmed a decision from October 2013 
which found the Seroquel XR formulation 
patent invalid. The generic challengers were 
Accord Healthcare S.L.U. and Sandoz 
Farmacéutica, S.A.

In Sweden, in May 2016, following a challenge 
to the validity of the formulation patent covering 
Seroquel XR by Sandoz A/S, the Stockholm 
District Court found the Seroquel XR 
formulation patent invalid.

In various countries in Europe generic entities 
have claimed, or may claim, damages relating to 
preliminary injunctions issued in those countries 
that prevented generic Seroquel XR sales by 
those entities. A provision has been taken.

Synagis (palivizumab) 
US patent proceedings 
In December 2016, UCB BioPharma SPRL 
filed a complaint against MedImmune in the 
US District Court for the District of Delaware 
alleging infringement of US Patent No. 
7,566,771. The complaint relates to a 
royalty-bearing licence between Celltech 
R&D LTD and MedImmune which was 
terminated by MedImmune in 2010.

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Tagrisso (osimertinib) 
Patent proceedings outside the US 
In Europe, in October 2016, Stada Arzneimittel 
AG filed an opposition to the grant of European 
Patent No. EP 2736895.

Vimovo (naproxen/
esomeprazole magnesium) 
Patent proceedings outside the US 
In Canada, in January 2015, AstraZeneca 
received two notices of allegation from 
Mylan Pharmaceuticals ULC. In response, 
AstraZeneca and Pozen Inc. (now Aralez 
Pharmaceuticals Inc.), the licensee and patent 
holder, respectively, commenced proceedings 
in relation to the Vimovo formulation patent 
(Canadian Patent No. 2,449,098). A hearing 
was held in November 2016 and a decision 
is pending.

Product liability litigation
Byetta/Bydureon (exenatide) 
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a wholly owned 
subsidiary of AstraZeneca, and/or AstraZeneca 
are among multiple defendants in various 
lawsuits filed in federal and state courts in 
the US involving claims of physical injury 
from treatment with Byetta and/or Bydureon. 
The lawsuits allege several types of injuries 
including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, 
thyroid cancer, and kidney cancer. 
A multidistrict litigation was established in the 
US District Court for the Southern District of 
California (the District Court) in regard to the 
alleged pancreatic cancer cases in federal 
courts. Further, a coordinated proceeding 
has been established in Los Angeles, 
California in regard to the various lawsuits in 
California state courts.

In November 2015, the District Court granted 
the defendants’ motion for summary judgment 
and dismissed all claims alleging pancreatic 
cancer that accrued prior to 11 September 
2015. A similar motion was granted in favour 
of the defendants in the California state 
coordinated proceeding, and judgment was 
entered in May 2016. Plaintiffs have appealed 
both rulings.

A single case alleging similar claims that was 
pending in Alabama state court is now resolved.

Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium)
AstraZeneca is defending a number of lawsuits 
in the US alleging multiple types of injuries 
caused by the use of Crestor, including 
diabetes mellitus, various cardiac injuries, 
rhabdomyolysis, and/or liver and kidney injuries. 
The claims of approximately 600 plaintiffs, 
comprising approximately 100 California 
residents and approximately 500 non-
California residents, were aggregated in one 
coordinated proceeding in Los Angeles, 
California. The claims of approximately 600 
additional non-California plaintiffs were also 

pending in California state court. In October 
2014, the coordination judge dismissed the 
claims of the non-California plaintiffs whose 
claims were in the coordinated proceeding. 
The plaintiffs appealed the October 2014 order 
dismissing the non-California plaintiffs from the 
proceeding. In July 2016, the Court of Appeal 
in California dismissed the plaintiffs’ appeal, 
effectively dismissing the claims of all of the 
non-California residents from California state 
court, leaving the option of re-filing in the 
plaintiffs’ home states. The claims of 
approximately 30 plaintiffs remain pending in 
California state court.

Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
AstraZeneca has been named as a defendant 
in lawsuits in the US involving plaintiffs claiming 
physical injury, including diabetic ketoacidosis 
and kidney failure, from treatment with Farxiga 
and/or Xigduo XR. Cases with these allegations 
have been filed in several jurisdictions in the 
US. In October 2016, one of these cases 
was dismissed with prejudice in favour of 
AstraZeneca. Since then, several other cases 
have been dismissed, either voluntarily or by 
the courts. Motions to dismiss are pending in 
many of the jurisdictions where AstraZeneca 
has been served.

Counsel for plaintiffs in a product liability action 
pertaining to Invokana (a product in the same 
class as Farxiga) filed a motion with the Judicial 
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) seeking 
transfer of any currently pending cases as well 
as any similar, subsequently filed cases to 
a coordinated and consolidated pre-trial 
multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceeding on 
a class-wide basis. In December 2016, the 
JPML granted an MDL to only those plaintiffs 
alleging injury from Invokana.

Nexium and Prilosec (esomeprazole 
and omeprazole)
AstraZeneca has been defending product 
liability lawsuits brought in US federal and state 
courts by approximately 1,900 plaintiffs who 
alleged that Nexium caused osteoporotic 
injuries, such as bone deterioration, loss of 
bone density and/or bone fractures, but all 
such claims have now been dismissed with 
judgment entered in AstraZeneca’s favour. 
Approximately 270 plaintiffs appealed the 
dismissal of their claims to the US Court of 
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and fewer than 
40 plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of their 
claims to the California Second Appellate 
Division. In October 2016, the US Court of 
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the 
dismissal of the approximately 270 claims in 
federal court. In January 2017, the California 
Second Appellate Division affirmed the 
dismissal of the fewer than 40 cases in 
California state court.

AstraZeneca is defending various lawsuits 
in the US involving multiple plaintiffs claiming 
that they have been diagnosed with kidney 

injuries following treatment with proton pump 
inhibitors, including Nexium and Prilosec. 
In October 2016, counsel for some of these 
plaintiffs filed a motion with the Judicial Panel 
on Multidistrict Litigation seeking transfer of 
any currently pending federal court cases as 
well as any similar, subsequently filed cases 
to a coordinated and consolidated pre-trial 
multidistrict litigation proceeding. 

Onglyza/Kombiglyze (saxagliptin) 
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a wholly owned 
subsidiary of AstraZeneca, and/or AstraZeneca 
are among multiple defendants in various 
lawsuits filed in federal and state courts in 
the US involving multiple plaintiffs claiming 
pancreatic injuries, heart failure, cardiac failure 
and/or death injuries from treatment with 
Onglyza or Kombiglyze. In May 2016, a federal 
judge in California granted AstraZeneca’s 
motion for summary judgment and dismissed 
the claims of 14 plaintiffs who alleged 
pancreatic injuries, including pancreatic 
cancer, from treatment with either Onglyza or 
Kombiglyze. No similar claims remain actively 
pending in any US jurisdiction.

In October 2016, the claims of 14 plaintiffs 
alleging heart failure, cardiac failure and/or 
death from treatment with either Onglyza or 
Kombiglyze were dismissed in response to 
motions filed by AstraZeneca. Approximately 
85 plaintiffs’ claims currently remain in active 
litigation. In December 2016, plaintiffs in the 
California Superior Court filed a Petition for 
Coordination with the Judicial Council of 
California requesting that all similar, currently 
pending or subsequently filed cases in 
California be coordinated for pre-trial purposes.

Seroquel IR (quetiapine fumarate)
AstraZeneca has resolved all active claims with 
regard to the Seroquel product liability litigation 
in the US. 

Synagis (palivizumab)
AstraZeneca and MedImmune were named as 
defendants in a lawsuit filed in the US District 
Court for the Middle District of Louisiana 
involving two plaintiffs alleging wrongful death 
from treatment with Synagis. In July 2016, the 
plaintiffs dismissed their claims voluntarily. 

Commercial litigation 
Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) 
Qui tam litigation 
In the US, in January and February 2014, 
AstraZeneca was served with lawsuits filed in 
the US District Court for the District of Delaware 
under the qui tam (whistleblower) provisions of 
the federal False Claims Act and related state 
statutes, alleging that AstraZeneca directed 
certain employees to promote Crestor off-label 
and provided unlawful remuneration to 
physicians in connection with the promotion 
of Crestor. The DOJ and all US states have 
declined to intervene in the lawsuits. This 
litigation has been stayed pending trial court 

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disposition or earlier resolution of the Texas 
Attorney General litigation involving Crestor 
disclosed below. 

Texas Attorney General Litigation
In the US, in January 2015, following a previously 
disclosed investigation by the State of Texas 
into AstraZeneca’s sales and marketing 
activities involving Crestor, AstraZeneca was 
served with a lawsuit in which the Texas 
Attorney General’s office intervened in a state 
whistleblower action pending in Travis County 
Court, Texas. The lawsuit alleges that 
AstraZeneca engaged in inappropriate 
promotion of Crestor and improperly 
influenced the formulary status of Crestor.

Israel
In Israel, in November 2012, a Motion to Certify 
a Claim as a Class Action and Statement of 
Claim (together, a Motion to Certify) were filed 
in the District Court in Tel Aviv, Jaffa, (the 
District Court) against AstraZeneca and four 
other pharmaceutical companies for alleged 
deception and failure to disclose material facts 
to consumers regarding potential adverse 
events associated with certain drugs, including 
Crestor. In July 2013, an amended Motion to 
Certify containing similar allegations to those 
in the first action were filed in the same 
District Court against the same defendants. 
In November 2016, the plaintiff filed a motion 
to withdraw from the action, which the District 
Court granted in December 2016. This matter 
has now concluded.

Citizen’s Petition
In the US, in May 2016, AstraZeneca filed a 
Citizen’s Petition with the FDA requesting that 
the FDA not approve any pending generic 
ANDAs for rosuvastatin until the expiration of 
the paediatric orphan exclusivity for Crestor. 
In June 2016, AstraZeneca filed its Complaint 
for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief and an 
Application for a Temporary Restraining Order 
(TRO) with the US District Court for the District 
of Columbia (the District Court) requesting that 
the District Court prohibit the FDA from granting 
final approval to any pending ANDAs for 
generic versions of Crestor until the expiration 
of paediatric orphan exclusivity. In July 2016, 
the District Court denied AstraZeneca’s 
application for a TRO. In August 2016, the 
District Court entered an order dismissing the 
case without prejudice. This matter is 
now concluded.

Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) 
Consumer litigation 
In the US, AstraZeneca has been a defendant 
in a class action filed in Delaware State Court 
(the State Court) alleging that AstraZeneca’s 
promotion, advertising and pricing of Nexium 
to physicians, consumers and third party 
payers was unfair, unlawful and deceptive. 
In July 2015, the State Court granted 

AstraZeneca’s motion to dismiss and entered 
judgment in AstraZeneca’s favour. In April 
2016, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed 
the dismissal. 

to intervene in the lawsuits. This litigation has 
been stayed pending trial court disposition or 
earlier resolution of the Texas Attorney General 
litigation involving Seroquel disclosed below.

Settlement anti-trust litigation 
In the US, AstraZeneca is a defendant in a 
multidistrict litigation class action and individual 
lawsuit alleging that AstraZeneca’s settlements 
of certain patent litigation in the US relating to 
Nexium violated US antitrust law and various 
state laws. A trial in the US District Court for 
the District of Massachusetts commenced in 
October 2014 and, in December 2014, a jury 
returned a verdict in favour of AstraZeneca and 
entered judgment in favour of AstraZeneca in 
September 2015. The plaintiffs appealed that 
judgment and, in November 2016, the US 
Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed. 
The plaintiffs petitioned for rehearing and 
rehearing en banc, both of which were denied 
in January 2017. 

Trademark litigation 
AstraZeneca filed separate complaints in the 
US District Court for the District of Delaware 
against Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and 
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc. to enforce 
certain AstraZeneca trademark rights related 
to Nexium and Prilosec. These matters have 
been successfully resolved.

Seroquel IR (quetiapine fumarate) and 
Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate) 
Mississippi Attorney General Investigation
In relation to the state law claims brought by 
State Attorneys General in the US generally 
alleging that AstraZeneca made false and/or 
misleading statements in marketing and 
promoting Seroquel, AstraZeneca’s remaining 
case with the Attorney General of Mississippi 
has been resolved and the matter has been 
dismissed. This matter is now concluded.

Qui tam litigation in New York 
In the US, in September 2015, AstraZeneca 
was served with a lawsuit filed in US Federal 
Court in New York under the qui tam 
(whistleblower) provisions of the federal and 
certain state False Claims Acts. The lawsuit 
alleges that AstraZeneca misrepresented the 
safety profile of, and improperly promoted, 
Seroquel IR and Seroquel XR. The US 
government and the named states have 
declined to intervene in this case.

Qui tam litigation in Delaware
In the US, in April 2014, AstraZeneca was 
served with lawsuits filed in the US District 
Court for the District of Delaware under the qui 
tam (whistleblower) provisions of the federal 
False Claims Act and related state statutes, 
alleging that AstraZeneca directed certain 
employees to promote Seroquel IR and 
Seroquel XR off-label and provided unlawful 
remuneration to physicians in connection with 
the promotion of Seroquel IR and Seroquel 
XR. The DOJ and all US states have declined 

Texas Attorney General Litigation
In the US, in October 2014, following a 
previously disclosed investigation by the 
State of Texas into AstraZeneca’s sales and 
marketing activities involving Seroquel, the 
Texas Attorney General’s Office intervened 
in a state whistleblower action pending in 
Travis County Court, Texas. The lawsuit 
alleges that AstraZeneca engaged in 
inappropriate promotion of Seroquel and 
made improper payments intended to 
influence the formulary status of Seroquel.

Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate) 
In the US, in March 2015, AstraZeneca was 
served with a state court complaint filed by 
the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana 
alleging that, in connection with enforcement 
of its patents for Toprol-XL, it had engaged in 
unlawful monopolisation and unfair trade 
practices, causing the state government to pay 
increased prices for Toprol-XL. In February 
2016, the Louisiana state court heard oral 
argument on AstraZeneca’s motion to dismiss 
and ordered the dismissal of the complaint 
with prejudice and judgment in AstraZeneca’s 
favour. The State is appealing the dismissal.

Other commercial litigation
Ocimum Lawsuit
In the US, in December 2015, AstraZeneca 
was served with a complaint filed by Ocimum 
Biosciences, Ltd. (Ocimum) in the Superior 
Court for the State of Delaware that alleges, 
among other things, breaches of contractual 
obligations and misappropriation of trade 
secrets, relating to a now terminated 2001 
licensing agreement between AstraZeneca 
and Gene Logic, Inc. (Gene Logic), the rights 
to which Ocimum purports to have acquired 
from Gene Logic. 

Pearl Therapeutics
In the US, AstraZeneca was served with a 
complaint filed in Delaware State Court by 
the former shareholders of Pearl Therapeutics, 
Inc. (Pearl) that alleged, among other things, 
breaches of contractual obligations relating to a 
2013 merger agreement between AstraZeneca 
and Pearl. This case was resolved in September 
2016. This matter is now concluded.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act 
litigation
In the US, in December 2016, AstraZeneca 
and several other entities were served with a 
complaint filed in the US District Court for the 
Southern District of Florida (the District Court) 
that alleges, among other things, violations of 
the Telephone Consumer Protection Act 
caused by the sending of unsolicited 
advertisements by facsimile. AstraZeneca’s 
motion to dismiss is pending. Plaintiff also 

190

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

28 Commitments and contingent 
liabilities continued
made a motion for class certification, which, in 
January 2017, was denied without prejudice by 
the District Court. 

Government investigations/proceedings 
Synagis (palivizumab) 
In the US, in June 2011, MedImmune received 
a demand from the US Attorney’s Office for 
the Southern District of New York requesting 
certain documents related to the sales and 
marketing activities of Synagis. In July 2011, 
MedImmune received a similar court order to 
produce documents from the Office of the 
Attorney General for the State of New York 
Medicaid and Fraud Control Unit pursuant to 
what the government attorneys advised was a 
joint investigation. MedImmune is cooperating 
with these inquiries. 

In May 2012, MedImmune received a 
subpoena duces tecum from the Office of 
Attorney General for the State of Florida 
Medicaid and Fraud Control Unit requesting 
certain documents related to the sales and 
marketing activities of Synagis. MedImmune 
has accepted receipt of the request and has 
coordinated with the Florida government to 
provide the appropriate responses and 
cooperate with any related investigation. 
AstraZeneca is unaware of the nature or focus 
of the investigation, however, based on the 
nature of the requests, it appears to be similar 
to the inquiry from the State of New York 
(which is described above).

Other government investigations/proceedings
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 
In connection with investigations into anti-bribery 
and corruption issues in the pharmaceutical 
industry, AstraZeneca received inquiries from 
enforcement agencies, including the DOJ and 
the SEC, regarding, among other things, sales 
practices, internal controls, certain distributors 
and interactions with healthcare providers and 
other government officials in several countries. 
In August 2016, AstraZeneca entered into a 
civil settlement with the SEC to resolve these 

inquiries. The DOJ has informed AstraZeneca 
that it has closed its inquiry into this matter.

Additional government inquiries
As is true for most, if not all, major prescription 
pharmaceutical companies operating in the 
US, AstraZeneca is currently involved in 
multiple US federal and state inquiries into 
drug marketing and pricing practices. In 
addition to the investigations described above, 
various federal and state law enforcement 
offices have, from time to time, requested 
information from the Group. There have been 
no material developments in those matters. 

Tax
Where tax exposures can be quantified, an 
accrual is made based on best estimates and 
management’s judgement. Details of the 
movements in relation to material tax exposures 
are discussed below. As accruals can be built 
up over a long period of time but the ultimate 
resolution of tax exposures usually occurs 
at a point in time, and given the inherent 
uncertainties in assessing the outcomes of 
these exposures (which sometimes can be 
binary in nature), we could, in future periods, 
experience adjustments to these accruals 
that have a material positive or negative effect 
on our results in any particular period. 

AstraZeneca faces a number of audits in 
jurisdictions around the world and, in some 
cases, is in dispute with the tax authorities. 
The issues under discussion are often complex 
and can require many years to resolve. Accruals 
for tax contingencies require management to 
make estimates and judgements with respect 
to the ultimate outcome of a tax audit, and 
actual results could vary from these estimates.

Transfer pricing and other 
international tax contingencies
The total net accrual included in the Group 
Financial Statements to cover the worldwide 
exposure to transfer pricing audits is $320m, 
a decrease of $41m compared with 2015 
mainly due to the release of the net accrual 
following agreements between the Canadian 
and the UK and Swedish tax authorities in 
respect of transfer pricing arrangements for the 

13-year period 2004 to 2016, partially offset by 
increases in accruals for transfer pricing 
contingencies and exchange rate effects. 

Management continues to believe that 
AstraZeneca’s positions on all its transfer 
pricing audits and disputes are robust and 
that AstraZeneca is appropriately provided, 
including the assessment where corresponding 
relief will be available. For transfer pricing audits 
where AstraZeneca and the tax authorities are 
in dispute, AstraZeneca estimates the potential 
for reasonably possible additional losses 
above and beyond the amount provided to 
be up to $184m (2015: $357m; 2014: $521m), 
however, management believes that it is unlikely 
that these additional losses will arise. It is 
possible that some of these contingencies 
may reduce in the future to the extent that any 
tax authority challenge is unsuccessful, or 
matters lapse following expiry of the relevant 
statutes of limitation resulting in a reduction in 
the tax charge in future periods.

Other tax contingencies
Included in the tax accrual is $1,007m relating 
to a number of other tax contingencies, a 
decrease of $366m mainly due to releases 
following expiry of statute of limitations, audit 
settlements and exchange rate effects offset by 
the impact of an additional year of transactions 
relating to contingencies for which accruals 
had already been established. For these tax 
exposures, AstraZeneca does not expect 
material additional losses. It is, however, 
possible that some of these contingencies 
may reduce in the future if any tax authority 
challenge is unsuccessful or matters lapse 
following expiry of the relevant statutes of 
limitation resulting in a reduction in the tax 
charge in future periods.

Timing of cash flows and interest
It is not possible to estimate the timing of 
tax cash flows in relation to each outcome, 
however, it is anticipated that a number of 
significant disputes may be resolved over 
the next one to two years. Included in the 
provision is an amount of interest of $142m 
(2015: $174m; 2014: $227m). Interest is 
accrued as a tax expense.

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29 Operating leases
Total rentals under operating leases charged to profit were as follows:

Operating leases

2016
$m

174

2015
$m

185

2014
$m

185

The future minimum lease payments under operating leases that have initial or remaining terms in excess of one year at 31 December 2016 were as 
follows:

Obligations under leases comprise:
Not later than one year

Later than one year and not later than five years

Later than five years

Total future minimum lease payments

2016
$m

98

247

96

441

2015
$m

95

245

69

409

2014
$m

100

247

91

438

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

191

 
Financial Statements

30 Statutory and other information

Fees payable to KPMG LLP and its associates:

Group audit fee

Fees payable to KPMG LLP and its associates for other services:

The audit of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

Audit-related assurance services

Tax compliance services

Other assurance services

Fees payable to KPMG LLP in respect of the Group’s pension schemes:

The audit of subsidiaries’ pension schemes

2016
$m

2.8

5.4

2.5

–

0.2

0.6

11.5

2015
$m

3.2

5.4

2.5

0.1

0.5

0.6

12.3

2014
$m

2.5

5.0

2.5

0.3

0.5

0.5

11.3

Audit-related assurance services include fees of $1.8m (2015: $1.8m; 2014: $1.8m) in respect of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Related party transactions
The Group had no material related party transactions which might reasonably be expected to influence decisions made by the users of these 
Financial Statements.

Key management personnel compensation
Key management personnel are defined for the purpose of disclosure under IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ as the members of the Board and 
the members of the SET.

Short-term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

Share-based payments

2016
$’000

23,725

2,407

20,377

46,509

2015
$’000

29,265

2,636

17,885

49,786

2014
$’000

30,252

2,265

20,253

52,770

Total remuneration is included within employee costs (see Note 27). Further details of Directors’ emoluments are included in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report from pages 103 to 132.

31 Subsequent events
There were no material subsequent events.

192

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Group Subsidiaries and Holdings

In accordance with section 409 of the Companies Act 2006 a full list of subsidiaries, partnerships, associates, joint ventures and joint arrangements, 
the country of incorporation, registered office address, and the effective percentage of equity owned as at 31 December 2016 are disclosed below. 
Unless otherwise stated the share capital disclosed comprises ordinary shares which are indirectly held by AstraZeneca PLC. 

Unless otherwise stated the accounting year ends of subsidiaries are 31 December. The Group Financial Statements consolidate the Financial 
Statements of the Company and its subsidiaries at 31 December 2016.

At 31 December 2016

Wholly owned subsidiaries

Argentina

AstraZeneca S.A.

Vedia 3616-Piso 8, Ciudad de 
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Australia

AstraZeneca Holdings Pty Limited 

AstraZeneca PTY Limited 

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 
Company Pty Limited 

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 
Division Pty Limited

66 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park NSW 
2113, Australia

Austria

AstraZeneca Österreich GmbH 

A-1030 Wien, Schwarzenbergplatz 7, Austria

Belgium

AstraZeneca S.A. / N.V. 

Egide Van Ophemstraat 110 1180 
Brussels, Belgium 

Brazil

AstraZeneca do Brasil Limitada 

Rod. Raposo Tavares, KM 26, 9, Cotia, Brazil 

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Bulgaria

AstraZeneca Bulgaria EOOD

100

36 Dragan Tzankov Blvd., District Izgrev, 
Sofia, 1057, Bulgaria 

Canada

AstraZeneca Canada Inc.1

1004 Middlegate Road, Ontario, L4Y 1M4, 
Canada

Cayman Islands

AZ Reinsurance Limited 

94 Solaris Avenue, Second Floor, Camana Bay, 
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Chile

AstraZeneca S.A. 

AstraZeneca Farmaceutica Chile Limitada 

Av. Isadora Goyenechea 2939, of .201, 
Santiago de Chile, Chile

100

100

100

100

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

At 31 December 2016

AstraZeneca (Wuxi) Trading Co. Ltd

2F, Building 4, No 2 Huangshan Road, 
Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

At 31 December 2016

100

France

AstraZeneca S.A.S. 

AstraZeneca Finance S.A.S. 

AstraZeneca Investment (China) Co., Ltd 

100

AstraZeneca Holding France S.A.S. 

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

100

100

100

100

No.199 Liangjing Road, ZhangJiang 
Hi-tech Park, Shanghai, China

AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical 
(China) Co. Ltd 

No 88 Yaocheng Avenue, Taizhou, 
Jiangsu Province, China 

Colombia

AstraZeneca Colombia S.A. 

Carrera 7 No. 71-21, Torre A, Piso 19, 
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia 

AstraZeneca Reims S.A.S. 

Tour Carpe Diem – 31, Place des Corolles, 
92400 Courbevoie, France

100

AstraZeneca Dunkerque Production SCS 

100

224 Avenue de la Dordogne, 59640 
Dunkerque, France 

Germany

100

AstraZeneca Holding GmbH 

AstraZeneca GmbH 

Tinsdaler Weg 183, Wedel, D-22880, Germany

Sofotec GmbH

Benzstrasse 1-3, 61352, Bad Homburg 
v.d. Hohe, Germany 

Definiens AG 

Bernhard-Wicki-Straße 5, 80636, Munich, 
Germany 

100

100

100

100

100

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Costa Rica

AstraZeneca CAMCAR Costa Rica, S.A. 

100

Escazu, Guachipelin, Centro Corporativo Plaza Roble, 
Edificio Los Balcones, Segundo Nivel,  
San Jose, Costa Rica

Croatia

AstraZeneca d.o.o. 

Radnicka cesta 80/11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

100

Czech Republic

100

Greece

AstraZeneca S.A. 

Theotokopoulou 4 & Astronafton, Athens, 
151 25, Greece 

Hong Kong

AstraZeneca Hong Kong Limited 

100

18/F., Shui On Centre, 6-8 Harbour Road, 
Wanchai, Hong Kong 

Hungary

AstraZeneca Kft 

2nd floor, 134-146 building B, Bocskai str., 
Budapest, 1113, Hungary 

100

India

AstraZeneca India Private Limited2 

100

12th Mile on Bellary Road, Venkatala, Opp. BSF 
(Border Security Force), Yelahanka, Bangalore-560 063, 
India

AstraZeneca Czech Republic, s.r.o.

100

Smichov Gate – Prague, Plzenska 3217/16,  
Prague 5, 150 00, Czech Republic

Denmark

AstraZeneca A/S 

Arne Jacobsens Allé 13, DK-2300, 
Copenhagen S, Denmark

Egypt

AstraZeneca Egypt for 
Pharmaceutical Industries JSC 

Villa 133, Road 90 North, New Cairo, Egypt

Drimex LLC 

Villa 47, Road 270, New Maadi, Cairo 11435, Egypt

AstraZeneca Egypt for Trading LLC 

100

100

100

100

14C Ahmed Kamel Street, New Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

Iran

Estonia

AstraZeneca Eesti OÜ 

Jarvevana tee 9, II korrus, Tallinn, 11314, Estonia 

100

100

AstraZeneca Pars Company 

100

No.4, Mahshahr Street, Karimkhan Street,  
Tehran, 15847-38515, Islamic Republic of Iran

Ireland

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) 
Designated Activity Company

100

4th Floor, South Bank House, Barrow Street,  
Dublin, 4, Republic of Ireland

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

193

China

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Co., Limited. 

100

No 2 Huangshan Road, Wuxi, 
Jiangsu Province, China

Finland

AstraZeneca OY. 

Itsehallintokuja 4, Espoo, 02600, Finland 

 
Financial Statements

At 31 December 2016

Israel

AstraZeneca Israel Ltd 

13 Zarcin St., Ra’anana 43662, Israel 

Italy

Simesa SpA 

AstraZeneca SpA 

Palazzo Ferraris, via Ludovico il Moro 6/c 
20080, Basiglio (Milan), Italy

Japan

AstraZeneca K.K. 

3-1, Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan

Chaka Place, Ground Floor, Argwings 
Kodhek, Nairobi, Kenya 

Latvia

AstraZeneca Latvija SIA 

Skanstes iela 54, Riga, LV-1013, Latvia

Lithuania

AstraZeneca Lietuva UAB 

Jasinkio 16A, Vilnius, LT-03163, Lithuania 

(cid:47)(cid:88)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:74)

AstraZeneca Luxembourg S.A.

Am Brill 7 B – L-3961 Ehlange – Grand 
Duchy du Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Malaysia

Kenya

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Limited 

100

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

100

100

100

At 31 December 2016

AstraZeneca Sigma B.V. 

AstraZeneca Zeta B.V. 

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

100

100

PO Box 283, 2700 AG Zoetermeer, Louis  
Pasteurlaan 5, 2719 EE, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands

At 31 December 2016

Puerto Rico

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

IPR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

100

San Isidro Industrial Park, Road 188, Lot 17,  
Canóvanas, PR 00729, Puerto Rico 

MedImmune Pharma B.V.

Lagelandsweeg 78, 6545 CG Nijmegen,  
The Netherlands

New Zealand 

AstraZeneca Limited 

Level 2, 347-351 Parnell Rd, Parnell, 
Auckland, 1052, New Zealand

100

Nigeria

AstraZeneca Nigeria Limited

No.9 Joel Ogunaike Street, GRA Ikeja, 
Lagos, Nigeria

Norway

AstraZeneca AS 

100

Grensveien 92, Box 6050 Etterstad, 
NO-0602 Oslo, Norway

100

Romania

AstraZeneca Pharma S.R.L. 

100

12 Menuetului Street, Bucharest Business Park, 
Building D, West Wing, 1st Floor, Sector 1,  
Bucharest, 013713, Romania 

100

Russia

AstraZeneca Industries, LLC

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LLC 

100

100

100

125284, Begovaya str, 3, block 1, 
Moscow, Russian Federation

Singapore

AstraZeneca Singapore Pte Limited 

100

100

10 Kallang Avenue #12-10, Aperia Tower 2, 
339510, Singapore

South Africa

Astra Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Limited

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Pty) 
Limited 

100

100

Pakistan

100

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Pakistan 
(Private) Limited 

100

Office No 1, 2nd Floor, Sasi Arcade, Block 7,  
Main Clifton Road, Karachi, Pakistan

17 Georgian Crescent West, Northdowns Office Park, 
Bryanston, 2041, South Africa

100

Panama

South Korea

AstraZeneca CAMCAR, S.A. 

Bodega #1, Parque Logistico MIT, Carretera  
Hacia Coco Solo, Colon, Panama

100

AstraZeneca Korea Co. Ltd 

100

Shincheon-dong, Luther Building 17fl. 42, 
Shincheon-ro2-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

AstraZeneca Asia-Pacific Business 
Services Sdn Bhd 

Peru

100

Level 8, Unit 8.01-8.05 Menara UAC, Jalan PJU 7/5, 
Multiara Damansara 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 
Malaysia

AstraZeneca Peru S.A.

Av. El Derby 055, Torre 2. Piso 5. Of. 503. 
Santiago de Surco, Lima, Peru

AstraZeneca Sdn Bhd 

100

Philippines

Spain

100

AstraZeneca Farmaceutica Spain S.A. 

AstraZeneca Farmaceutica Holding Spain, 
S.A. 

Laboratorio Beta, S.A. 

Laboratorio Lailan, S.A. 

Level 12, Surian Tower, No. 1 Jalan PJU 
7/3, Mutiara Damansara, 47810 Petaling 
Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia 

(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:82)

AstraZeneca, S.A. de C.V. 

Av. Periferico Sur 4305 interior 5, Colonia  
Jardines en la Montana, Mexico City, Tlalpan  
Distrito Federal, CP14210, Mexico

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Phils.) Inc. 

100

Laboratorio Odin, S.A. 

16th Floors, Net Cube Center, corner 3rd Avenue  
& 30th St., E-Square Zone, Crescent Park W,  
Taguig, Metro Manila, 1634, Philippines

Laboratorio Tau S.A. 

Parque Norte, Edificio Álamo, C/Serrano Galvache no 
56., 28033 Madrid, Spain

100

Poland

Sweden

AstraZeneca Pharma Poland Sp.z.o.o.

100

Astra Export & Trading Aktiebolag 

Postepu 14, 02-676, Warszawa, Poland 

AstraZeneca Health Care S.A. de C.V.

100

Portugal

Avenida Lomas Verdes 67 Colonia Lomas  
Verdes, Naucalpan de Juarez, CP 53120, Mexico

Astra Alpha Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda

AstraZeneca Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda 

Morocco

Novastra Promoção e Comércio 
Farmacêutico Lda 

AstraZeneca Maroc SARLAU 

100

Novastuart Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda 

92 Boulevard Anfa ETG 2 Casablanca 
20000, Morocco 

The Netherlands

AstraZeneca B.V. 

AstraZeneca Continent B.V. 

AstraZeneca Gamma B.V. 

AstraZeneca Holdings B.V. 

AstraZeneca Jota B.V. 

AstraZeneca Rho B.V. 

100

100

100

100

100

100

Stuart-Produtos Farmacêuticos Lda 

Zeneca Epsilon – Produtos 
Farmacêuticos Lda

Zenecapharma Produtos 
Farmaceuticos Lda 

Rua Humberto Madeira, No 7, Queluz de  
Baixo, 2730-097, Barcarena, Portugal

194

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Astra Lakemedel Aktiebolag 

AstraZeneca AB 

AstraZeneca Biotech AB 

AstraZeneca BioVentureHub AB 

AstraZeneca Holding Aktiebolag3

AstraZeneca International Holdings 
Aktiebolag4 

AstraZeneca Nordic AB 

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Aktiebolag

AstraZeneca Sodertalje 2 AB 

Stuart Pharma Aktiebolag 

Tika Lakemedel Aktiebolag 

SE-151 85 Sodertalje, Sweden

Aktiebolaget Hassle

Symbicom Aktiebolag4 

431 83 MoIndal, Sweden

Astra Tech International Aktiebolag 

Box 14, 431 21 MoIndal, Sweden

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

At 31 December 2016

Switzerland

AstraZeneca AG 

AstraZeneca, Grafenauweg 10, CH-6301, 
Zug, Switzerland 

Spirogen Sarl4 

Rue du Grand-Chêne 5, CH-1003 
Lausanne, Switzerland 

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

100

100

Taiwan

AstraZeneca Taiwan Limited1 

100

21st Floor, Taipei Metro Building 207, Tun Hwa South 
Road, SEC 2 Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China 

Thailand

At 31 December 2016

AstraZeneca Treasury Limited4

AstraZeneca UK Limited 

AstraZeneca US Investments Limited3

Ayzee 1 Limited 

AYZEE 2 Limited

AYZEE 3 Limited 

AYZEE 4 Limited 

AZENCO2 Limited 

AZENCO4 Limited 

Cambridge Antibody Technology 
Group Limited

KuDOS Horsham Limited 

KuDOS Pharmaceuticals Limited

Meronem Group Limited

AstraZeneca (Thailand) Limited

100

Zenco (No 8) Limited

Asia Centre 19th floor, 173/20, South Sathorn Rd, 
Khwaeng Thungmahamek, Khet Sathorn,  
Bangkok, 10120, Thailand 

Tunisia

AstraZeneca Tunisie SaRL 

100

Lot n°1.5.5 les jardins du lac, 
bloc B les berges du lac Tunis, Tunisia 

Turkey

AstraZeneca Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited 
Sirketi 

100

Zeneca Finance (Netherlands) Company 

1 Francis Crick Avenue,  
Cambridge Biomedical Campus, 
Cambridge, CB2 0AA, United Kingdom

MedImmune Limited 

Milstein Building, Granta Park, Cambridge,  
CB21 6GH, United Kingdom

MedImmune U.K. Limited 

Plot 6, Renaissance Way, Boulevard Park,  
Liverpool, L24 9JW, United Kingdom

United States

Amylin Pharmaceuticals LLC5

AstraZeneca Collaboration Ventures LLC5

100

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP6

YKB Plaza, B Blok, Kat:3-4,  
Levent/Be s ¸ikta s ¸, Istanbul, Turkey

Zeneca Ilac Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim 
Sirketi 

Büyükdere Cad., Y.K.B. Plaza, B Blok, 
Kat:4, Levent/Be s ¸ikta s ¸, Istanbul, Turkey

Ukraine

AstraZeneca Ukraina LLC 

Ukraine, 04080 Kyiv, 15/15, V. Khvoyky str.

United Arab Emirates

AstraZeneca FZ-LLC

P.O. Box 27614, Block D, Dubai Healthcare City, 
Oud Mehta Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

AlphaCore Pharma Limited

Ardea Biosciences Limited 

Arrow Therapeutics Limited 

Astra Pharmaceuticals Limited 

AstraPharm4 

AstraZeneca China UK Limited 

AstraZeneca Death In Service 
Trustee Limited

AstraZeneca Employee Share Trust Limited

AstraZeneca Finance Limited

AstraZeneca Insurance Company Limited

AstraZeneca Intermediate Holdings Limited3 

AstraZeneca Investments Limited

AstraZeneca Japan Limited

AstraZeneca Nominees Limited 

AstraZeneca Quest Limited 

AstraZeneca Share Trust Limited 

AstraZeneca Sweden Investments Limited 

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

AstraZeneca, LLC5

AstraZeneca, LP6

Atkemix Nine Inc. 

Atkemix Ten Inc. 

BMS Holdco Inc. 

Corpus Christi Holdings Inc. 

Omthera Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Stauffer Management Company LLC5

Zeneca Holdings Inc. 

Zeneca Inc. 

Zeneca Wilmington Inc.3

1800 Concord Pike, Wilmington DE 
19850, United States

ZS Pharma Inc.

1100 Park Place, Suite 300, San Mateo, 
CA 94403, United States

AlphaCore Pharma, LLC5

333 Parkland Plaza, Suite 5, Ann Arbor, 
MI 48103, United States 

Amylin Ohio LLC5 

8814 Trade Port Drive, West Chester,  
OH 45011, United States

Ardea Biosciences, Inc. 

4939 Directors Place, San Diego, CA 
92121, United States 

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

At 31 December 2016

MedImmune Biologics Inc. 

MedImmune, LLC5

MedImmune Ventures, Inc. 

MedImmune, One MedImmune Way, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878,  
United States

Optein, Inc.

2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, 
Wilmington, Delaware 1989, United States

Pearl Therapeutics, Inc. 

200 Saginaw Drive, Redwood City CA 
94063, United States 

Uruguay

AstraZeneca S.A.1 

Yaguarón 1407 of 1205, Montevideo, Uruguay

Venezuela

AstraZeneca Venezuela S.A. 

Av. Principal De la Castellana, Cruce con calle,  
Jose Angel Lamas Piso 14, Venezuela

Gotland Pharma S.A.

Av. La Castellana, Torre La Castellana, Piso 5, 
Oficina 5-G, 5-H, 5-I, Urbanización La Castellana, 
Municipio Chacao, Estado Bolivariano de Miranda, 
Venezuela

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Subsidiaries where the effective  
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:98)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:98)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:8)

Algeria

SPA AstraZeneca Al Djazair7

65.77%

No 20 Zone Macro Economique, dar El 
Medina-Hydra, Alger, Algeria 

`

India

AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited2

 75%

Block N1, 12th Floor, Manyata Embassy 
Business Park, Rachenahalli, Outer Ring 
Road, Bangalore-560 045, India

Indonesia

P.T. AstraZeneca Indonesia 

95%

Perkantoran Hijau Arkadia Tower F,  
3rd Floor, JI. T.B. Simatupang Kav. 88, 
Jakarta, 12520, Indonesia

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The Netherlands

Acerta Pharma B.V. 

Molenstraat 110, 5342CC Oss, The Netherlands

Aspire Therapeutics B.V. 

Kloosterstraat 9, 5349 AB, Oss, The Netherlands 

United Kingdom

I.C. Insurance Holdings Limited  
(In Liquidation) 

55%

55%

51%

100

c/o Deloitte LLP, PO Box 500, 
2 Hardman Street, Manchester M60 2AT 

AZ-Mont Insurance Company

100

76 St Paul Street, Suite 500, 05401-4477, United States

Definiens Inc. 

100

1808 Aston Avenue, Suite 190, Carlsbad, 
CA 92008, United States

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

195

 
Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

At 31 December 2016

Regulus Therapeutics Inc.

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

6.7%

0.17%

10614 Science Center Dr.,  
San Diego, CA 92121, United States

VentiRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.10

12%

1191 Second Avenue, Suite 1105,  
Seattle, WA 98101, United States

1  Ownership held in ordinary and special shares.
2  Accounting year end is 31 March.
3  Directly held by AstraZeneca PLC.
4  Ownership held in class A and class B shares.
5  Ownership held as membership interest.
6  Ownership held as partnership interest.
7  Ownership held in class A shares.
8  Ownership held in preference, deferred and ordinary shares.
9  Ownership held in class B preference shares.
10  Ownership held in class A preference shares.
11  Ownership held in class B ordinary shares, class C ordinary 

shares, and class D ordinary shares.

12  Ownership held in class A voting and class A non-voting 

shares.

13  Ownership held in class A voting preference shares, class A 
non-voting preference shares, and class B voting preference 
shares.

14  Ownership held in class C preference shares.
15  Ownership held in class D preference shares.
16  Ownership held in class A preference shares and class B 

preference shares.

17  Ownership held in class D preference shares and class E 

preference shares.

Financial Statements

At 31 December 2016

United States

Percentage of 
voting share 
capital held

Advent Healthcare & Life Sciences III-A 
Limited Partnership

75 State Street, Boston, 02109, United States 

Acerta Pharma LLC 

1509 Industrial Road, San Carlos, 
CA 94070, United States

Joint Ventures

China

At 31 December 2016

United Kingdom

Silence Therapeutics PLC 

60%

27 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DH,  
United Kingdom

55%

United States

Affinita Biotech, Inc.12

16.23%

329 Oyster Point Blvd., 3rd Floor, South 
San Francisco, CA 94080, United States

Albireo Pharma, Inc.13

15.89%

WuXi MedImmune Biopharmaceutical 
Co. Limited

50 Milk Street, 16th Floor,  
Boston, MA 02109, United States

50%

Room 1902, 19/F, Lee Garden One, Hysan Avenue, 
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Biodesix Inc. 

United Kingdom

Archigen Biotech Limited7

Centus Biotherapeutics Limited7

1 Francis Crick Avenue,  
Cambridge Biomedical Campus, 
Cambridge, CB2 0AA, United Kingdom

2970 Wilderness Place Suite 100, Boulder, 
CO 80301, United States

50%

50%

BlinkBio Inc.9

25 Health Sciences Drive, Mailbox 123, 
Stony Brook, NY 11790, United States

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

10.7%

United States 

Montrose Chemical Corporation of California

50%

Suite 380, 600 Ericksen Ave N/A, 
Bainbridge Island, United States 

Significant Holdings 

United Kingdom

Apollo Therapeutics LLP

Stevenage Biosciences Catalyst, 
Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, 
Hertfordshire, SG1 2FX, United Kingdom

Entasis Therapeutics Limited8

2 Kingdom Street, London, W2 6BD, 
United Kingdom

United States

One Kendall Square Bldg. 1400E,  
Suite B14202, Cambridge, MA 02139, 
United States

Cerapedics, Inc.14

11025 Dover St #1600,  
Broomfield, CO 80021, United States

Cordivia Corporation

25%

1209 Orange Street,  
Wilmington, DE 19801, United States

Elusys Therapeutics, Inc.15

25 Riverside Drive Unit One,  
Pine Brook, NJ 07058, United States

49%

FibroGen, Inc.

409 Illinois St., San Francisco,  
CA 94158, United States

0.3%

18.49%

8.61%

19.9%

7.2%

1.8%

C.C.Global Chemicals Company 

37.5%

G1 Therapeutics, Inc.16

18.03%

PO Box 7, MS2901, Texas, TX76101-0007,  
United States 

Associated Holdings

Australia

Armaron Bio Ltd9

Level 1/120 Jolimont Road, East 
Melbourne 3002 VIC, Australia

British Virgin Islands

Biohaven Pharmaceuticals 
Holding Company Ltd.10

79 T.W. Alexander Drive, 4401 Research 
Commons Suite 105, Research Triangle 
Park, NC 7709, United States

Hydra Biosciences Inc.

4.27%

17.43%

45 Moulton Street,  
Cambridge, MA 02138, United States

Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation

7.3%

91 Hartwell Ave 2nd Floor,  
Lexington, MA 02421, United States

5%

Millendo Therapeutics, Inc.9

8.45%

P.O. Box 173, Kingston Chambers, 
Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

301 North Main Street, Suite 100, 
Ann Arbor, MI 48104, United States

New Zealand

Adherium Limited 

Level 2, 204 Quay Street, Auckland, 1010, 
New Zealand 

Switzerland

ADC Therapeutics Sàrl Switzerland11

8.84%

Biopôle, Route de la Corniche 3B, 1066 
Epalinges, Switzerland 

Moderna Therapeutics Inc.17

7%

5.6%

320 Bent Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, 
United States

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.14

14.5%

One Great Valley, Parkway, Suite 30, 
Malvern, PA 19355, United States

Rani Therapeutics, L.L.C.14

1%

2051 Ringwood Ave, San Jose, CA 95116, 
United States

196

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:98)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:98)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:47)(cid:38)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:92)

Opinions and conclusions 
(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:98)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:98)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)
1  Our opinion on the Parent Company 
Financial Statements is unmodified 
We have audited the Parent Company 
Financial Statements of AstraZeneca PLC for 
the year ended 31 December 2016 set out on 
pages 198 to 202. In our opinion the Parent 
Company Financial Statements: 

 > give a true and fair view of the state of the 

Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2016

 > have been properly prepared in 

accordance with UK Accounting Standards, 
including FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure 
Framework’; and 

 > have been prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

3  We have nothing to report in respect of 
the matters on which we are required to 
report by exception 

The Companies Act 2006 requires us to report 
to you if, in our opinion: 

 > adequate accounting records have not been 
kept by the Parent Company, or returns 
adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or 

 > the Parent Company Financial Statements 
and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report to be audited are not in agreement 
with the accounting records and returns; or 
 > certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration 

specified by law are not made; or 

 > we have not received all the information and 

explanations we require for our audit.

2  Our opinion on other matters prescribed 

by the Companies Act 2006 is unmodified 

We have nothing to report in respect of the 
above responsibilities.

In our opinion:

 > the part of the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report to be audited has been properly 
prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006; and

 > the information given in the Strategic Report 
and the Directors’ Report for the financial 
year for which the Financial Statements 
are prepared is consistent with the Parent 
Company Financial Statements. 

4  Other matter – we have reported separately 

on the Group Financial Statements 

We have reported separately on the Group 
Financial Statements of AstraZeneca PLC 
for the year ended 31 December 2016. 

Scope and responsibilities 
As explained more fully in the Directors’ 
Responsibilities Statement set out on page 133, 
the Directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the Parent Company Financial Statements 
and for being satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view. A description of the scope of 
an audit of financial statements is provided on 
the Financial Reporting Council’s website at 
www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate. This 
report is made solely to the Company’s 
members as a body and is subject to important 
explanations and disclaimers regarding our 
responsibilities, published on our website 
www.kpmg.com/uk/auditscopeukco2014a, 
which are incorporated into this report as if 
set out in full and should be read to provide an 
understanding of the purpose of this report, 
the work we have undertaken and the basis 
of our opinions.

Antony Cates (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, 
Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants 
15 Canada Square, London, E14 5GL
2 February 2017

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

197

 
Financial Statements

Company Balance Sheet

at 31 December

AstraZeneca PLC

Fixed assets
Fixed asset investments 

Current assets
Debtors – other

Debtors – amounts owed by Group undertakings

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Non-trade creditors 

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
Amounts owed to Group undertakings 

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Net assets 

Capital and reserves
Called-up share capital 

Share premium account 

Capital redemption reserve 

Other reserves 

Profit and loss account 

Shareholders’ funds

$m means millions of US dollars.

Notes

2016
$m

2015
$m

1

30,449

30,047

2

3

3

3

4

14

8,935

8,949

(518)

(1,749)

(2,267)

6,682

37,131

(283)

(14,138)

(14,421)

22,710

316

4,351

153

2,583

15,307

22,710

15

7,283

7,298

(814)

–

(814)

6,484

36,531

(283)

(13,705)

(13,988)

22,543

316

4,304

153

2,623

15,147

22,543

The Company Financial Statements from page 198 to 202 were approved by the Board on 2 February 2017 and were signed on its behalf by

Pascal Soriot 
Director 

Marc Dunoyer
Director

Company’s registered number 02723534

198

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

 
Statement of Changes in Equity

for the year ended 31 December

At 1 January 2015

Total comprehensive income for the period
Profit for the period

Amortisation of loss on cash flow hedge

Total comprehensive income for the period

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity
Dividends

Equity-settled share-based payment transactions 

Issue of Ordinary Shares

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

At 31 December 2015

Total comprehensive income for the period
Profit for the period

Amortisation of loss on cash flow hedge

Total comprehensive income for the period

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity
Dividends

Equity-settled share-based payment transactions 

Issue of Ordinary Shares

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

At 31 December 2016

Share 
capital
$m

316

Share 
premium
account
$m

4,261

Capital 
redemption 
reserve
$m

153

Other 
reserves
$m

2,754

Profit and 
loss account
$m

16,709

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

316

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

43

43

4,304

–

–

–

–

–

47

47

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

153

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(131)

–

(131)

2,623

–

–

–

–

(40)

–

(40)

316

4,351

153

2,583

Total 
equity
$m

24,193

1,974

1

1,975

(3,537)

(131)

43

(3,625)

22,543

3,699

1

3,700

1,974

1

1,975

(3,537)

–

–

(3,537)

15,147

3,699

1

3,700

(3,540)

(3,540)

–

–

(3,540)

15,307

(40)

47

(3,533)

22,710

At 31 December 2016, $15,307m (2015: $15,147m) of the profit and loss account reserve was available for distribution. Included in other reserves  
is a special reserve of $157m (2015: $157m), arising on the redenomination of share capital in 1999.

Included within other reserves at 31 December 2016 is $742m (2015: $782m) in respect of cumulative share-based payment awards. These 
amounts are not available for distribution.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

199

 
measured using the single best estimate of 
likely outcome approach. Any liability to 
interest on tax liabilities is provided for in the 
tax charge.

Investments
Fixed asset investments, including investments 
in subsidiaries, are stated at cost and reviewed 
for impairment if there are indications that the 
carrying value may not be recoverable.

Share-based payments
The issuance by the Company to employees 
of its subsidiaries of a grant of awards over 
the Company’s shares, represents additional 
capital contributions by the Company to 
its subsidiaries. An additional investment in 
subsidiaries results in a corresponding 
increase in shareholders’ equity. The additional 
capital contribution is based on the fair value of 
the grant issued, allocated over the underlying 
grant’s vesting period, less the market cost  
of shares charged to subsidiaries in settlement 
of such share awards.

Financial instruments
Loans and other receivables are held at 
amortised cost. Long-term loans payable 
are held at amortised cost.

Litigation
Through the normal course of business, 
the AstraZeneca Group is involved in legal 
disputes, the settlement of which may involve 
cost to the Company. Provision is made 
where an adverse outcome is probable and 
associated costs can be estimated reliably. 
In other cases, appropriate descriptions 
are included.

Financial Statements

Company Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation of 
(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:98)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)
These financial statements were prepared 
in accordance with FRS 101 ‘Reduced 
Disclosure Framework’.

In preparing these financial statements, 
the Company applied the recognition, 
measurement and disclosure requirements 
of International Financial Reporting Standards 
as adopted by the EU (‘Adopted IFRSs’), but 
makes amendments where necessary in order 
to comply with Companies Act 2006 and has 
set out below where advantage of the FRS 101 
disclosure exemptions has been taken.

In these financial statements, the Company 
has applied the exemptions available under 
FRS 101 in respect of the following disclosures:

 > Statement of Cash Flows and related notes
 > comparative period reconciliations for 

share capital

 > disclosures in respect of transactions 

with wholly owned subsidiaries

 > disclosures in respect of 
capital management

 > the effects of new but not yet effective IFRSs
 > disclosures in respect of the compensation 

of Key Management Personnel.

As the Group Financial Statements (presented 
on pages 138 to 196) include the equivalent 
disclosures, the Company has also taken 
the exemptions under FRS 101 available in 
respect of the following disclosures:

 > IFRS 2 Share-based Payment in respect 
of group settled share-based payments. 

No individual profit and loss account is 
prepared as provided by section 408 of 
the Companies Act 2006. The Company 
proposes to continue to adopt the reduced 
disclosure framework of FRS 101 in its next 
financial statements.

The accounting policies set out below 
have, unless otherwise stated, been applied 
consistently to all periods presented in these 
financial statements. 

Basis of accounting
The Company Financial Statements are 
prepared under the historical cost convention, 
in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. 
The Group Financial Statements are presented 
on pages 138 to 196 and have been prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the 
EU and as issued by the IASB and in 
accordance with the Group Accounting 
Policies set out on pages 142 to 146. 

The following paragraphs describe the 
main accounting policies, which have been 
applied consistently.

Foreign currencies
Profit and loss account items in foreign 
currencies are translated into US dollars at 
average rates for the relevant accounting 
periods. Assets and liabilities are translated 
at exchange rates prevailing at the date of the 
Company Balance Sheet. Exchange gains 
and losses on loans and on short-term 
foreign currency borrowings and deposits are 
included within net interest payable. Exchange 
differences on all other transactions, except 
relevant foreign currency loans, are taken to 
operating profit.

Taxation
The current tax payable is based on taxable 
profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from 
reported profit because taxable profit excludes 
items that are either never taxable or tax 
deductible or items that are taxable or tax 
deductible in a different period. The Company’s 
current tax assets and liabilities are calculated 
using tax rates that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the reporting date. 

Deferred tax is provided using the balance 
sheet liability method, providing for temporary 
differences between the carrying amounts of 
assets and liabilities for financial reporting 
purposes and the amounts used for taxation 
purposes. Deferred tax assets are recognised 
to the extent that it is probable that taxable 
profit will be available against which the asset 
can be utilised. This requires judgements to be 
made in respect of the availability of future 
taxable income. 

No deferred tax asset or liability is recognised 
in respect of temporary differences associated 
with investments in subsidiaries and branches 
where the Company is able to control the timing 
of reversal of the temporary differences and it 
is probable that the temporary differences will 
not reverse in the foreseeable future. 

The Company’s deferred tax assets and 
liabilities are calculated using tax rates that 
are expected to apply in the period when 
the liability is settled or the asset realised 
based on tax rates that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the reporting date. 

Accruals for tax contingencies require 
management to make judgements and 
estimates of exposures in relation to tax audit 
issues. Tax benefits are not recognised unless 
the tax positions will probably be sustained 
based upon management’s interpretation 
of applicable laws and regulations. Once 
considered to be probable, management 
reviews each material tax benefit to assess 
whether a provision should be taken against 
full recognition of that benefit on the basis of 
potential settlement through negotiation and/or 
litigation. Accruals for tax contingencies are 

200

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Notes to the Company Financial Statements

1 Fixed asset investments

At 1 January 2016

Additions

Transfer to current assets

Capital reimbursement

Exchange

Amortisation

At 31 December 2016

A list of subsidiaries is included on pages 193 to 196.

2 Non-trade creditors

Amounts due within one year
Short-term borrowings

Other creditors

Amounts owed to Group undertakings

3 Loans

Amounts due within one year
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings (unsecured)

5.9% Callable bond

Amounts due after more than one year
Amounts owed to Group undertakings (unsecured)

7.2% Loan

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings (unsecured)

5.9% Callable bond

Floating rate notes

1.75% Callable bond

1.95% Callable bond

2.375% Callable bond

0.875% Non-callable bond

0.25% Callable bond

0.75% Callable bond

3.375% Callable bond

1.25% Callable bond

5.75% Non-callable bond

6.45% Callable bond

4% Callable bond

4.375% Callable bond

Loans or instalments thereof are repayable:

After five years from balance sheet date

From two to five years

From one to two years

Within one year

Total unsecured

Investments in subsidiaries

Shares
$m

16,053

–

–

(27)

–

–

Loans
$m

13,994

2,480

(1,749)

–

(307)

5

Total
$m

30,047

2,480

(1,749)

(27)

(307)

5

16,026

14,423

30,449

Repayment
dates

US dollars

2017

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

euros

euros

euros

US dollars

euros

pounds sterling

US dollars

US dollars

US dollars

2023

2017

2018

2018

2019

2020

2021

2021

2024

2025

2028

2031

2037

2042

2045

2016
$m

371

140

7

518

2016
$m

1,749

1,749

283

–

399

998

998

1,589

782

522

937

1,976

827

426

2,719

986

979

2015
$m

679

128

7

814

2015
$m

–

–

283

1,747

399

997

997

1,586

812

–

–

1,971

–

515

2,719

986

976

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S

t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

14,138

13,705

2016
$m

9,133

3,891

1,397

1,749

16,170

2015
$m

8,262

3,979

1,747

–

13,988

With the exception of the 2018 floating rate notes, all loans are at fixed interest rates. Accordingly, the fair values of the loans will change as market 
rates change. However, since the loans are held at amortised cost, changes in interest rates and the credit rating of the Company do not have any 
effect on the Company’s net assets.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

201

 
Financial Statements

4 Share capital 
Details of share capital movements in the year and share option schemes are included in Note 22 to the Group Financial Statements.

5 Contingent liabilities
In addition to the matter disclosed below, there are other cases where the Company is named as a party to legal proceedings. These include the 
Nexium and Farxiga product liability litigations, each of which are described more fully in Note 28 to the Group Financial Statements.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
In connection with investigations into anti-bribery and corruption issues in the pharmaceutical industry, AstraZeneca has received inquiries from 
enforcement agencies, including the DOJ and the SEC, regarding, among other things, sales practices, internal controls, certain distributors and 
interactions with healthcare providers and other government officials in several countries. In August 2016, AstraZeneca entered into a civil settlement 
with the SEC to resolve these inquiries. The DOJ has informed AstraZeneca that it has closed its inquiry into this matter.

Other
The Company has guaranteed the external borrowing of a subsidiary in the amount of $286m.

6 Statutory and other information
The Directors were paid by another Group company in 2016 and 2015.

7 Subsequent events
On 31 January 2017, the Company received a dividend from a subsidiary of $1,623m.

202

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Group Financial Record

For the year ended 31 December

Revenue and profits
Product Sales

Externalisation Revenue

Cost of sales

Distribution costs

Research and development expense

Selling, general and administrative costs

Other operating income and expense

Operating profit

Finance income

Finance expense

Share of after tax losses in associates and joint ventures

Profit before tax

Taxation

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income for the period, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the period

Profit attributable to:

Owners of the Parent

Non-controlling interests

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

Diluted earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share

Dividends

Return on revenues
Operating profit as a percentage of Total Revenue

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

At 31 December

Statement of Financial Position
Property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets

Other investments and non-current receivables

Deferred tax assets

Current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Share capital

Reserves attributable to equity holders of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Total equity and reserves

2012
$m

27,973

451

(5,393)

(320)

(5,243)

(9,839)

519

8,148

42

(544)

–

7,646

(1,376)

6,270

135

6,405

6,240

30

$4.95

$4.94

$2.85

28.7%

19.9

2012
$m

32,435

940

1,111

19,048

53,534

(13,903)

(15,685)

23,946

312

23,419

215

23,946

2013
$m

25,711

95

(5,261)

(306)

(4,821)

2014
$m

26,095

452

(5,842)

(324)

(5,579)

(12,206)

(13,000)

500

3,712

50

(495)

–

3,267

(696)

2,571

(113)

2,458

2,556

15

$2.04

$2.04

$2.80

14.4%

9.9

2013
$m

31,846

2,513

1,205

20,335

55,899

(16,051)

(16,595)

23,253

315

22,909

29

23,253

335

2,137

78

(963)

(6)

1,246

(11)

1,235

(1,506)

(271)

1,233

2

$0.98

$0.98

$2.80

8.0%

6.1

2014
$m

38,541

2,138

1,219

16,697

58,595

(17,330)

(21,619)

19,646

316

19,311

19

19,646

2015
$m

23,641

1,067

(4,646)

(339)

(5,997)

(11,112)

1,500

4,114

46

(1,075)

(16)

3,069

(243)

2,826

(338)

2,488

2,825

1

$2.23

$2.23

$2.80

16.7%

11.3

2015
Restated*
$m

40,859

1,896

1,294

16,007

60,056

(14,869)

(26,678)

18,509

316

18,174

19

18,509

2016
$m

21,319

1,683

(4,126)

(326)

(5,890)

(9,413)

1,655

4,902

67

(1,384)

(33)

3,552

(146)

3,406

(1,778)

1,628

3,499

(93)

$2.77

$2.76

$2.80

21.3%

8.9

2016
$m

46,092

2,070

1,102

13,262

62,526

(15,256)

(30,601)

16,669

316

14,538

1,815

16,669

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S

t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

*  (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:22)(cid:12)(cid:17)

For the year ended 31 December

Cash flows
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from:
Operating activities

Investing activities

Financing activities

2012
$m

2013
$m

2014
$m

2015
$m

2016
$m

6,948

(1,859)

(4,923)

166

7,400

(2,889)

(3,047)

1,464

7,058

(7,032)

(2,705)

(2,679)

3,324

(4,239)

878

(37)

4,145

(3,969)

(1,324)

(1,148)

For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of the income from continuing ordinary activities before 
taxation of Group companies and income received from companies owned 50% or less, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on 
all indebtedness, amortisation of debt discount and expense, and that portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

203

 
Additional Information 

Development Pipeline 

as at 31 December 2016

Includes AstraZeneca sponsored or directed trials only.

Phase III/Pivotal Phase II/Registration
(cid:49)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:49)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:86)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)
Regulatory submission dates shown for assets in Phase III and beyond. As disclosure of compound information is balanced by the business 
need to maintain confidentiality, information in relation to some compounds listed here has not been disclosed at this time.

Compound

Oncology

Mechanism

Area Under Investigation

Tagrisso 
AURA, AURA2, (AURA17 Asia 
regional)

EGFR inhibitor

≥2nd line advanced EGFRm 
T790M NSCLC  

Tagrisso 
AURA3

EGFR inhibitor

durvalumab#

PD-L1 MAb

≥2nd line advanced EGFRm 
T790M NSCLC

≥2nd line advanced bladder 
cancer

acalabrutinib# 

BTK inhibitor

B-cell malignancy

acalabrutinib#

BTK inhibitor

1st line CLL

acalabrutinib#

BTK inhibitor

r/r CLL, high risk

Q1 2015

Q3 2015

Q4 2015

Date 
Commenced 
Phase

Estimated Regulatory Acceptance Date/Submission Status

US

EU

Japan

China

Launched

Accepted

Launched
 (Accelerated 
assessment)

Accepted

Launched
(Breakthrough
 Therapy,
 Priority Review,
 Orphan Drug)

Accepted
(Priority
 Review)

Accepted
(Breakthrough
 Therapy &
 Priority Review)

H1 2017
(Orphan Drug)

2020
(Orphan Drug)

2020
(Orphan Drug)

2020
(Orphan Drug)

2020
(Orphan Drug)

2018

2018
(Orphan Drug)

2018
(Orphan Drug)

selumetinib 
ASTRA
moxetumomab pasudotox# 
PLAIT
durvalumab#
PACIFIC
durvalumab# + tremelimumab 
ARCTIC
durvalumab# + tremelimumab
MYSTIC

durvalumab# + tremelimumab
NEPTUNE
durvalumab# + tremelimumab
KESTREL
durvalumab# + tremelimumab
EAGLE
durvalumab# + tremelimumab
DANUBE

MEK inhibitor

differentiated thyroid cancer

Q3 2013

anti-CD22 recombinant 
immunotoxin

hairy cell leukaemia

Q2 2013

PD-L1 MAb

stage III NSCLC

Q2 2014

H2 2017

H2 2017

H2 2017

PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb

3rd line NSCLC

Q2 2015

H2 2017

H2 2017

H2 2017

PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb

1st line NSCLC

Q3 2015

H2 2017

H2 2017

H2 2017

PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb

1st line NSCLC

PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb

1st line HNSCC

PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb

2nd line HNSCC

Q4 2015

Q4 2015

Q4 2015

PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb

1st line bladder cancer

Q4 2015

2019

2018

2018

2018

2019

2019

2020

2018

2018

2018

2018

2018

2018

204

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Compound

Mechanism

Area Under Investigation

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease

Date 
Commenced 
Phase

Estimated Regulatory Acceptance Date/Submission Status

US

EU

Japan

China

Brilinta1 

Farxiga2

Epanova

ZS-9 (sodium zirconium 
cyclosilicate)
roxadustat# OLYMPUS (US) 
ROCKIES (US)

Respiratory 

P2Y12 receptor antagonist

arterial thrombosis

SGLT2 inhibitor

Type 2 diabetes

omega-3 carboxylic acids

severe hypertriglyceridaemia

potassium binder

hyperkalaemia

Launched

Launched

Approved

Accepted

Launched

Approved

Launched

Launched

Launched

Accepted

2018

Accepted

hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl 
hydroxylase inhibitor

anaemia in CKD/ESRD

Q3 2014

2018

Initiated3

Bevespi Aerosphere (PT003)

LABA/LAMA

IL-5R MAb

COPD

severe asthma

Launched4

 H1 2017

2018

Accepted

Accepted

H1 2017

2018

2020

benralizumab#
CALIMA
SIROCCO 
ZONDA
BISE
BORA
GREGALE
benralizumab#
TERRANOVA  
GALATHEA

PT010 

tralokinumab
STRATOS 1,2
TROPOS
MESOS

Other 

anifrolumab#  
TULIP
AZD3293#
AMARANTH
DAYBREAK-ALZ

IL-5R MAb

COPD

Q3 2014

2018

2018

2019

LABA/LAMA/ICS

IL-13 MAb

COPD

severe asthma

Q3 2015

Q3 2014

2018

2018

2018

2018

2018

2018

2019

IFN-alphaR MAb

systemic lupus erythematosus

Q3 2015

beta-secretase inhibitor

Alzheimer’s disease

Q2 2016

2019
(Fast Track)

2020
(Fast Track)

2019

2019

2020

2020

#  Collaboration.
1  Brilinta in the US and Japan; Brilique in ROW. 
2  Farxiga in the US; Forxiga in ROW.
3   Rolling New Drug Application (NDA) regulatory submission initiated in Q4 2016.
4   Bevespi Aerosphere(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:92)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:98)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:17)

A
d
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i
o
n

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

205

 
 
 
Additional Information 

Development Pipeline continued

Phases I and II 
(cid:49)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)

Compound

Mechanism

Area Under Investigation

Phase

Oncology
durvalumab#
durvalumab# + tremelimumab
durvalumab# + tremelimumab
durvalumab# + AZD5069
durvalumab# + AZD9150#
durvalumab# + dabrafenib + trametinib
durvalumab# + AZD1775#
durvalumab# + MEDI0680
durvalumab# or durvalumab# +  
(tremelimumab or AZD9150#)
durvalumab# + Iressa
durvalumab# + MEDI0562#
durvalumab# + MEDI9447
durvalumab# + monalizumab
durvalumab# + selumetinib
durvalumab# + tremelimumab
tremelimumab + MEDI0562#
Lynparza + AZD6738
Lynparza + AZD1775#
savolitinib#
Tagrisso + (selumetinib# or savolitinib#)
TATTON
Tagrisso BLOOM
AZD1775# + chemotherapy

AZD1775#
vistusertib (AZD2014)
AZD5363#
AZD4547
MEDI-573# 
AZD0156
AZD2811#
AZD4635
AZD6738
AZD8186
AZD9150# 
AZD9496

MEDI-565#
MEDI0562#
MEDI0680 
MEDI1873
MEDI4276
MEDI9197#
MEDI9447

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease

MEDI0382

MEDI4166

MEDI6012

AZD4076

AZD4831

AZD5718

AZD8601#

MEDI8111 

PD-L1 MAb
PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb
PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb
PD-L1 MAb + CXCR2
PD-L1 MAb + STAT3 inhibitor
PD-L1 MAb + BRAF inhibitor + MEK inhibitor
PD-L1 MAb + Wee1 inhibitor
PD-L1 MAb + PD-1 MAb
PD-L1 MAb or PD-L1 MAb +  
(CTLA-4 MAb or STAT3 inhibitor)
PD-L1 MAb + EGFR inhibitor
PD-L1 MAb + humanised OX40 agonist 
PD-L1 MAb + CD73 MAb
PD-L1 MAb + NKG2a MAb
PD-L1 MAb + MEK inhibitor
PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb
CTLA-4 MAb + humanised OX40 agonist
PARP inhibitor + ATR inhibitor
PARP inhibitor + Wee1 inhibitor 
MET inhibitor
EGFR inhibitor + (MEK inhibitor or MET inhibitor)

EGFR inhibitor
Wee1 inhibitor + chemotherapy
Wee1 inhibitor
mTOR inhibitor
AKT inhibitor
FGFR inhibitor
IGF MAb
ATM inhibitor
Aurora B inhibitor
A2aR inhibitor
ATR inhibitor
PI3k inhibitor
STAT3 inhibitor
selective oestrogen receptor downregulator 
(SERD)
CEA BiTE MAb
humanised OX40 agonist 
PD-1 MAb
GITR agonist fusion protein
HER2 bispecific ADC MAb
TLR 7/8 agonist
CD73 MAb

solid tumours
hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
gastric cancer

HNSCC

melanoma
solid tumours
solid tumours
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

NSCLC
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
gastric cancer
solid tumours 
papillary renal cell carcinoma
advanced EGFRm NSCLC

CNS metastases in advanced EGFRm NSCLC
ovarian cancer
solid tumours
solid tumours
breast cancer
solid tumours
metastatic breast cancer
solid tumours
solid tumours 
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
haematological malignancies
ER + breast cancer

solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours
solid tumours

GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist

diabetes/obesity

PCSK9/GLP-1 MAb + peptide fusion

diabetes/cardiovascular

LCAT

anti-miR103/107 oligonucleotide

myeloperoxidase

FLAP

VEGF-A

Rh-factor II

ACS

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic 
steatohepatitis (NASH)

heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction

CAD

cardiovascular

trauma/bleeding

II
II
II

II

II
I
I
I

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
II
I
II
II

II
II
II
II
II
II
II
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

I
I
I
I
I
I
I

II

II

II

II

I

I

I

I

Date 
Commenced 
Phase 

Q3 2014
Q4 2016
Q2 2015

Q3 2015

Q1 2014
Q4 2015
Q3 2016
Q3 2016

Q2 2014
Q2 2016
Q1 2016
Q1 2016
Q4 2015
Q4 2013
Q2 2016
Q3 2016
Q3 2015
Q2 2014
Q2 2016

Q4 2015
Q4 2012
Q1 2016
Q1 2013
Q1 2014
Q4 2011
Q2 2012
Q4 2015
Q4 2015
Q2 2016
Q4 2013
Q2 2013
Q1 2012
Q4 2014

Q1 2011
Q1 2015
Q4 2013
Q4 2015
Q4 2015
Q4 2015
Q3 2015

Q3 2016

Q1 2016

Q4 2015

Q4 2016

Q3 2016

Q1 2016

Q1 2017

Q1 2014

206

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

AZD7594 + abediterol#

inhaled SGRM + LABA

Compound

Respiratory

tezepelumab# 

abediterol#

AZD7594

AZD9412#

PT010 

AZD1419# 

AZD8871#

AZD0284

AZD5634

AZD7986#

AZD9567

Other

anifrolumab#

anifrolumab#

inebilizumab#

mavrilimumab#

verinurad1 

MEDI5872#

AZD3241

MEDI3902

MEDI4893

MEDI8852

MEDI8897#

MEDI0700#

MEDI1814#2

MEDI4920

MEDI7352

MEDI7734

MEDI9314

Mechanism

Area Under Investigation

Phase

TSLP MAb

LABA

inhaled SGRM

inhaled interferon beta

LABA/LAMA/ICS

TLR9 agonist

MABA

inhaled RORg

inhaled ENaC

DPP1

oral SGRM

IFN-alphaR MAb

IFN-alphaR MAb

CD19 MAb

GM-CSFR MAb

selective uric acid reabsorption  
inhibitor (URAT-1)

B7RP1 MAb

myeloperoxidase inhibitor

Psl/PcrV bispecific MAb

MAb binding to S. aureus toxin

influenza A MAb

RSV MAb-YTE

asthma/atopic dermatitis

asthma/COPD

asthma/COPD

asthma/COPD

asthma 

asthma

COPD

psoriasis

cystic fibrosis

asthma/COPD

COPD

rheumatoid arthritis

lupus nephritis

systemic lupus erythematosus (subcutaneous)

neuromyelitis optica

rheumatoid arthritis

chronic treatment of hyperuricemia  
in patients with gout

primary Sjögren’s syndrome

multiple system atrophy

prevention of nosocomial pseudomonas 
pneumonia 

hospital-acquired pneumonia/serious S. aureus 
infection 

influenza A treatment

passive RSV prophylaxis 

BAFF/B7RP1 bispecific MAb

systemic lupus erythematosus

amyloid beta MAb

Alzheimer’s disease

anti-CD40L-Tn3 fusion protein

primary Sjögren’s syndrome

NGF/TNF bispecific MAb

ILT7 MAb

IL-4R MAb

osteoarthritis pain

myositis

atopic dermatitis

#  Collaboration.
1  Planning to initiate a programme for CKD.
2  Co-development collaboration with Lilly for MEDI1814.

II

II

II

II

II

II

II

I

I

I

I

I

II

I

II

II

II

II

II

II

II

II

II

I

I

I

I

I

I

Date 
Commenced 
Phase 

Q2 2014

Q4 2007

Q3 2015

Q3 2015

Q2 2014

Q4 2016

Q1 2017

Q4 2016

Q1 2016

Q4 2016

Q4 2014

Q4 2015

Q4 2015

Q4 2015

Q1 2015
(Orphan Drug)

Q1 2010

Q3 2013

Q3 2016

Q2 2015
(Orphan Drug)

Q2 2016
(Fast Track, US)

Q4 2014

(Fast Track, US) 

Q4 2015
(Fast Track, US)

Q1 2015
(Fast Track, US)

Q1 2016

Q2 2014

Q2 2014

Q1 2016

Q3 2016

Q1 2016

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Additional Information 

Development Pipeline continued

(cid:54)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:38)(cid:92)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)

Compound

Oncology

Faslodex
FALCON 

Lynparza OlympiAD

Lynparza
SOLO-2

Lynparza
SOLO-1

Lynparza
SOLO-3

Lynparza
POLO

Lynparza

Lynparza
OlympiA

Tagrisso
FLAURA

Tagrisso 
ADAURA

Mechanism

Area Under Investigation

Date 
Commenced 
Phase 

Estimated Regulatory Acceptance Date/Submission Status

US

EU

Japan

China

oestrogen receptor antagonist 1st line hormone receptor +ve advanced 

Accepted

Accepted

Accepted

H2 2017

breast cancer

PARP inhibitor

PARP inhibitor

gBRCA metastatic breast cancer

2nd line or greater BRCAm PSR ovarian 
cancer, maintenance monotherapy

Q2 2014

Q3 2013

H2 2017

H2 2017

H2 2017

H1 2017
(Fast Track)

H1 2017

H2 2017

PARP inhibitor

1st line BRCAm ovarian cancer

Q3 2013

2018

2018

2018

PARP inhibitor

gBRCA PSR ovarian cancer

Q1 2015

2018

PARP inhibitor

pancreatic cancer

Q1 2015

2018

2018

PARP inhibitor

prostate cancer

Q3 2014 (Breakthrough
 Therapy)

PARP inhibitor

gBRCA adjuvant breast cancer

Q2 2014

2020

2020

2020

EGFR inhibitor

1st line advanced EGFRm NSCLC

Q1 2015

H2 2017

H2 2017

H2 2017

H2 2017

EGFR inhibitor

adjuvant EGFRm NSCLC

Q4 2015

2022

2022

2022

2022

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease

Brilinta1
PEGASUS-TIMI 54

P2Y12 receptor antagonist

outcomes trial in patients with prior 
myocardial infarction

Brilinta1
THEMIS

Brilinta1
HESTIA

P2Y12 receptor antagonist

P2Y12 receptor antagonist

outcomes trial in patients with Type 2 
diabetes and CAD, but without a 
previous history of myocardial infarction 
or stroke

prevention of vaso-occlusive crises in 
paediatric patients with sickle cell disease

Onglyza
SAVOR-TIMI 53
Kombiglyze XR/Komboglyze2 DPP-4 inhibitor/metformin FDC Type 2 diabetes

DPP-4 inhibitor

Type 2 diabetes outcomes trial

Launched

Approved

Accepted

Launched
(Priority
 Review)

Q1 2014

2018

2018

2018

2019

Q1 2014

2020

2020

Launched

Launched

Accepted

Launched

Launched

Accepted

Farxiga3
DECLARE-TIMI 58
Farxiga3

Xigduo XR/Xigduo4

Qtern (saxagliptin/
dapagliflozin FDC) 

Bydureon weekly
suspension

SGLT2 inhibitor

Type 2 diabetes outcomes trial

Q2 2013

2020

2020

SGLT2 inhibitor

Type 1 diabetes

SGLT2 inhibitor/metformin FDC Type 2 diabetes 

DPP-4 inhibitor/  
SGLT2 inhibitor FDC

Type 2 diabetes

Q4 2014

2018

2018

2018

Launched

Launched 

Accepted

Approved

GLP-1 receptor agonist

Type 2 diabetes

Q1 2013

H1 2017

H2 2017

Bydureon EXSCEL

GLP-1 receptor agonist

Type 2 diabetes outcomes trial 

Q2 2010

Q4 2014

2018

2020

2018

2020

2020

2018

2020

omega-3 carboxylic acids

outcomes trial in statin-treated  
patients at high CV risk, with persistent 
hypertriglyceridaemia plus low  
HDL-cholesterol

ICS/LABA

as-needed use in mild asthma

Q4 2014

2018

ICS/LABA

LAMA/LABA

breath actuated inhaler asthma/COPD

COPD

2018

2018

Launched

proton pump inhibitor

stress ulcer prophylaxis

proton pump inhibitor

paediatrics

GC-C receptor peptide agonist

irritable bowel syndrome with  
constipation (IBS-C)

Launched

Launched

Accepted

2019

2019

Submitted

Accepted

Epanova
STRENGTH

Respiratory 

Symbicort
SYGMA

Symbicort

Duaklir Genuair#

Other 

Nexium

Nexium 

linaclotide#

#   Collaboration.
1  Brilinta in the US and Japan; Brilique in ROW.
2  Kombiglyze XR in the US; Komboglyze in the EU.
3  Farxiga in the US; Forxiga in ROW. 
4  Xigduo XR in the US; Xigduo in the EU. 

208

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Terminations

NME/Line Extension

LCM

NME

NME

NME

LCM

NME

NME

LCM
NME

NME

NME

NME

LCM

LCM

NME

LCM

NME

NME

NME

NME

NME

NME

¶  Registrational Phase II trial.
#  Partnered and/or in collaboration.

Compound
inebilizumab# (MEDI-551) + rituximab
AZD5312#

AZD8835
tremelimumab¶
DETERMINE
Tagrisso + durvalumab 
CAURAL
abrilumab#

AZD8999
Brilinta/Brilique SOCRATES
MEDI7836
MEDI6383#
durvalumab# + MEDI6383#

MEDI0639

Epanova/Farxiga

Lynparza GOLD

AZD7624

Brilinta EUCLID

inebilizumab
MEDI3617#

cediranib ICON 6
selumetinib# 
SELECT-1
durvalumab# + tremelimumab  
ALPS¶
MEDI7510

Reason for Discontinuation

Area Under Investigation

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Strategic

Strategic

Safety/efficacy
Safety/efficacy

Strategic

Strategic

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Regulatory

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

Safety/efficacy

haematological malignancies

solid tumours

solid tumour

mesothelioma 2nd/3rd line

≥2nd line advanced EGFRm T790M 
NSCLC
Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis

COPD

outcomes trial in patients with stroke or TIA
asthma

solid tumours

solid tumours

solid tumours

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/
non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
2nd line gastric cancer

COPD

peripheral artery disease

diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

solid tumours

PSR ovarian cancer

2nd line KRASm NSCLC

metastatic pancreatic ductal carcinoma

prevention of RSV disease in older patients

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Additional Information 

Development Pipeline continued

Completed Projects/Divestitures

Compound

Diprivan#1
Zurampic2

Zurampic + allopurinol FDC2

MEDI-550

tralokinumab3
brodalumab4
AMAGINE-1,2,3
MEDI2070#5
Zinforo#6

Zavicefta#6
(CAZ AVI)
Zavicefta#6
(CAZ AVI)

ATM AVI#6

CXL#6

AZD8108
durvalumab#
HAWK¶7
durvalumab# + tremelimumab
CONDOR¶7

Mechanism

Area Under Investigation

sedative and anaesthetic

conscious sedation

Completed/
Divested 

Divested

Estimated Regulatory Submission Acceptance†

US

EU

Japan

China

N/A

Launched

Accepted

Launched

selective uric acid reabsorption 
inhibitor (URAT-1) 

chronic treatment of hyperuricemia  
in patients with gout

Completed/
 Divested

Launched

Approved

N/A

N/A

selective uric acid reabsorption 
inhibitor (URAT-1) + xanthine  
oxidase inhibitor FDC

pandemic influenza virus 
vaccine

IL-13 MAb

IL-17R MAb

IL-23 MAb

extended spectrum  
cephalosporin with affinity to 
penicillin-binding proteins

chronic treatment of hyperuricemia  
in patients with gout

Divested

pandemic influenza prophylaxis

Completed

N/A

Approved

N/A

N/A

atopic dermatitis

psoriasis

Crohn’s disease

pneumonia/skin infections

Divested

Divested

Divested

Divested

N/A

Launched

N/A Submitted

cephalosporin/beta lactamase 
inhibitor

hospital-acquired pneumonia/ 
ventilator-associated pneumonia

cephalosporin/beta lactamase 
inhibitor

serious infections, complicated 
intra-abdominal infection, 
complicated urinary tract infection

Divested

N/A

Approved

Divested

N/A

Approved

N/A

N/A

monobactam/beta lactamase 
inhibitor

beta lactamase inhibitor/ 
cephalosporin

targeted serious bacterial infections

Divested

methicillin-resistant S. aureus

Divested

NMDA antagonist

PD-L1 MAb

suicidal ideation

Divested

2nd line HNSCC (PD-L1 positive)

Completed

PD-L1 MAb + CTLA-4 MAb

2nd line HNSCC (PD-L1 negative)

Completed

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

#  Partnered and/or in collaboration.
†  US and EU dates correspond to anticipated acceptance of the regulatory submission.
¶  Registrational Phase II trial.
¹   AstraZeneca announced it entered into a commercialisation agreement with Aspen Global Incorporated (AGI), part of the Aspen Group, for its global anaesthetics portfolio outside of the US  

on 9 June 2016. 

2   AstraZeneca has granted Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. exclusive US rights (26 April 2016) and Grünenthal GmbH exclusive rights in Europe and Latin America (2 June 2016). Zurampic 

launched in US on 3 October 2016. 

3   AstraZeneca entered into a licensing agreement with LEO Pharma (1 July 2016, completed on 16 August 2016).
4   AstraZeneca and Valeant agreed to terminate the licence for Valeant’s right to develop and commercialise brodalumab in Europe. AstraZeneca entered into an agreement with LEO Pharma  

for the exclusive licence to brodalumab in Europe (1 July 2016).

5    AstraZeneca licensing agreement with Allergan.
6(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:430)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:17)(cid:3)
7   Registrational studies now complete (data will contribute towards subsequent HNSCC regulatory submissions).

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Patent Expiries of Key Marketed Products

Patents covering our products are or may be challenged by third parties. Generic products may be launched ‘at risk’ and our  
patents may be revoked, circumvented or found not to be infringed. For more information, please see Risk from page 214. Many of  
our products are subject to challenges by third parties. Details of material challenges by third parties can be found in Note 28 to the 
Financial Statements from page 185. The expiry dates shown below include granted SPC/PTE and/or Paediatric Exclusivity periods  
(as appropriate), but do not include projected expiry dates based on pending applications for these exclusivities unless asterisked.  
(In Europe, the exact SPC situation may vary by country as different Patent Offices grant SPCs at different rates.) Expiry dates in red 
relate to new chemical entity or antibody patents, the remaining dates relate to other patents. A number of our products are subject  
to generic competition in one or more markets. Further information can be found in the Geographical Review from page 226.

Key marketed 
products

Atacand3

Brilinta/Brilique

Bydureon 

Byetta

Crestor

Daliresp/Daxas

Duaklir

Faslodex

Farxiga/Forxiga

Description

An angiotensin II antagonist for the  
1st line treatment of hypertension and 
symptomatic heart failure

An oral P2Y12 platelet inhibitor for 
acute coronary syndromes (ACS)  
or extended therapy in high-risk 
patients with a history of myocardial 
infarction (MI)

A once-weekly injectable glucagon-
like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor 
agonist available as a single-dose tray 
or a single-dose pen indicated to 
improve glycaemic control, in adults 
with Type 2 diabetes

A twice-daily injectable GLP-1 
receptor agonist indicated to improve 
glycaemic control in adults with Type 
2 diabetes

A statin for dyslipidaemia and 
hypercholesterolaemia

An oral PDE4 (phosphodiesterase-4) 
inhibitor for adults with severe COPD  
to decrease their number of 
exacerbations (US only)

A fixed-dose combination of a 
long-acting muscarinic antagonist 
(LAMA) and a long-acting 
beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist 
(LABA) for the maintenance treatment 
of COPD

An injectable estrogen receptor 
antagonist. It is used for the  
treatment of hormone receptor 
positive advanced breast cancer  
for post-menopausal women  
whose disease has progressed 
following treatment with prior 
endocrine therapy

A selective inhibitor of human 
sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 
(SGLT2 inhibitor) indicated as an 
adjunct to diet and exercise to 
improve glycaemic control in adult 
patients with Type 2 diabetes

US

expired

China

4

EU1

expired

Japan

2016

2015

2014

2016

4

36

34

44

97

US 
Product Sales
($m)

Aggregate Revenue for 
China, Japan and Europe2 

Product Sales
($m)

2015

106

2014

169

2018-2019, 
2024*, 
2021-2030

2018-2019, 
2021

2018-2024, 
20215

2018-2019, 
2024*, 
2021-2027

348

240

146

347

268

245

2018-2028

2020-2028

2017-2028

2018-2028

463

482

374

109

90

62

2017-2020

2020

2017-2021

2018-2020

164

209

199

62

86

107

2018-20226

2020-2021 2017, 2020

2017, 
2021-2023

1,223

2,844

2,918

1,698

1,642

1,931

2020, 
2023-2024

2023 20197, 2023

2023

134

104

2020, 2025*, 
2022-20278

2020, 
2022-2027

2025, 
2022-2029

2025, 
2021-2029

–

–

–

–

15

–

62

26

–

–

20219

2021

2026

438

356

340

311

269

305

2020, 2026* 2020-2023, 
2028

2020-2028*

2020-2025, 
2028

358

229

120

175

121

66

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Additional Information 

Patent Expiries of Key Marketed Products continued

Key marketed 
products

Iressa

Kombiglyze XR

Komboglyze

Lynparza

Movantik/Moventig

Nexium

Onglyza

Pulmicort

Seloken/Toprol-XL

Description

An epidermal growth factor 
receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor 
(EGFR-TKI) that acts to block signals 
for cancer cell growth and survival in 
advanced non-small cell lung cancer 
(NSCLC)

Combines saxagliptin (Onglyza)  
and extended release metformin 
(metformin XR) in a once-daily tablet  
for Type 2 diabetes

Combines saxagliptin (Onglyza)  
and metformin immediate release 
(metformin IR) in a twice-daily tablet  
for Type 2 diabetes

An oral poly ADP-ribose polymerase 
(PARP) inhibitor currently only 
approved as a capsule formulation.  
It is approved in the EU for the 
treatment of adult patients with 
platinum-sensitive relapsed 
BRCA-mutated (germline and/or 
somatic) high-grade serous epithelial 
ovarian, fallopian tube or primary 
peritoneal cancer. It is approved in 
the US for the treatment of patients 
with germline BRCA-mutated 
advanced ovarian cancer who have 
been treated with three or more prior 
lines of chemotherapy

A once-daily, peripherally-acting 
mu-opioid receptor antagonist 
approved for the treatment of 
opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in 
adult patients. The indication varies 
by jurisdiction

A proton pump inhibitor used to treat 
acid-related diseases

US

201710

China

EU1

Japan

2016

2015

2014

2023 201911, 2023

2018, 2023

23

6

–

US 
Product Sales
($m)

Aggregate Revenue for 
China, Japan and Europe2 

Product Sales
($m)

2015

396

2014

467

2016

358

2021-2023, 
2025

2021, 2025 2021-2026, 
2025

145

154

159

–

–

–

8

2021, 2025 2021-2026, 
2025

–

–

2022-2024, 
2028*, 
2024-2031

2021-2024, 
2024-2027

2021-2029, 
2024-2027

2021-2024, 
2024-2027

127

70

–

–

49

48

40

81

23

–

2022-2027, 
2028*, 2032

2024 2022-2024, 
2029*14

2022-2024

90

28

–

–

–

–

2018-202015

2018-2019

2018

2018, 
2018-2019

526

870

1,821

975

985

1,015

An oral dipeptidyl peptidase 4 
(DPP-4) inhibitor for Type 2 diabetes

2021-2024*, 
2018-2028

2021, 2025 2021-2025*, 
2025

12

231

266

322

119

124

129

An inhaled corticosteroid for 
maintenance treatment of asthma

A beta-blocker once-daily tablet for 
control of hypertension, heart failure 
and angina

2018-201916

201817

201817

201817

174

200

211

732

662

574

expired

expired

expired

expired

95

89

91

462

436

438

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

US

201718

China

2017

EU1

2017

Japan

19

2016

515

2015

716

2014

738

2016

134

US 
Product Sales
($m)

Aggregate Revenue for 
China, Japan and Europe2 

Product Sales
($m)

2015

201

2014

342

2017-202920

201821 2018-201921 2017-202021

1,242

1,520

1,511

1,276

1,375

1,756

2023

2023

2023

325

285

499

352

377

401

Key marketed 
products

Seroquel XR

Symbicort

Synagis

Tagrisso

Tudorza/Eklira 
Genuair

Xigduo

Zoladex

Description

Generally approved for the treatment 
of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, 
major depressive disorder and,  
on a more limited basis, for 
generalised anxiety disorder

A combination of an inhaled 
corticosteroid and a fast onset LABA 
for maintenance treatment of asthma 
and COPD

A humanised MAb used to prevent 
serious lower respiratory tract 
disease caused by respiratory 
syncytial virus (RSV) in paediatric 
patients at high risk of acquiring  
RSV disease

An EGFR-TKI indicated for patients 
with metastatic EGFR T790M 
mutation-positive NSCLC

Combines dapagliflozin (Farxiga/
Forxiga), an SGLT2 inhibitor, and 
metformin IR, in a twice-daily tablet  
to improve glycaemic control in adult 
patients with Type 2 diabetes who  
are inadequately controlled by 
metformin alone

A luteinising hormone-releasing 
hormone (LHRH) agonist used to 
treat prostate cancer, breast cancer 
and certain benign gynaecological 
disorders

A LAMA for the maintenance 
treatment of COPD

2020, 2025*, 
2022-2027

2020, 
2022-2027

2025, 
2022-2029

2025, 
2021-2029

2020, 2026*

2020-2023 2020-2028

2020-2025, 
2030

2032, 2035

2032, 2035 2032, 2035 2032, 2034*, 
2035

254

15

–

–

2

158

4

–

84

40

77

21

13

12

77

99

103

32

2022

2021

2021

2021

35

28

26

498

485

544

*  Date represents expiry of any granted SPC/PTE and/or Paediatric Exclusivity periods.
1  Expiry in major EU markets.
2(cid:3) (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:28)(cid:17)
3  Atacand HCT in US.
4  Takeda retained rights.
5(cid:3) (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:82)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:433)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:51)(cid:50)(cid:12)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:17)
6   A settlement agreement in the US permitted Watson Laboratories, Inc. and Actavis, Inc. (together, Watson) to begin selling its generic version of Crestor(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)

(cid:21)(cid:98)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)

7  There is eight years’ data exclusivity and two years’ market exclusivity for Daxas in the EU to 5 July 2020.
8(cid:3) (cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:17)
9(cid:3) (cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:93)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:17)
10 In the US, Iressa has seven years’ orphan drug exclusivity to 13 July 2022.
11 SPCs expire 2 March 2019. There is eight years’ data exclusivity and two years’ market exclusivity for Iressa in the EU to 24 June 2019.
12 AstraZeneca does not have commercialisation rights.
13 Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR revenue is included in the Onglyza(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:17)
14(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:46)(cid:92)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:78)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:46)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:87)(cid:71)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:17)
15 Licence agreements with Teva and Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. and other generic companies allow each to launch a generic version in the US from May 2014, subject to regulatory approval.
16  A licence agreement with Teva permits its ongoing sale in the US of a generic version from December 2009. The 2018 expiry relates to the Flexhaler device, while the 2019 expiry relates to the 

formulation in the Flexhaler presentation and also to Respules.

17 The 2018 expiry relates to the formulation in the Turbuhaler presentation and to a process useful for the Respules product.
18 Licence agreements with various generics companies allowed launches of generic versions of Seroquel XR in the US as of 1 November 2016.
19 Rights licensed to Astellas.
20 Patent expiry dates relate to the Symbicort pMDI product. The six months of paediatric exclusivity that have been granted are not included as they are not yet included in the Orange Book.
21 Patent expiry dates relate to the Symbicort Turbuhaler product.

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Additional Information 

Risk

Risks and uncertainties
Operating in the pharmaceutical sector carries various inherent risks and uncertainties that may affect our business. In this section,  
we describe the risks and uncertainties that we consider material to our business in that they may have a significant effect on our financial 
condition, results of operations, and/or reputation. 

These risks are not listed in any particular order of priority and have been categorised consistently with the Principal Risks detailed from 
page 20. Other risks, unknown or not currently considered material, could have a similar effect. We believe that the forward-looking 
statements about AstraZeneca in this Annual Report, identified by words such as ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘expects’ and ‘intends’, and 
that include, among other things, Future prospects in the Financial Review on page 76, are based on reasonable assumptions. However, 
forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties such as those summarised below. They relate to events that may 
occur in the future, that may be influenced by factors beyond our control and that may have actual outcomes materially different from 
our expectations.

Product pipeline and IP risks

Impact

Failure or delay in delivery of pipeline or launch of new products

Our continued success depends on the development and successful 
launch of innovative new drugs. 

The development of pharmaceutical product candidates is a complex, 
risky and lengthy process involving significant financial, R&D and other 
resources. It may fail at any stage of the process due to various factors, 
including failure to obtain the required regulatory or marketing approvals 
for the product candidate or for its manufacturing facilities, unfavourable 
clinical efficacy data, safety concerns, failure to demonstrate adequate 
cost-effective benefits to regulatory authorities and/or payers and the 
emergence of competing products. More details of projects that have 
suffered setbacks or failures during 2016 can be found in the Therapy 
Area Review.

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 from various factors, 
including adverse findings in pre-clinical or clinical studies, regulatory 
demands, price negotiation, competitor activity and technology transfer. 
More complex and stringent regulations govern the manufacturing and 
supply of biologics products, thus impacting the production and release 
schedules of such products more significantly. 

In addition to developing products in-house, we also expand our product 
portfolio and geographical presence through licensing arrangements and 
strategic collaborations, which are key to growing and strengthening our 
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. Disputes or difficulties in our relationship with our 
collaborators or partners may arise, for example, due to conflicting priorities 
or conflicts of interest between parties. 

In many cases we make milestone payments well in advance of the 
commercialisation of the products, with no assurance that we will recoup 
these payments.

We experience strong competition from other pharmaceutical companies 
in respect of licensing arrangements, strategic collaborations, and 
acquisition targets.

Failure or delay in development of new product candidates 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 plans or meet 
targets and expectations on page 223.

Since 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.

Significant delays to anticipated launch dates of new products could  
have a material adverse effect on our financial position 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. 
Furthermore, in immuno-oncology speed to market is critical given the 
large number of clinical trials being conducted by other companies.

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.

Failure to complete collaborative projects in a timely, cost-effective manner 
may limit our ability to access a greater portfolio of products, IP technology 
and shared expertise. Disputes and difficulties with our partners may erode 
or eliminate the benefits of our alliances and collaborations. In addition, 
failure to perform on the part of parties to externalisation transactions may 
diminish the future value of those transactions. Delay of launch can also 
erode the term of patent exclusivity.

Competition from other pharmaceutical companies means that we may 
be unsuccessful in implementing some of our intended projects or we 
may have to pay a significant premium over book or market values for 
our acquisitions.

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Product pipeline and IP risks

Impact

Difficulties in obtaining or maintaining regulatory drug approval for products 

Delays in regulatory reviews and approvals could delay our ability to 
market our products and may adversely affect our revenue. In addition, 
post-approval requirements, including additional clinical trials, could result 
in increased costs, and may impact the labelling and approval status of 
currently marketed products.

We are subject to strict controls on the commercialisation processes for 
our pharmaceutical products, including their development, manufacture, 
distribution and marketing. The criteria for establishing safety, efficacy and 
quality, which are essential for securing marketing approvals, may vary by 
country and by region. Regulators can refuse to grant approval or may 
require additional data before approval is granted, even though the 
medicine may already be launched in other countries.

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. While we seek to manage 
many of these risks, unanticipated and unpredictable policymaking by 
governments and regulators, limited regulatory authority resources or 
conflicting priorities often lead to severe delays in regulatory approvals.

We may be required to conduct additional clinical trials after a drug’s 
approval because a regulatory authority may have a concern that impacts 
the benefit/risk profile of one of our marketed drugs or drugs currently  
in development. For our marketed drugs, new data and meta-analyses 
have the potential to drive changes in the approval status or labelling. In 
addition, 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, and broader data transparency. Such 
transparency, while important, could lead to inappropriate or incorrect 
data analyses which may damage the integrity of our products and our 
Company’s reputation.

Failure to obtain and enforce effective IP protection

A pharmaceutical product is protected from being copied for a limited 
period of time under certain patent rights and/or related IP rights, such 
as Regulatory Data Protection or Orphan Drug status. Typically, products 
protected by such rights generate significantly higher revenues than those 
not protected. Our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patents and other 
IP rights in relation to our products is an important element in protecting 
and recouping our investment in R&D and creating long-term value for 
the business. Some countries in which we operate do not offer robust IP 
protection. This may be because IP laws are still developing, the scope 
of those laws is limited or the political environment does not support 
such legislation.

Limitations on the availability of patent protection, the ability to obtain 
related IP rights or the use of compulsory licensing in certain countries 
in which we operate could allow for earlier entry of generic or biosimilar 
competitor products. This could have a material adverse effect on the 
pricing and sales of our products and, consequently, could materially 
adversely affect our revenues.

More information about protecting our IP, the risk of patent litigation and 
the early loss of IP rights is contained in the Intellectual Property section on 
page 57, the Competitive pressures including expiry or loss of IP rights and 
generic competition risk on page 216 and Note 28 to the Financial 
Statements from page 185.

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Additional Information 

Risk continued

Commercialisation risks

Impact

Competitive pressures including expiry or loss of IP rights and generic competition

If we are not successful in obtaining, maintaining, defending or enforcing 
our exclusive rights to market our products, particularly in the US where  
we achieve our highest Product Sales, our revenue and margins could be 
materially adversely affected. In addition, unsuccessful assertion of our IP 
rights may lead to damages or other liabilities to third parties that could 
materially adversely affect our financial performance.

Third parties may be awarded remedies for alleged infringement of their IP, 
for example injunctions and damages for alleged patent infringement. In the 
US, courts may order enhanced (ie up to treble) damages for alleged wilful 
infringement of patents. From time to time we may acquire licences, 
discontinue activities and/or modify processes to avoid claims of patent 
infringement. These steps could entail significant costs and our revenue 
and margins could be materially adversely affected.

Unfavourable resolution of current and potential future patent litigation may 
require us to make significant provisions in our accounts relating to legal 
proceedings and/or could materially adversely affect our financial condition 
or results of operations.

A pharmaceutical product competes with other products marketed by 
research-based pharmaceutical companies and with generic or biosimilar 
drugs marketed by generic drug manufacturers. 

Approval of competitive products for the same or similar indication as one 
of our products may result in immediate and significant decreases in 
our revenues.

Generic versions of products, including biosimilars, 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. 
Expiry or loss of IP rights can materially adversely affect our revenues  
and financial condition due to the launch of cheaper generic copies of  
the product in the country where the rights have expired or been lost  
(see the table in the Patent Expiries of Key Marketed Products section  
from page 211). For example in 2016, our US Product Sales of Crestor fell  
to $1,223 million (2015: $2,844 million), following the launch of generics. 

Additionally, the expiry or loss of patents covering other innovator 
companies’ products may also lead to increased competition and pricing 
pressure for our own, still-patented products in the same product class due 
to the availability of lower priced generic products in that product class.

Generic manufacturers may also take advantage of the failure of certain 
countries to properly enforce Regulatory Data Protection or other related IP 
rights and may launch generics during this protected period. This is a 
particular risk in some Emerging Markets where appropriate patent 
protection or other related IP rights may be difficult to obtain or enforce.

Various regulatory authorities are implementing or considering abbreviated 
approval processes for biosimilars, allowing quicker entry to market for 
such products and earlier than anticipated competition for patented 
biologics.

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 from numerous generic drug manufacturers regarding our 
patents relating to key products, including Brilinta, Faslodex, Byetta, 
Daliresp, Onglyza and Crestor.

IP rights protecting our products may be challenged by external parties. 
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 bear the risk that courts may decide that 
our IP rights are invalid and/or that third parties do not infringe our asserted 
IP rights. 

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 by third parties, including research-based and generic 
pharmaceutical companies and individuals. These third parties may seek 
remedies for patent infringement, including injunctions (for example, 
preventing the marketing of one of our products) and damages.

Details of material patent litigation matters can be found in Note 28 to the 
Financial Statements from page 185.

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Commercialisation risks

Impact

Price controls and reductions

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

In the US, there is significant pricing pressure driven by payer consolidation, 
restrictive reimbursement policies, and cost control tools, such as 
exclusionary formularies and price protection clauses. Many formularies 
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, patients are seeing changes in the design of their health plan 
benefits and may experience variation in how their plans cover their 
medications, including increases in the out-of-pocket payments for their 
branded medications. Patient out-of-pocket spending is generally in the 
form of a co-payment or co-insurance, but there is a growing trend towards 
high deductible health plans that require that patients pay the full list price 
of their drugs and services until they meet certain out-of-pocket thresholds. 
Ongoing scrutiny of the US pharmaceutical industry, focused largely on 
pricing, is placing increased emphasis on the value of medications. This 
scrutiny will likely continue across many stakeholders, including 
policymakers and legislators. 

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, could materially  
adversely affect our business or results of operations. 

We expect these pricing pressures will continue and may increase.

The continued disparities in EU and US pricing systems could lead  
to marked price differentials between regions, 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. Strengthened collaboration by governments may accelerate 
the development of further cost-containment policies (such as joint 
procurement). Increased and simplified access to national and regional 
prices in markets and the publication of these prices in centralised 
databases have facilitated the uptake and efficiency of price referencing 
across the world.

The new US political leadership has initiated various legislative and policy 
processes that could affect the ACA. US prescription drug costs and 
importation policies could be among the policy proposals considered in 
initial steps to repeal and replace the ACA. In addition to addressing the 
ACA directly, lawmaker and policymaker proposals are also discussing a 
variety of other related changes relating to, for example, tax and Medicare 
reform. For more information, please see Pricing of medicines in the 
Marketplace section from page 13. Currently it is difficult to predict what 
specific proposals may be directed at existing laws and regulations 
(including the ACA or the Medicare Part D program) and to determine the 
implications for the healthcare system and pharmaceutical industry. This 
uncertainty could impact our ability to execute our plans, strategies, and 
business operations. However, significantly modifying existing laws and 
regulations, including the ACA and those relating to drug pricing and 
importation, could affect private health insurance, coverage through 
Medicaid and the health insurance exchange marketplaces, Medicare 
coverage and savings provisions, and other facets of the US healthcare 
market, with potentially significant impacts on the pharmaceutical industry.

In Europe, the industry continues to be exposed 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 which may eventually  
lead to a change in the overall pricing and reimbursement landscape. 

In Emerging Markets, governments are increasingly controlling pricing  
in the self-pay sector and favouring locally manufactured drugs. In addition, 
the emergence of price referencing is seen in some markets.

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. 

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 of medicines in the Marketplace section from page 13 and 
overleaf in the following risk factor.

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Additional Information 

Risk continued

Commercialisation risks

Impact

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.

While we have adopted cash management and treasury policies to 
manage the risk of not being able to access a sustainable flow of liquid 
funds (see the Financial risk management policies section of the Financial 
Review from page 76), 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 and non-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 Company 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 of the Financial Review from page 76.

It is too early to judge the impact of Brexit as it is unclear as to the trading 
relationships the UK will be able to negotiate with the EU and other 
significant trading partners. Any deterioration in market access or trading 
terms including customs duties, VAT or other tariffs that constitute real cost 
or delay to the movement of goods and increased administration may 
materially adversely impact our financial performance.

Economic, regulatory and political pressures

Operating in over 100 countries, we are subject to political, socio-economic 
and financial factors both globally and in individual countries.

A sustained global economic downturn may further exacerbate pressure 
from governments and other healthcare payers on medicine prices and 
volumes of sales in response to pressures on budgets, and may cause a 
slowdown or a decline in growth in some markets. Those 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. Other customers 
may cease to trade, which may result in losses from writing off debts,  
or a reduction in demand for 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 90% of our cash investments are managed centrally and are 
invested in collateralised bank deposits, fixed income securities in 
government, financial and non-financial securities and 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, financial institution and non-financial 
institution default risk.

On 23 June 2016, the UK held a remain-or-leave referendum on the  
UK’s membership within the EU, the outcome of which was a decision  
for the UK to exit from the EU (Brexit). A process of negotiation will likely 
determine the future terms of the UK’s relationship with the EU, as well  
as whether the UK will be able to continue to benefit from the EU’s free 
trade and similar arrangements. Until the Brexit negotiation process is 
initiated and completed, it is difficult to anticipate the potential impact on 
AstraZeneca’s market share, sales, profitability and results of operations. 
The Group operates from a global footprint and retains flexibility to adapt  
to changing circumstances. The uncertainty before, during and after the 
period of negotiation is also expected to increase volatility and may have  
an economic impact, particularly in the UK and Eurozone. The Board 
reviews the potential impact of Brexit as an integral part of its Principal 
Risks (as outlined from page 20) rather than as a stand-alone risk. As the 
process of Brexit evolves, the Board will continue to assess its impact  
on the Company.

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Commercialisation risks

Impact

Failures or delays in the quality and execution of our commercial strategies

Commercial success of our Growth Platforms are critical factors in 
sustaining or increasing global Product Sales and replacing lost Product 
Sales due to patent expiry. The successful launch of a new pharmaceutical 
product involves substantial investment in sales and marketing activities, 
launch stocks and other items. We may ultimately be unable to achieve 
commercial success for various reasons including 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. 

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.

We face particular challenges in Emerging Markets, 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). 

 > The need to impose developed market compliance standards. 
 > The need to meet a more diverse range of national regulatory, clinical, 

manufacturing and distribution requirements.

 > Potential inadvertent breaches of local and international law. 
 > Not being able to recruit appropriately skilled and experienced 

personnel. 

 > Difficulty in identifying the most effective sales and marketing channels 

and routes to market.

 > Intervention by national governments or regulators restricting market 

access and/or introducing adverse price controls.

 > Difficulty in managing local partnerships such as co-promotion and 

co-marketing; both driving performance and adhering to AstraZeneca’s 
compliance standards which are often higher than the market norm.
 > Difficulties in cash repatriation due to strict foreign currency controls  

and lack of hard currency reserves in some Emerging Markets.
 > Complexity inherent within a direct exports business from UK and 

Sweden operations to countries where we do not have a legal entity.

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. Disputes or difficulties in our relationship with our 
collaborators or partners may also arise, often due to conflicting priorities  
or conflicts of interest between parties.

Failure to execute our commercial strategies could materially adversely 
impact our business or results of operations.

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 biologics medicines, such as 
Synagis and FluMist/Fluenz.

The failure to exploit potential opportunities appropriately in Emerging 
Markets or materialisation of the risks and challenges of doing business  
in such markets, including inadequate protection against crime (including 
counterfeiting, corruption and fraud) or inadvertent breaches of local and 
international law may materially adversely affect our reputation, business  
or results of operations.

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.

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. We may issue 
additional shares to pay for acquired businesses, which would result  
in the dilution of our then existing shareholders.

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Additional Information 

Risk continued

Supply chain and business execution risks 

Impact

Difficulties with manufacturing and supply, forecasting, distribution or third 
party suppliers may result in product shortages, which may lead to lost 
Product Sales and materially adversely affect our reputation and revenues. 
Even slight variations in components or any part of the manufacturing 
process may lead to a product that is non-compliant and does not meet 
quality standards. This could lead to recalls, spoilage, product shortage, 
regulatory action and/or reputational harm.

Failure to maintain supply of compliant, quality product

We may experience difficulties, delays and interruptions in the 
manufacturing and supply of our products for various reasons, including: 

 > Demand significantly in excess of forecast demand, which may lead  
to supply shortages (this is particularly challenging before launch).
 > 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 in construction of new facilities or the expansion of existing 

facilities, including those intended to support future demand for our 
products (the complexities associated with biologics facilities, especially 
for drug substance, increases the probability of delay).

 > The 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.

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 and  
drug substances and/or finished drug products for some of our biologics 
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. We expect that external capacity 
for biologics drug substance production will remain constrained for the next 
few years and, accordingly, may not be readily available for supplementary 
production in the event that we experience an unforeseen need for  
such capacity.

Illegal trade in our products

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 are not approved or not permitted/allowed 
to be sold). There is a risk to public health when illegally traded products 
enter the supply chain, as well as associated financial risk. Authorities 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, for example, counterfeit and/or 
illegally diverted products replace sales of genuine products or genuine 
products are recalled following discovery of counterfeit products.

Reliance on third party goods and services

Many of our business-critical operations, including certain R&D processes, 
IT systems, HR, finance, tax and accounting services have been 
outsourced to third party providers. We are thus heavily reliant on these 
third parties not just to deliver timely and high quality services but also to 
comply with applicable laws and regulations and adhere to our ethical 
business expectations from third party providers.

The failure of outsource providers to deliver timely services, and to the 
required level of quality, or the failure of outsource providers to cooperate with 
each other, could materially adversely affect our financial condition or results of 
operations. Moreover, the failure of these third parties to operate in an ethical 
manner could adversely impact our reputation both internally and externally  
or even result in non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Our business and financial results could be materially adversely affected  
by disruptions caused by our failure to successfully manage either the 
integration of outsourced services or the transition process of insourcing 
services from third parties. For instance, insourcing some of the previously 
outsourced services into our service centre in Chennai, India and 
Guadalajara, Mexico may result in deterioration of the quality of service  
or deployment of resources by these third parties.

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Supply chain and business execution risks 

Impact

Failure of information security, data protection and cybercrime

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. 

Examples of sensitive information that we protect include clinical trial 
records (patient names and treatments), personal information (employee 
bank details, home address), IP related to manufacturing process and 
compliance, key research science techniques, AstraZeneca property  
(theft) and privileged access (rights to perform IT tasks).

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 this 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.

Significant changes in the business footprint and the implementation of the 
IT strategy, including the creation and use of captive offshore Global 
Technology Centres, could lead to temporary loss of capability.

We increasingly use the internet, digital content, 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. It may also lead to 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.

Failure of critical processes

Unexpected events and/or events beyond our control could result in the 
failure of critical processes within the Company or at third parties on whom 
we are reliant. 

The business faces threats to business continuity from many directions. 
Examples of material threats include:

 > Disruption to our business if there is instability in a particular geographic 

region, including as a result of war, terrorism, riots, unstable 
governments, civil insurrection or social unrest.

 > Natural disasters in areas of the world prone to extreme weather events 

and earthquakes.

 > Cyber threats similar to those detailed in the Failure of information 

security, data protection and cybercrime section above.

Any expected gains from productivity initiatives are uncertain

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.

Any significant disruption to these IT systems, including breaches 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 invest 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.

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 intrusions, including as a result of 
computer-related malware.

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, such as 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 and/or additional legal obligations. Similarly, the 
involuntary public disclosure of commercially sensitive information or an 
information loss could adversely affect our business or results of 
operations. In addition, negative posts or comments about us (or, for 
example, the safety of our products) on social media websites or other 
digital channels could harm our reputation.

Failure of critical processes may result in an inability to research, 
manufacture or supply products to patients. AstraZeneca has developed  
a Business Resilience framework which is designed to mitigate such risks. 
However, there is no guarantee that these measures will be sufficient to 
prevent business interruption. 

This may expose the Company to litigation and/or regulatory action which 
may result in fines, loss of revenue and adversely affect the Company’s 
financial results.

Our failure to successfully implement these planned cost-reduction 
measures, either through the successful implementation 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.

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

We rely heavily on recruiting and retaining talented employees with a 
diverse range of skills and capabilities to meet our strategic objectives.

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.

The successful delivery of our business objectives is dependent on high 
levels of engagement, commitment and motivation of the workforce.

The inability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel 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 materially 
adversely affect our business or results of operations.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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Additional Information 

Risk continued

Legal, regulatory and compliance risks

Impact

Failure to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations; manage  
our liabilities; or to adequately anticipate or proactively manage emerging 
policy and legal developments could materially adversely affect our  
licence to operate, or results of operations; adversely affect our reputation; 
cause harm to people or the environment; and/or lead to fines or other 
penalties. 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. If regulatory issues concerning compliance  
with environmental, 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.

Failure to adhere to applicable laws, rules and regulations

Our many business operations are subject to a wide range of laws, rules 
and regulations from governmental and non-governmental bodies around 
the world.

Any failure to comply with these applicable laws, rules and regulations  
may result in us being investigated by relevant agencies and authorities 
and/or in legal proceedings being filed against us. Such investigations  
or proceedings could result in us becoming subject to civil or criminal 
sanctions and/or being forced to pay fines or damages. Relevant 
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.

Material examples of statutes, rules and regulations impacting business 
operations include:

 > Compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice.
 > Local, national and international environment or occupational health  

and safety laws and regulations.

 > Trade control laws governing our imports and exports including 

nationally and internationally recognised trade agreements, embargoes, 
trade and economic sanctions and anti-boycott requirements.

 > Competition laws and regulations, including challenges from competition 

authorities to patent settlement agreements and private damages 
actions.

 > Rules and regulations established to promote ethical supply chain 

management.

 > Financial regulations including, but not limited to, external financial 

reporting, taxation and money laundering.

 > Employment practices.
 > Disclosure of payments to healthcare professionals under the Sunshine 

Act and EFPIA legislation.

 > Appropriate disclosure of community support, patient group support 

and product donations.

We have environmental and/or occupational health and safety-related 
liabilities at some current, formerly owned, leased and third party sites. For 
more information on the most significant of these and for details on other 
significant litigation matters, please refer to Note 28 to the Financial 
Statements from page 185.

Safety and efficacy of marketed products is questioned

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.

Serious safety concerns or adverse events relating to our products could 
lead to product recalls, seizures, loss of product approvals and interruption 
of supply and could materially adversely impact patient access, our 
reputation and financial revenues.

Any unforeseen safety concerns or adverse events relating to our products 
or failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations relating to provision of 
appropriate warnings concerning the dangers and risks of our products 
that result in injuries could expose us to large product liability damages 
claims, settlements and awards, particularly in the US. Adverse publicity 
relating to the safety of a product or of other competing products may 
increase the risk of product liability claims.

Details of material product liability litigation matters can be found in Note 28 
to the Financial Statements from page 185.

Significant product liability claims could also arise which could be costly, 
divert management attention or damage our reputation and demand for 
our products.

Unfavourable resolution of such current and similar future product liability 
claims could subject us to enhanced damages, require us to make 
significant provisions in our accounts relating to legal proceedings and 
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 224.

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Legal, regulatory and compliance risks

Impact

Adverse outcome of litigation and/or governmental investigations

We may be subject to various product liability, consumer commercial, 
anti-trust, 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 
enhanced 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 28 to the Financial Statements from page 185 describes the material 
legal proceedings in which we are currently involved.

Governmental investigations, for example under the Foreign Corrupt 
Practices Act or federal or state False Claims Acts or other types  
of 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, including enhanced damages, 
require us to make significant provisions in our accounts relating to legal 
proceedings and could materially adversely affect our business or results  
of operations.

Failure to adhere to increasingly stringent anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation

Despite taking measures to prevent breaches of applicable anti-bribery  
and anti-corruption laws by our personnel and associated third parties, 
breaches may still occur, potentially resulting 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.

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

In the UK, the Bribery Act 2010 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 controls 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, Brazil, India and other countries 
are also enforcing their own anti-bribery laws more aggressively and/or 
adopting tougher new measures.

We have been the subject of anti-corruption investigations and there can 
be no assurance that we will not, from time to time, continue to be subject 
to informal enquiries 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 28 to the Financial 
Statements from page 185.

(cid:40)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:86)(cid:3)

Impact

Failure to achieve strategic plans or meet targets and expectations 

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 on page 76). 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 
those that we are unaware of and/or that are beyond our control.

Any failure to successfully implement our business strategy, whether 
determined by internal or external risk factors, 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.

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Additional Information 

Risk continued

(cid:40)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:86)(cid:3)

Impact

Unexpected deterioration in the Company’s financial position 

A wide range of financial risks could result in a material deterioration in the 
Company’s financial position.

As a global business, currency fluctuations can significantly affect our 
results of operations, which are reported in US dollars. Approximately 35% 
of our global 2016 Product Sales were in the US, which is expected to 
remain our largest single market for the foreseeable future. Product Sales  
in other countries are predominantly in currencies other than the US dollar, 
including the euro, Japanese yen, Chinese renminbi and Australian dollar.

Our consolidated balance sheet contains significant investments in 
intangible assets, including goodwill. The nature of the biopharmaceutical 
business is high risk and requires that we invest in a large number of 
projects in an effort to develop a successful portfolio of approved products. 
Our ability to realise value on these significant investments is often 
contingent upon, among other things, regulatory approvals, market 
acceptance, competition and legal developments. As such, in the course  
of our many acquisitions and R&D activities, we expect that some of our 
intangible assets will become impaired and be written off at some time in 
the future.

Inherent variability of biologics manufacturing increases the risk of write-offs 
of these product batches. Due to the value of the materials used, the 
carrying amount of biological products is much higher than that of small 
molecule products. As we continue to grow our biologics business, we also 
increase the risk of potential impairment charges.

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, we have continued to adjust our coverage profile, 
accepting a greater degree of uninsured exposure. The Company 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 28  
to the Financial Statements from page 185 for details.

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 Company’s worldwide operations are taxed under laws in the 
jurisdictions in which they operate. International standards governing the 
global tax environment regularly change. The Organisation for Economic 
Co-operation and Development (OECD) has proposed a number of 
changes under the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plans.

Our defined benefit pension obligations are largely backed by assets 
invested across the broad investment market. Our most significant 
obligations relate to defined benefit pension funds in the UK, Sweden  
and the US. The largest obligation is in the UK.

Movements in the exchange rates used to translate foreign currencies into 
US dollars may materially adversely affect our financial condition or results 
of operations. 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 and settlement dates. In 
addition, there are foreign exchange differences arising on the translation  
of investments in subsidiaries.

We have significant investments in goodwill and intangible assets as  
a result of our acquisitions of various businesses and our purchases  
of certain assets, such as product development and marketing rights. 
Impairment losses may materially adversely affect our financial condition  
or results of operations. Details of the carrying values of goodwill and 
intangible assets, and the estimates and assumptions we make in our 
impairment testing, are included in Notes 8 and 9 to the Financial 
Statements from page 156.

Financial liabilities arising 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, could require us to make significant 
provisions relating to legal proceedings and could materially adversely 
affect our financial condition or results of operations.

For more information, please see the Adverse outcome of litigation and/or 
governmental investigations risk on page 223.

The resolution of tax disputes regarding the profits to be taxed in individual 
territories 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, EPS and post-tax earnings. Claims, regardless of their merits or 
their outcome, are costly, divert management attention and may adversely 
affect our reputation.

If any double tax treaties should be withdrawn or amended, especially in a 
territory where a member of the AstraZeneca 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 financial 
condition or results of operations, as could a negative outcome of a tax 
dispute or a failure by tax authorities to agree through competent authority 
proceedings. See the Financial risk management policies section of the 
Financial Review on page 76 for tax risk management policies and Note 28 
to the Financial Statements from page 185 for details of current tax disputes.

Changes in tax regimes could result in a material impact on the Company’s 
cash tax liabilities and tax charge, resulting in either an increase or a 
reduction in financial results depending upon the nature of the change.  
We represent views to the OECD, governments and tax authorities through 
public consultations to ensure international institutions and governments 
understand the business implications of proposed law changes. Specific 
OECD BEPS recommendations that we expect to impact the Company 
include changes to patent box regimes, restrictions of interest deductibility 
and revised transfer pricing guidelines.

Sustained falls in asset values could reduce pension fund solvency levels, 
which may result in requirements for additional cash, restricting the cash 
available for our business. Changes to funding regulations for defined 
benefit pensions may also result in a requirement for additional cash 
contributions by the Company. If the present value of the liabilities  
increase due to a sustained low interest rate environment, an increase in 
expectations of future inflation, or an improvement in member longevity 
(above that already assumed), this could also 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 and the price of new debt issuances. See Note 20 to the 
Financial Statements from page 165 for further details of the Group’s  
pension obligations.

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(cid:40)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:86)(cid:3)

Impact

Failure in financial control or the occurrence of fraud 

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial 
reports and are designed to prevent and detect fraud. Lapses in controls 
and procedures could undermine the ability to prevent fraud or provide 
accurate disclosure of financial information on a timely basis. Testing of our 
internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the 
preparation and fair presentation of financial statements and may not 
prevent or detect misstatements or fraud.

Significant resources may be required to remediate any lapse or deficiency 
in internal controls.

Any such deficiency may also trigger investigations by a number of 
organisations, for example, the SEC, the DOJ or the SFO and may result  
in fines being levied against the Company or individual directors. 

Serious fraud may lead to potential prosecution or even imprisonment  
of senior management.

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Additional Information 

Geographical Review

This section contains further information about the performance of our products within 
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)
relates to Product Sales. 

Total Oncology

3,383

2016

Oncology:

Faslodex

Zoladex

Iressa

Tagrisso

Casodex

Arimidex

Lynparza

Others

Cardiovascular & Metabolic 
Disease: 

Crestor

Brilinta

Farxiga

Seloken/Toprol-XL

Onglyza

Bydureon

Atacand

Byetta

Others

Total Cardiovascular & 
Metabolic Disease

Respiratory:

Symbicort

Pulmicort

Tudorza/Eklira

Daliresp/Daxas

Duaklir

Others

Total Respiratory

Other:

Nexium

Seroquel XR

Synagis

Losec/Prilosec

FluMist/Fluenz

Movantik/Moventig

Others

Total Other

Total Product Sales

Sales
$m

Actual
%

World

CER
%

US

Sales
$m

Actual
%

Sales
$m

Actual
%

Europe

CER
%

Established ROW 

Emerging Markets

Sales
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

Sales
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

830

816

513

423

247

232

218

104

18 

– 

(6)

19 

– 

(5)

438

35

23

n/m 

n/m 

254

(7)

(7)

(9)

(6)

n/m 

n/m 

(21)

20 

(26)

20 

2

14

127

–

893

3,401

839

835

737

720

578

315

254

437

(32)

36 

70 

4 

(8)

– 

(13)

(20)

(28)

(32)

1,223

39 

72 

9 

(6)

–

(8)

(19)

(26)

348

457

95

376

463

36

164

40

23 

25 

n/m 

n/m 

100 

(26)

81 

n/m 

74 

(57)

45 

75 

7 

(10)

(4)

6 

(22)

(27)

228

156

120

76

27

37

81

8

733

866

258

187

90

132

100

97

45

119

10 

(8)

(7)

11 

(4)

(5)

n/m

n/m 

(7)

(24)

(7)

(24)

n/m

n/m 

(65)

16 

(65)

18 

(5)

12 

48 

(6)

(6)

22 

(8)

(26)

(17)

(4)

15 

52 

(5)

(5)

23 

(8)

(25)

(17)

68

270

137

83

111

71

3

71

814

591

44

58

16

70

11

20

21

50

26 

(1)

– 

100 

(15)

(10)

15 

(7)

(8)

100 

(23)

(18)

n/m 

n/m 

18 

11 

7 

2 

4 

19 

81 

33 

6 

38 

(20)

(5)

(14)

(5)

22 

72 

25 

11 

25 

(20)

(9)

(21)

96

355

233

10

107

110

7

25

943

721

189

133

536

142

4

162

24

228

10 

3 

(14)

100 

1 

7 

n/m 

(17)

– 

5 

69 

82 

4 

(11)

(50)

(17)

– 

(35)

25 

6 

(10)

100 

8 

15 

n/m 

(13)

6 

12 

80 

96 

12 

(4)

(25)

(9)

13 

(30)

8,116

(14)

(13)

3,202

(31)

1,894

– 

1 

881

6 

(1)

2,139

1 

8 

2,989

1,061

170

154

63

316

4,753

2,032

735

677

276

104

91

1,152

5,067

21,319

(10)

1,242

(12)

5 

(11)

48 

8 

(9)

48 

n/m 

n/m 

22 

(5)

27 

(3)

(19)

(28)

2 

(19)

(64)

(18)

(27)

2 

(17)

(59)

n/m 

n/m 

174

77

134

–

11

1,638

554

515

325

10

33

90

(23)

(20)

(10)

(20)

(19)

(8)

105

1,632

7,365

(18)

(13)

(25)

29 

– 

(39)

(16)

(39)

(28)

14 

(44)

(84)

n/m 

(54)

(31)

(22)

909

99

83

15

60

118

1,284

251

134

352

83

64

–

269

1,153

5,064

(15)

(15)

8 

100 

n/m 

34 

(7)

(12)

(33)

(7)

(14)

(16)

 –

(27)

(18)

(5)

(12)

(14)

9 

100 

n/m 

38 

(4)

(11)

(32)

(7)

(13)

3 

– 

(21)

(15)

(3)

436

90

9

1

2

50

588

537

17

–

55

6

–

198

813

3,096

8 

2 

– 

n/m 

n/m 

108 

12 

(2)

(32)

– 

(26)

(14)

– 

(29)

(13)

2 

5 

(3)

– 

n/m 

n/m 

108 

402

698

1

4

1

137

8 

1,243

(10)

(32)

–

(31)

(14)

–

(27)

(17)

(4)

690

69

–

128

1

1

580

1,469

5,794

2 

15 

– 

n/m 

– 

8 

10 

(9)

(17)

– 

(15)

10 

21 

n/m 

n/m 

n/m 

13 

17 

(3)

(7)

– 

(9)

n/m

n/m 

– 

(9)

(9)

– 

– 

(4)

(4)

6 

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Total Oncology

2,825

2015

Oncology:

Faslodex

Zoladex

Iressa

Tagrisso

Casodex

Arimidex

Lynparza

Others

Cardiovascular & Metabolic 
Disease:

Crestor

Brilinta

Farxiga

Seloken/Toprol-XL

Onglyza

Bydureon

Atacand

Byetta

Others

Total Cardiovascular & 
Metabolic Disease

Respiratory: 

Symbicort

Pulmicort

Tudorza/Eklira

Daliresp/Daxas

Duaklir

Others

Total Respiratory

Other:

Nexium

Seroquel XR

Synagis

Losec/Prilosec

FluMist/Fluenz

Movantik/Moventig

Others

Total Other

Total Product Sales

Sales
$m

Actual
%

US

Actual
%

Sales
$m

Actual
%

Europe

CER
%

Established ROW

Emerging Markets

Sales
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

Sales
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

World

CER
%

9 

7 

(2)

(2)

(12)

(13)

n/m 

n/m 

(17)

(16)

(6)

(5)

n/m 

n/m 

(7)

(7)

6 

7 

(9)

30

119

(6)

(4)

32

(29)

(3)

(18)

(3)

44 

137 

4 

2 

35 

(15)

2 

(10)

Sales
$m

356

28

6

15

1

19

70

19

514

2,844

240

261

89

420

482

34

209

55

704

816

543

19

267

250

94

132

5,017

619

492

710

786

580

358

316

611

5 

8 

n/m 

n/m 

(80)

27 

n/m 

(24)

25 

(3)

64 

114 

(2)

(13)

29 

(23)

5 

(28)

207

171

128

4

30

49

23

23

635

916

230

126

97

141

81

105

62

143

(15)

(24)

(22)

n/m 

(29)

(36)

n/m 

(30)

(19)

(24)

–

91 

(22)

(9)

42 

(38)

(23)

(29)

2 

(12)

(8)

n/m 

(14)

(24)

n/m 

(18)

(4)

(9)

18 

126 

(6)

8 

65 

(26)

(11)

(15)

54

272

137

–

131

79

–

60

733

571

37

32

12

66

8

26

22

60

(8)

(16)

(23)

– 

(22)

(27)

– 

25

(17)

(14)

12 

88 

(37)

12

60 

(40)

(19)

(26)

5 

(2)

(10)

– 

(11)

(17)

– 

44 

(4)

(1)

33 

124 

(26)

27 

80 

(30)

(7)

(15)

87

345

272

–

105

103

1

30

943

686

112

73

512

159

9

193

23

353

9,489

(3)

4 

4,634

4 

1,901

(17)

(1)

834

(12)

1 

2,120

– 

3,394

1,014

190

104

27

258

4,987

2,496

1,025

662

340

288

29

1,500

6,340

23,641

(11)

7

n/m 

n/m 

n/m 

(15)

(2)

(32)

(16)

(26)

(19)

(2)

(3)

15 

n/m 

n/m 

n/m 

(5)

7 

(26)

(12)

(26)

(10)

– 

n/m 

n/m 

(12)

(23)

(9)

– 

(16)

(1)

1,520

200

103

104

–

18

1,945

902

716

285

18

206

28

226

2,381

9,474

1 

(5)

n/m 

n/m 

– 

(31)

11 

(52)

(3)

(43)

(32)

(6)

n/m 

50 

(32)

(6)

1,076

117

76

–

26

88

1,383

284

202

377

97

76

1

367

1,404

5,323

(26)

(28)

(14)

(13)

n/m 

n/m 

– 

n/m

(20)

(21)

(23)

(41)

(6)

(25)

9

– 

n/m 

(6)

(7)

(7)

(30)

(6)

(10)

16 

n/m 

n/m 

404

88

9

–

1

25

527

549

25

–

74

7

–

(28)

(23)

(20)

(15)

(13)

(6)

273

928

3,022

(12)

(9)

2 

4 

n/m 

n/m 

– 

– 

n/m 

n/m 

394

609

2

–

–

(7)

(9)

(9)

(43)

–

(30)

– 

– 

(17)

(15)

(14)

4 

5 

127

1,132

5 

(34)

– 

(19)

14 

– 

(3)

(1)

– 

761

82

–

151

(1)

–

634

1,627

5,822

14 

(2)

(3) 

– 

1

4 

n/m 

(17)

– 

49 

27 

4 

– 

9 

16 

n/m 

– 

18 

(6)

70 

2 

91 

n/m 

n/m 

(2)

27 

9 

41 

125 

150 

(21)

15 

(9)

6 

28

(4)

30 

(3)

11 

22 

35 

n/m 

n/m 

– 

– 

(9)

15 

(6)

(18)

–

(5)

– 

– 

(1)

25 

3 

(1)

– 

(1)

(100)

(100)

– 

(12)

(9)

–

– 

1 

2 

12 

All commentary in this section relates to 
Product Sales. The market definitions used  
in the geographical areas review below are 
defined in the Glossary on page 239. 

2016 in brief 
Sales decreased 10% (CER: decreased 8%) 
in the year to $21,319 million (2015: $23,641 
million; 2014: $26,095 million). 

In 2016, sales in the US decreased 22%  
to $7,365 million (2015: $9,474 million; 2014: 
$10,120 million). The decline in US sales 
reflected the competition from generic 
Crestor medicines that entered the US 
market from July 2016. Unfavourable 

managed-care pricing and continued 
competitive intensity also impacted the  
sales of Symbicort.

Sales in Europe decreased 5% (CER: 
decreased 3%) to $5,064 million in the year 
(2015: $5,323 million; 2014: $6,638 million). 
Strong growth in sales of Forxiga, up 48% 
(CER: up 52%) to $187 million (2015: $126 
million; 2014: $66 million), and Brilique, up 
12% (CER: up 15%) to $258 million (2015: 
$230 million; 2014: $231 million), was more 
than offset by a 15% decrease in Symbicort 
sales (CER: 12% decrease) to $909 million 
(2015: $1,076 million; 2014: $1,462 million). 
However, Symbicort maintained its position 

as the number one ICS/LABA medicine by 
volume, despite competition from analogue 
medicines. Lynparza and Tagrisso sales 
increased to $81 million (2015: $23 million; 
2014: $nil) and $76 million (2015: $4 million; 
2014: $nil) respectively. 

Sales in the Established Rest of World 
(ROW) in 2016 increased 2% (CER: 
decreased 4%) to $3,096 million (2015: 
$3,022 million; 2014: $3,510 million). Sales of 
Forxiga in Established ROW increased 81% 
(CER: increased 72%), to $58 million (2015: 
$32 million; 2014: $17 million). Nexium sales 
decreased 2% (CER: decreased 10%) to 

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Geographical Review continued

$537 million (2015: $549 million; 2014: $606 
million). Japan sales increased 8% (CER: 
decreased 3%) to $2,184 million (2015: 
$2,020 million; 2014: $2,227 million), 
reflecting the biennial price reduction 
effective from April 2016 of around 6% after 
eliminating the exchange rate impact. The 
CER percentage decline in Japan was partly 
mitigated by stable sales of Crestor of $521 
million (2015: $468 million; 2014: $502 
million) in the year. Since the launch of 
Tagrisso in Japan in March 2016, sales 
amounted to $82 million (2015 & 2014: $nil). 

Sales growth for the year in Emerging 
Markets remained stable (CER: increased 
6%) at $5,794 million (2015: $5,822 million; 
2014: $5,827 million). Sales growth was 
impacted by challenging macro-economic 
conditions in Latin America, such as the 
current economic situation in Venezuela, 
where ex-Brazil sales decreased 20% (CER: 
decreased 7%) to $516 million (2015: $643 
million; 2014: $730 million). The effects of 
significant reductions in Saudi Arabian 
governmental healthcare spending, as well 
as the reduction of AstraZeneca’s activities 
in Venezuela, also adversely impacted sales. 
China sales increased 4% (CER: increased 
10%) to $2,636 million (2015: $2,530 million; 
2014: $2,242 million), and represent 45% of 
the Group’s Emerging Markets sales. Sales 
in Brazil decreased 9% (CER: increased 2%) 
to $348 million (2015: $381 million; 2014: 
$451 million). The increase after eliminating 
exchange rate impacts reflects the strong 
performances of Forxiga, which increased 
40% (CER: increased 50%) to $28 million 
(2015: $20 million; 2014: $5 million), 
Oncology medicines, which decreased 8% 
(CER: increased 1%) to $82 million (2015: 
$89 million; 2014: $99 million), and Seloken, 
which decreased 6% (CER: increased 6%) 
to $63 million (2015: $67 million; 2014: $84 
million). Russia sales increased 1% (CER: 
increased 13%) to $233 million (2015: $231 
million; 2014: $312 million), led by strong 
performances in Cardiovascular & Metabolic 
Disease medicine sales, which increased 
23% (CER: increased 38%) to $80 million 
(2015: $65 million; 2014: $89 million).

2015 in brief 
Product Sales decreased 9% (CER: 
decreased 1%) in the year to $23,641 million 
(2014: $26,095 million; 2013: $25,711 million). 

In 2015, sales in the US decreased 6% to 
$9,474 million (2014: $10,120 million; 2013: 
$9,691 million). Declines in revenue from 
Nexium, Crestor and Synagis were partially 
offset by strong performance of our Growth 
Platforms, including Farxiga, Bydureon and 

Brilinta, the launches of Lynparza and 
Tagrisso as well as the impact of completing 
the acquisition of Actavis’s rights to Tudorza 
and Daliresp in the US. 

Sales in Europe decreased 20% (CER: 
decreased 6%) to $5,323 million in the year 
(2014: $6,638 million; 2013: $6,658 million). 
Strong growth from the Diabetes portfolio 
was more than offset by pricing pressure and 
continued generic competition facing Crestor, 
Nexium and Seroquel XR. A 26% decrease 
(CER: decrease of 14%) in Symbicort sales to 
$1,076 million (2014: $1,462 million; 2013: 
$1,502 million) reflected adverse pricing 
movements driven by competition from 
analogues in key markets. Also, Lynparza 
was launched in Europe in 2015. 

Sales in the Established ROW decreased 
14% (CER: stable) to $3,022 million (2014: 
$3,510 million; 2013: $3,973 million). Japan 
sales decreased 9% (CER: increased 4%) to 
$2,020 million (2014: $2,227 million; 2013: 
$2,485 million). After eliminating the 
exchange rate impact, sales were driven  
by strong growth of Crestor and Nexium, 
though there was a decline in the sales of 
Symbicort. Canada sales decreased 10% 
(CER: increased 4%) to $533 million (2014: 
$590 million; 2013: $637 million) in the year, 
driven by increased sales of Onglyza and 
Symbicort after exchange rate effects.

Emerging Markets sales in the year remained 
stable (CER: increased 12%) at $5,822 million 
(2014: $5,827 million; 2013: $5,389 million), 
with contributions to CER growth emanating 
from across the region. Around 60% of 
Emerging Markets sales were derived 
outside of China in the year. China sales in 
the year increased 13% (CER: increased 
15%) to $2,530 million (2014: $2,242 million; 
2013: $1,840 million), while Brazil sales 
decreased 16% (CER: increased 16%) to 
$381 million (2014: $451 million; 2013: $447 
million) and Russia sales decreased 26% 
(CER: increased 21%) to $231 million (2014: 
$312 million; 2013: $310 million). 

Sales by region

US
Sales in the US decreased 22% to  
$7,365 million (2015: $9,474 million; 2014: 
$10,120 million).

Oncology 
Oncology sales in the US increased 74%  
to $893 million (2015: $514 million; 2014: 
$411 million). An increase in Tagrisso and 
Lynparza sales, which were launched in 
2015, contributed to this. 

Faslodex sales increased 23% to $438 
million (2015: $356 million; 2014: $340 
million), mainly driven by an expanded  
label in March 2016, in combination with 
palbociclib, for 2nd line advanced or 
metastatic breast cancer. 

Sales of Tagrisso were $254 million  
(2015: $15 million; 2014: $nil). On 29 
September 2016, a third party, blood-based 
companion-diagnostic test for Tagrisso  
was approved in the US. The test is 
designed to confirm the presence of  
a T790M mutation in patients.

Lynparza sales increased 81% to $127 
million (2015: $70 million; 2014: $nil), 
reflecting high market-penetration rates. 

Zoladex sales increased 25% to $35 million 
(2015: $28 million; 2014: $26 million). 

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease 
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease sales  
in the US decreased 31% to $3,202 million 
(2015: $4,634 million; 2014: $4,451 million), 
primarily due to the decline in Crestor sales. 

Crestor sales decreased 57% to $1,223 
million (2015: $2,844 million; 2014: $2,918 
million), reflecting the market entry of Crestor 
generic medicines. 

Brilinta sales increased 45% to $348 million 
(2015: $240 million; 2014: $146 million), 
reflecting updated preferred guidelines 
regarding acute coronary syndrome 
treatment from the American College  
of Cardiology and the American Heart 
Association; Brilinta remained the branded 
oral anti-platelet market leader in the US. 

Sales of Farxiga in the US increased 75%  
to $457 million (2015: $261 million; 2014: 
$122 million), primarily reflecting overall 
market growth and a higher net price.  
A stronger emphasis on promotional activity 
and improved levels of patient access 
resulted in market-share growth. 

Onglyza sales decreased 10% to $376 
million (2015: $420 million; 2014: $481 
million), as the Company prioritised sales 
and marketing resources towards Farxiga. 
Continued competitive pressures in the 
DPP-4 class led to lower market share but 
were partially offset by reduced levels of 
utilisation of patient-access programmes. 

Combined sales for Bydureon/Byetta were 
$627 million (2015: $691 million; 2014: $573 
million). Bydureon sales decreased 4% to 
$463 million (2015: $482 million; 2014: $374 
million), representing 74% of total Bydureon/
Byetta US sales. Approximately 75% of 
sales came from the new dual-chamber pen 

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

compared to the prior tray presentation. The 
decrease in Byetta sales of 22% to $164 
million (2015: $209 million; 2014: $199 
million) was attributed to the Company’s 
promotional focus on Bydureon. The decline 
in both Bydureon and Byetta US sales 
reflected lower net pricing. 

Respiratory
Respiratory sales in the US decreased 16% 
to $1,638 million (2015: $1,945 million; 2014: 
$1,748 million). Declines in Symbicort and 
Tudorza sales were offset by growth in 
Daliresp sales.

Symbicort sales decreased 18% to $1,242 
million (2015: $1,520 million; 2014: $1,511 
million). This primarily reflected the impact  
of the effects of pricing pressure from 
managed-care access within the ICS/LABA 
class. Competition also remained intense 
from other classes.

Sales of Tudorza decreased 25% to  
$77 million (2015: $103 million; 2014: $nil), 
reflecting adverse market demand, limited 
Medicare Part D access and the focus on 
the launch of Bevespi.

Daliresp sales increased 29% to $134 million 
(2015: $104 million; 2014: $nil) driven 
primarily by favourable market penetration. 
US sales represented 87% of global sales. 

Other
Other sales in the US decreased 31% to 
$1,632 million (2015: $2,381 million; 2014: 
$3,510 million). 

Nexium sales decreased 39% to $554 
million (2015: $902 million; 2014: $1,876 
million), reflecting lower demand and 
inventory de-stocking, which followed the 
loss of exclusivity in 2015. 

Sales of Seroquel XR decreased 28%  
to $515 million (2015: $716 million; 2014: 
$738 million) as since 1 November 2016, 
two companies have launched licensed 
generic medicines in the US. 

Synagis sales increased 14% to $325 million 
(2015: $285 million; 2014: $499 million), due 
to greater market demand.

Sales of FluMist decreased 84% to $33 
million (2015: $206 million; 2014: $218 
million). The Company confirmed on 23 
June 2016 that the Advisory Committee  
on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the US 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
had provided its interim recommendation 
not to use FluMist Quadrivalent Live 
Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (FluMist 
Quadrivalent) in the US for the 2016 to 2017 
influenza season. 

Europe
Sales in Europe decreased 5% (CER: 
decreased 3%) to $5,064 million in the year 
(2015: $5,323 million; 2014: $6,638 million).

Oncology
Total Oncology sales in Europe increased 
16% (CER: increased 18%) to $733 million 
(2015: $635 million; 2014: $788 million), 
driven by new product launches. 

Sales of Faslodex increased 10% (CER: 
increased 11%) to $228 million (2015: $207 
million; 2014: $245 million) due to early line 
use with palbociclib. Tagrisso sales in 
Europe were $76 million (2015: $4 million; 
2014: $nil), following regulatory approval  
in the EU during the year. 

Sales of Zoladex decreased 8% (CER: 
decreased 4%) to $156 million (2015: $171 
million; 2014: $226 million), and Iressa sales 
decreased 7% (CER: decreased 5%) to $120 
million (2015: $128 million; 2014: $166 million). 

However, Lynparza sales increased to  
$81 million (2015: $23 million; 2014: $nil), 
following several successful launches. 

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease sales  
in Europe were $1,894 million (2015: $1,901 
million; 2014: $2,283 million), consistent with 
prior year at actual rate of exchange but  
a 1% increase at CER. The decrease  
in Crestor sales was partly offset by an 
increase in Brilique and Forxiga sales. 

Crestor sales decreased 5% (CER: 
decreased 4%) to $866 million (2015: $916 
million; 2014: $1,200 million), reflecting the 
increasing use of generic medicines. 

Sales of Brilique in Europe increased 12% 
(CER: increased 15%) to $258 million (2015: 
$230 million; 2014: $231 million), reflecting 
indication leadership across a number of 
markets. In the year, the German Institute for 
Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG) 
gave its assessment of the additional benefit 
from Brilique at the 60mg dose as tested  
in the PEGASUS trial, as did the National 
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence  
in England, UK. 

Forxiga sales increased 48% (CER: 
increased 52%) to $187 million (2015: $126 
million; 2014: $66 million), as the medicine 
continued to lead the growing class. 

Onglyza sales decreased 6% (CER: 
decreased 5%) to $132 million (2015:  
$141 million; 2014: $155 million), reflecting 
the Company’s focus on Forxiga. 

Sales of Bydureon/Byetta increased 1% 
(CER: increased 3%) to $145 million (2015: 
$143 million; 2014: $138 million), reflecting 
the Company’s ongoing effort to expand  
its Diabetes presence. 

Respiratory
Respiratory sales in Europe amounted to 
$1,284 million in 2016 (2015: $1,383 million; 
2014: $1,747 million), a decrease of 7% 
(CER: decrease of 4%). The reduction was 
driven by reduced Symbicort sales, offset 
by new Daxas sales. 

Symbicort sales decreased 15% (CER: 
decreased 12%) to $909 million (2015: $1,076 
million; 2014: $1,462 million), primarily a result 
of competition from branded and analogue 
medicines. European rights to Daxas were 
added in May 2016; sales amounted to $15 
million (2015 and 2014: $nil). 

Other
Total Other sales in Europe amounted to 
$1,153 million (2015: $1,404 million; 2014: 
$1,820 million), a decrease of 18% (CER: 
decrease of 15%). 

Sales of Nexium decreased 12% (CER: 
decreased 11%) to $251 million (2015: $284 
million; 2014: $368 million) and Seroquel XR 
sales decreased 33% (CER: decreased 
32%) to $134 million (2015: $202 million; 
2014: $343 million); declines reflect the 
impact of generic competition. 

Established Rest of World 
Sales in the Established ROW increased  
2% (CER: decreased 4%) to $3,096 million 
(2015: $3,022 million; 2014: $3,510 million).

Oncology
Oncology sales in Established ROW 
increased 11% (CER: increased 2%) to  
$814 million (2015: $733 million; 2014:  
$883 million). The negative impact of generic 
competition on our non-promoted legacy 
Oncology product was offset by new sales 
of Tagrisso. 

On 27 December 2016, a third party, 
blood-based companion-diagnostic test  
for Tagrisso was approved in Japan.  
The test is designed to confirm the 
presence of a T790M mutation in patients. 
Sales of Tagrisso in Japan were $82 million 
(2015 and 2014: $nil). 

Sales of Faslodex increased 26% (CER: 
increased 15%) to $68 million (2015: $54 
million; 2014: $59 million). This was due to 
an increase in demand in Japan, where 
sales increased 24% (CER: increased  
12%) to $63 million (2015: $51 million; 2014: 
$56 million). 

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

229

 
Additional Information 

Geographical Review continued

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease  
sales in Established ROW increased 6% 
(CER: decreased 1%) to $881 million  
(2015: $834 million; 2014: $951 million).  
This primarily consists of Crestor sales of 
$591 million (2015: $571 million; 2014:  
$667 million), Onglyza sales of $70 million 
(2015: $66 million; 2014: $59 million),  
and Forxiga sales of $58 million (2015:  
$32 million; 2014: $17 million). 

Crestor consolidated its position as the 
leading statin in Japan, with sales growth 
of 11% (CER: stable) to $521 million (2015: 
$468 million; 2014: $502 million), driven by 
an increase in volume.

Respiratory
Respiratory sales in Established ROW 
increased 12% (CER: increased 8%) to 
$588 million (2015: $527 million; 2014: 
$582 million). Symbicort sales increased 8% 
(CER: increased 5%) to $436 million (2015: 
$404 million; 2014: $458 million). 

Other
Total Other sales in Established ROW 
decreased 13% (CER: decreased 17%)  
to $813 million (2015: $928 million;  
2014: $1,094 million). 

Notably, Japan sales of Nexium increased 
8% (CER: decreased 4%) to $436 million 
(2015: $405 million; 2014: $358 million). 
After eliminating the exchange rate impact, 
the decrease in sales reflects the mandated 
biennial price reduction, effective from 
April 2016. 

Emerging Markets
Sales in Emerging Markets remained stable 
(CER: increased 6%) at $5,794 million (2015: 
$5,822 million; 2014: $5,827 million).

Oncology
Oncology sales in Emerging Markets 
remained stable (CER: increased 6%) at 
$943 million (2015: $943 million; 2014: 
$945 million). 

Sales of Faslodex increased 10% (CER: 
increased 25%) to $96 million (2015:  
$87 million; 2014: $76 million), which was 
supported by China sales of $20 million 
(2015: $11 million; 2014: $7 million).

Sales of Iressa decreased 14% (CER: 
decreased 10%) to $233 million (2015: 
$272 million; 2014: $280 million). China sales 
of Iressa decreased 21% (CER: decreased 
16%) to $116 million (2015: $146 million; 
2014: $142 million), as a result of the price 

reset following national reimbursement listing 
obtained in June 2016. Strong competition 
from branded medicines in Korea also 
contributed to the decline. 

Regulatory approvals for Tagrisso were 
granted in a number of markets, including 
Brazil, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and 
the United Arab Emirates. 

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease sales 
in Emerging Markets increased 1% (CER: 
increased 8%), to $2,139 million (2015: 
$2,120 million; 2014: $2,117 million). 

Crestor sales in Emerging Markets 
increased 5% (CER: increased 12%)  
to $721 million (2015: $686 million; 2014: 
$727 million), reflecting growth in China 
of 21% (CER: growth of 27%) and growth 
in Russia of 16% (CER: growth of 28%). 

Sales of Brilique increased 69% (CER: 
increased 80%) to $189 million (2015:  
$112 million; 2014: $66 million), with  
China sales more than doubling. China 
represented 47% of Emerging Markets  
sales of the medicine at $89 million (2015: 
$38 million; 2014: $15 million), despite the 
medicine not being included on the National 
Reimbursement Drug List. Growth was 
underpinned by a combination of strong 
levels of hospital-listing expansion and 
increased use in existing hospitals.

Sales of Forxiga increased 82% (CER: 
increase 96%) to $133 million (2015:  
$73 million; 2014: $20 million), driven by 
ongoing launches and improved access.  
In particular, strong performances were 
seen in the Asia Pacific region, which 
increased 100% (CER: increased 108%)  
to $52 million (2015: $26 million; 2014:  
$5 million), Brazil, which increased 40% 
(CER: increased 50%), and the Middle East, 
Africa and Others region increased to $32 
million (2015: $15 million; 2014: $2 million). 

Sales of Byetta remained stable (CER: 
increased 13%) to $24 million (2015: 
$23 million; 2014: $20 million), and sales  
of Bydureon decreased 50% (CER: 
decreased 25%) to $4 million (2015:  
$9 million; 2014: $4 million). On 10 October 
2016, AstraZeneca entered into a strategic 
collaboration with 3SBio Inc. (3SBio) for 
the rights to commercialise Bydureon 
and Byetta in the Chinese market. The 
agreement allowed the Company to benefit 
from 3SBio’s established local expertise  
in injectable medicines and focus on oral 
Type 2 diabetes medicines.

On 29 February 2016, the Company sold 
the commercialisation rights for Plendil in 
China; sales in Emerging Markets for Plendil 
amounted to $119 million (2015: $213 million; 
2014: $221 million).

Respiratory
Respiratory sales in Emerging Markets 
increased 10% (CER: increased 17%) to 
$1,243 million (2015: $1,132 million; 2014: 
$986 million). 

Sales of Symbicort increased 2% (CER: 
increased 10%) to $402 million (2015:  
$394 million; 2014: $370 million). Sales in 
China increased 26% (CER: increased 32%) 
to $156 million (2015: $124 million; 2014:  
$91 million), which was offset by a 12% 
decrease (CER: increase of 12%) in  
Latin America (ex-Brazil), where sales  
were $37 million (2015: $42 million; 2014: 
$57 million). 

Strong underlying volume growth of 
Pulmicort in Emerging Markets drove  
a 15% sales increase (CER: 21% sales 
increase) to $698 million (2015: $609 million; 
2014: $476 million). China sales increased 
18% (CER: increased 24%) to $570 million 
(2015: $485 million; 2014: $348 million),  
and represented 54% of sales of Pulmicort. 
Volume demand in China partly reflected  
the long-term increase of acute COPD and 
paediatric asthma. AstraZeneca continued 
its expansion of treatment centres and 
provided increased access to home-based 
patient-care systems. 

Other
Other sales in Emerging Markets decreased 
9% (CER: decreased 4%) to $1,469 million 
(2015: $1,627 million; 2014: $1,779 million), 
reflecting declines in Nexium sales, which 
decreased 9% (CER: decreased 3%) to 
$690 million (2015: $761 million; 2014: 
$805 million), and Seroquel XR sales, which 
decreased 17% (CER: decreased 7%) to 
$69 million (2015: $82 million; 2014: 
$99 million). 

Sales of other products within this therapy 
area decreased 9% (CER: decreased  
4%) to $580 million (2015: $634 million; 
2014: $717 million). This includes the 
anaesthetics portfolio sales of $258 million 
(2015: $261 million; 2014: $305 million), 
which was disposed of on 1 September 
2016, and Merrem sales of $181 million 
(2015: $199 million; 2014: $211 million), 
which was disposed of along with other 
products on 23 December 2016. 

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Sustainability: supplementary information

Summary information about our 
commitment and performance in key areas 
is introduced on page 43 and is integrated 
into the relevant sections of this Annual 
Report. Further information about these 
and other areas is available on our website, 
www.astrazeneca.com.

A core element of our business strategy 
is value-creating business development 
activity that strengthens our pipeline and 
accelerates growth. This includes targeted 
acquisitions. When we acquire companies 
we aim to align standards of responsible 
business and incorporate the companies  
in the setting of targets and measurement  
of performance.

Benchmarking
Our DJSI performance was summarised on 
page 44. We achieved a total score of 86% 
(2015: 84%) compared with a sector best 
score of 89%. Sector best scores attained 
for five criteria: Occupational Health and 
Safety (88%), Code of Conduct (100%), 
Marketing Practices (93%), Climate Strategy 
(100%) and Health Outcomes Contribution 
(100%). We increased individual scores for 
11 out of 22 criteria for 2016: Risk & Crisis 
Management, Marketing Practices, Tax 
Management, Climate Strategy, 
Environmental Reporting, Operational 
Eco-efficiency, Human Capital 
Development, Talent Attraction & Retention, 
Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy, 
Occupational Health & Safety and 
Addressing the Cost Burden. 

External assurance 
Bureau Veritas has provided independent 
external assurance to a limited level on the 
following sustainability information contained 
within this Annual Report: 

The full assurance statement, which 
includes Bureau Veritas’s scope of work, 
methodology, overall opinion, and limitations 
and exclusions, is available on our website, 
www.astrazeneca.com.

 > Sustainability, page 43
 > Sustainability framework, page 43
 > Benchmarking and assurance, page 44
 > Responsible research, page 47
 > Healthy Heart Africa, page 49
 > Pricing and access to healthcare, page 51
 > Sales and marketing ethics, page 52
 > Working with suppliers, page 52
 > Safety, health and wellbeing, page 53
 > Community investment, page 53
 > Develop a strong and diverse pipeline  

of leaders, page 55
 > Human rights, page 56
 > Managing change, page 57
 > Employee relations, page 57
 > Natural resource efficiency, page 60
 > Following the science to protect the 

environment, page 61

Based on the evidence provided and 
subject to the scope, objectives and 
limitations defined in the full assurance 
statement, nothing has come to the 
attention of Bureau Veritas causing them  
to believe that the sustainability information 
contained within this Annual Report is 
materially misstated. Bureau Veritas is a 
professional services company that has  
a long history of providing independent 
assurance services in environmental, health, 
safety, social and ethical management 
and disclosure.

Carbon reporting
The table below provides data on our global 
greenhouse gas emissions for 2016. The 
data coverage includes 100% of our owned 
and controlled sites globally. In 2015, data 
was recalculated to include acquired sites 
that form part of the 2016 to 2025 strategy 
baseline. We have reported on all of the 
emission sources required under the Quoted 
Companies Greenhouse Gas Emissions 
(Directors’ Reports) Regulations 2013. These 
sources fall within our consolidated Financial 
Statements. We do not have responsibility for 
any emission sources that are not included in 
our consolidated Financial Statements. 

We have used the GHG Protocol Corporate 
Accounting and Reporting Standard 
(revised edition). Emission factors for 
electricity have been derived from the 
International Energy Agency, USEPA eGRID 
and the EU RE:DISS II databases and for all 
other fuels and emission sources from the 
2006 IPCC Guidelines for National 
Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

Bureau Veritas has undertaken a limited 
assurance on the 2016 GHG emissions 
data. The assurance statement, including 
scope, methodology, overall opinion, and 
limitations and exclusions, is available on  
our website, www.astrazeneca.com.

Carbon reporting 
Global greenhouse gas emissions data for the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 

Emissions from:  
Scope 1: Combustion of fuel and operation of facilities2 

2016

2015

2014

20131

Tonnes of CO2e

329,140

338,038

328,722

318,626

Scope 2 (Market-based): Electricity (net of market instruments), heat, steam and cooling purchased for own use3

219,574

351,471

N/A

N/A

Scope 2 (Location-based): Electricity, heat, steam and cooling purchased for own use3

292,363

287,903

290,288

274,399

Company’s chosen intensity measurement:  
Scope 1 + Scope 2 (Market-based) emissions reported above normalised to million US dollar revenue 

Scope 3 Total: Emissions from all 15 Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 3 Categories4 (one year in arrears)

Scope 3 in our Operational Footprint:  
Supply chain emissions: Upstream emissions from personal air travel, goods transport, waste incineration, and first tier active 
pharmaceutical ingredients and formulation & packaging suppliers (>90% of category spend, energy only); Downstream 
emissions from HFA propellants released during patient use of our inhaled medicines 

2016-2025 Strategy ‘Operational Footprint’ KPI: Scope 1 + Scope 2 (Market-based) + our Operational Footprint Scope 3 
sources. Baseline year is 2015

2016-2025 Strategy Scope 3 intensity measurement KPI: Scope 3 emissions from all 15 Greenhouse Gas 
Protocol Scope 3 Categories normalised to million US dollar revenue. Baseline year is 2015 (one year in arrears)

23.9

27.9

7,661,092 6,310,359

1,108,204 1,053,690

1,656,917

1,743,199

333

255

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N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

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N/A

N/A

N/A

1(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:98)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:3)

quoted in this Annual Report are generated from the revised data.

2(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:432)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)
3   Greenhouse gases from imported electricity are calculated using the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance (January 2015) requiring the dual reporting using two emissions factors for each site – 
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(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:98)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:430)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:17)

4   GHG Protocol Scope 3 Categories: Purchased goods and services; Capital goods; Fuel- and energy-related activities; Upstream transportation and distribution; Waste generated in operations; 
Business travel; Employee commuting; Upstream leased assets; Downstream transportation and distribution; Processing of sold products; Use of sold products; End-of-life treatment of sold 
products; Downstream leased assets; Franchises; Investments.

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

231

 
Additional Information 

Shareholder Information

AstraZeneca PLC share listings and prices 

Ordinary Shares in issue – millions 

At year end 

Weighted average for year 

Stock market price – per Ordinary Share 

Highest (pence) 

Lowest (pence) 

At year end (pence) 

Percentage analysis of issued share capital at 31 December 

By size of account 
Number of Ordinary Shares

1 – 250 

251 – 500 

501 – 1,000 

1,001 – 5,000 

5,001 – 10,000 

10,001 – 50,000 

50,001 – 1,000,000 

Over 1,000,0001

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

1,247

1,261

3111.5

2591.0

2909.5

1,257 

1,252

3612.0

2909.5

3574.5

1,263

1,262

4823.5

3549.5

4555.5

1,264

1,264

4863.0

3903.5

4616.5

1,265

1,265

5220.0

3774.0

4437.5

2012
%

0.6

0.7

0.8

1.1

0.2

1.0

12.6

83.0

2013
%

0.5

0.6

0.8

1.1

0.2

1.0

12.3

83.5

2014
%

0.5

0.6

0.7

1.0

0.2

1.0

13.3

82.7

2015
%

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.9

0.2

0.9

13.0

83.2

2016
%

0.5

0.5

0.6

0.8

0.2

0.9

12.3

84.2

1  Includes Euroclear and ADR holdings.

At 31 December 2016, the Company had 
90,113 registered holders of 1,265,229,424 
Ordinary Shares. There were 107,074 
holders of Ordinary Shares held under the 
Euroclear Services Agreement, representing 
10.4% of the issued share capital of the 
Company and 1,880 registered holders of 
ADSs, representing 14.5% of the issued 
share capital of the Company. With effect 
from 27 July 2015, the Company’s ADS ratio 
changed to two ADSs per one Ordinary 
Share. The former ratio was one ADS per 
one Ordinary Share. The Company’s ADS 
depositary is Citibank, N.A. (Citibank). 
Citibank succeeded JPMorgan Chase Bank 
as depositary of the ADSs.

In 1999, in connection with the merger 
between Astra and Zeneca through which 
the Company was formed, the Company’s 
share capital was redenominated in US 
dollars. On 6 April 1999, Zeneca shares 
were cancelled and US dollar shares issued, 
credited as fully paid on the basis of one 
dollar share for each Zeneca share then 
held. This was achieved by a reduction of 
capital under section 135 of the Companies 
Act 1985. Upon the reduction of capital 

becoming effective, all issued and unissued 
Zeneca shares were cancelled and the sum 
arising as a result of the share cancellation 
credited to a special reserve, which was 
converted into US dollars at the rate of 
exchange prevailing on the record date. This 
US dollar reserve was then applied in paying 
up, at par, newly created US dollar shares.

At the same time as the US dollar shares 
were issued, the Company issued 50,000 
Redeemable Preference Shares for cash,  
at par. The Redeemable Preference Shares 
carry limited class voting rights, no dividend 
rights and are capable of redemption, at par, 
at the option of the Company on the giving 
of seven days’ written notice to the 
registered holder of the Redeemable 
Preference Shares.

A total of 826 million Ordinary Shares were 
issued to Astra shareholders who accepted 
the merger offer before the final closing 
date, 21 May 1999. The Company received 
acceptances from Astra shareholders 
representing 99.6% of Astra’s shares and 
the remaining 0.4% was acquired in 2000, 
for cash.

Since April 1999, following the merger of 
Astra and Zeneca, the principal markets for 
trading in the shares of the Company are 
the LSE, the SSE and the NYSE. The table 
overleaf sets out, for 2015 and 2016, the 
reported high and low share prices of the 
Company, on the following bases:

 > For shares listed on the LSE, the reported 

high and low middle market closing 
quotations are derived from the Daily 
Official List.

 > For shares listed on the SSE, the high and 
low closing sales prices are as stated in 
the Official List.

 > For ADSs listed on the NYSE, the 

reported high and low sales prices are as 
reported by Dow Jones (ADR quotations).

232

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

2015

2016

– Quarter 1 

– Quarter 2 

– Quarter 3 

– Quarter 4 

– Quarter 1 

– Quarter 2 

– Quarter 3 

– Quarter 4 

– July 

– August 

– September 

– October 

– November 

– December 

Ordinary LSE

Ordinary SSE

ADS

High (pence)

Low (pence)

High (SEK)

Low (SEK)

High (US$)

Low (US$)

4847.0

4863.0

4424.5

4627.5

4562.0

4467.0 

5220.0 

5096.0 

5048.0

5220.0

5170.0 

5096.0 

4575.5 

4437.5 

4272.0

4019.0

3903.5

3947.0

3890.0 

3774.0 

4469.5 

4007.0 

4469.5 

4909.0 

4819.0 

4588.0 

4149.5 

4007.0 

625.0

638.0

603.0

597.5

584.0

592.0 

556.0 

581.5 

542.5 

552.5

556.0

581.5

562.5

507.0

538.0

522.5

508.5

509.0

452.8 

458.2 

456.6

448.5

456.6

470.7

465.0

448.5

466.9

475.6

72.22

73.35

34.541

34.77

33.90 

30.25 

34.50

33.00

34.29

34.50

34.28

33.00

28.95

27.86

64.44

63.71

30.281

30.47

27.95 

27.26 

29.97

25.81

29.97

32.81

32.20

28.32

26.14

25.81

1(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:26)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:350)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:39)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:39)(cid:54)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:39)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:17)

Major shareholdings
At 31 December 2016, the following persons had disclosed an interest in the issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company in accordance 
with the requirements of rules 5.1.2 or 5.1.5 of the UK Listing Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules:

Shareholder

BlackRock, Inc.

Investor AB

The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

Number of 
Ordinary Shares

Date of
disclosure to
Company1

100,885,181 8 December 2009

51,587,810

2 February 2012

37,925,813

17 July 2015

Number of Ordinary 
Shares disclosed as a 
percentage of
issued share
capital at
31 December 2016

7.97

4.08

3.00

1   Since the date of disclosure to the Company, the interest of any person listed above in Ordinary Shares may have increased or decreased. No requirement to notify the Company of any increase or 

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So far as the Company is aware, no other person held a notifiable interest in the issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company.

No changes to major shareholdings were disclosed to the Company between 31 December 2016 and 31 January 2017. Any changes 
between 31 January 2017 and 28 February 2017 will be set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting 2017 and Shareholders’ Circular.

Changes in the percentage ownerships disclosed by major shareholders during the past three years are set out below. Major shareholders 
do not have different voting rights. 

Shareholder

BlackRock, Inc.

Investor AB

The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

Invesco Limited

Axa SA

31 January 
2017

31 January 
2016

31 January
 2015

31 January
 2014

7.97

4.08

3.00

< 5.00

< 3.00

7.98

4.08

3.00

< 5.00

< 3.00

7.99

4.08

< 3.00

< 5.00

< 3.00

8.01

4.09

3.01

5.78

4.52

ADSs evidenced by ADRs issued by Citibank, as depositary, are listed on the NYSE. At 31 January 2017, the proportion of Ordinary Shares 
represented by ADSs was 14.5% of the Ordinary Shares outstanding.

Number of registered holders of Ordinary Shares at 31 January 2017:

 > In the US: 700
 > Total: 89,953

Number of record holders of ADRs at 31 January 2017:

 > In the US: 1,859
 > Total: 1,884

A
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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

233

 
Additional Information 

Shareholder Information continued

So far as the Company is aware, it is  
neither directly nor indirectly owned or 
controlled by one or more corporations  
or by any government.

The Company does not know of any 
arrangements, the operation of which  
might result in a change in the control  
of the Company.

Dividend payments
For Ordinary Shares listed on the LSE  
and the SSE, the record date for the  
second interim dividend for 2016, payable 
on 20 March 2017, is 17 February 2017  
and the ex-dividend date is 16 February 
2017. For ADRs listed on the NYSE, the 
record date is 17 February 2017 and the 
ex-dividend date is 15 February 2017.

At 31 January 2017, the total amount of  
the Company’s voting securities owned by 
Directors and officers of the Company was:

The record date for the first interim dividend 
for 2017, payable on 11 September 2017,  
is 11 August 2017.

Title of class

Ordinary Shares

Amount 
owned

Percentage 
of class

636,639 

0.05

Future dividends will normally be paid  
as follows:

Related party transactions
During the period 1 January 2017 to  
31 January 2017, there were no transactions, 
loans, or proposed transactions between 
the Company and any related parties which 
were material to either the Company or the 
related party, or which were unusual in their 
nature or conditions (see also Note 30 to the 
Financial Statements from page 192).

Options to purchase securities from 
registrant or subsidiaries
(a) At 31 January 2017, options outstanding 
to subscribe for Ordinary Shares were:

Number of shares

2,827,110

Subscription 
price (pence)

Normal 
expiry date

1882–3929

2017–2022

The weighted average subscription price of 
options outstanding at 31 January 2017 was 
2857 pence. All options were granted under 
Company employee share schemes.

(b) Included in paragraph (a) are options 
granted to Directors and officers of the 
Company as follows:

Number of shares

2,495

Subscription 
price (pence)

Normal 
expiry date

3307–3599  2018–2021

(c) Included in paragraph (b) are options 
granted to individually named Directors. 
Details of these option holdings at 
31 December 2016 are shown in the 
Remuneration Report on page 115.

During the period 1 January 2017 to 
31 January 2017, no Director exercised  
any options.

 > First interim: Announced in July/August 

and paid in September.

 > Second interim: Announced in January/

February and paid in March. 

Shareview
The Company’s shareholders with  
internet access may visit the website,  
www.shareview.co.uk, and register their 
details to create a portfolio. Shareview is  
a free and secure online service from the 
Company’s registrar, Equiniti, which gives 
access to shareholdings, including balance 
movements, indicative share prices and 
information about recent dividends.

ShareGift
The Company welcomes and values all  
of its shareholders, no matter how many  
or how few shares they own. However, 
shareholders who have only a small number 
of shares whose value makes it uneconomic 
to sell them, either now or at some stage in 
the future, may wish to consider donating 
them to charity through ShareGift, an 
independent charity share donation 
scheme. One feature of the scheme is  
that there is no gain or loss for UK capital 
gains tax purposes on gifts of shares 
through ShareGift, and it may now also  
be possible to obtain UK income tax relief 
on the donation. Further information about 
ShareGift can be found on its website, 
www.sharegift.org, or by contacting 
ShareGift on 020 7930 3737 or at 17 Carlton 
House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH. 
ShareGift is administered by The Orr 
Mackintosh Foundation, registered charity 
number 1052686. More information about 
the UK tax position on gifts of shares to 

ShareGift can be obtained from HM 
Revenue & Customs on its website,  
www.hmrc.gov.uk.

The Unclaimed Assets Register
The Company supplies unclaimed dividend 
data to the Unclaimed Assets Register 
(UAR), which provides investors who have 
lost track of shareholdings with an 
opportunity to search the UAR’s database 
of unclaimed financial assets on payment of 
a small fixed fee. The UAR donates part of 
the search fee to charity. The UAR can be 
contacted on 0844 481 8180 or at 
uarenquiries@uk.experian.com.

Results
Unaudited trading results of AstraZeneca  
in respect of the first three months of 2017 
will be published on 27 April 2017 and 
results in respect of the first six months of 
2017 will be published on 27 July 2017.

Documents on display
The Articles and other documents 
concerning the Company which are referred 
to in this Annual Report may be inspected at 
the Company’s registered office at 1 Francis 
Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical 
Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, UK.

Taxation for US persons
The following summary of material UK and 
US federal income tax consequences of 
ownership of Ordinary Shares or ADRs  
held as capital assets by the US holders 
described below is based on current UK 
and US federal income tax law, including the 
US/UK double taxation convention relating 
to income and capital gains, which  
entered into force on 31 March 2003 (the 
Convention). This summary does not 
describe all of the tax consequences that 
may be relevant in light of the US holders’ 
particular circumstances and tax 
consequences applicable to US holders 
subject to special rules (such as certain 
financial institutions, entities treated as 
partnerships for US federal income tax 
purposes, persons whose functional 
currency for US federal income tax 
purposes is not the US dollar, tax-exempt 
entities, persons subject to alternative 
minimum tax, persons subject to the 
Medicare contribution tax on ‘net 
investment income’, or persons holding 
Ordinary Shares or ADRs in connection with 
a trade or business conducted outside of 

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the US). US holders are urged to consult 
their tax advisers regarding the UK and  
US federal income tax consequences  
of the ownership and disposition of  
Ordinary Shares or ADRs in their  
particular circumstances. 

This summary is based in part on 
representations of Citibank as depositary  
for ADRs and assumes that each obligation 
in the deposit agreement among the 
Company and the depositary and the 
holders from time to time of ADRs and any 
related agreements will be performed in 
accordance with its terms. The US Treasury 
has expressed concerns that parties to 
whom American depositary shares are 
released before shares are delivered to the 
depositary (pre-release), or intermediaries  
in the chain of ownership between holders 
and the issuer of the security underlying  
the American depositary shares, may be 
taking actions that are inconsistent with  
the claiming, by US holders of American 
depositary shares, of foreign tax credits for 
US federal income tax purposes. Such 
actions would also be inconsistent with the 
claiming of the reduced tax rates, described 
below, applicable to dividends received  
by certain non-corporate US holders. 
Accordingly, the availability of the reduced 
tax rates for dividends received by certain 
non-corporate US holders could be affected 
by actions that may be taken by parties to 
whom ADRs are pre-released.

For the purposes of this summary, the term 
‘US holder’ means a beneficial owner of 
Ordinary Shares or ADRs that is, for US 
federal income tax purposes, a citizen or 
resident of the US, a corporation (or other 
entity taxable as a corporation) created or 
organised in or under the laws of the US, 
any state in the US or the District of 
Columbia, or an estate or trust, the income 
of which is subject to US federal income 
taxation regardless of its source.

This summary assumes that we are not, 
and will not become, a passive foreign 
investment company, as discussed below.

UK and US income taxation of 
dividends
The UK does not currently impose a 
withholding tax on dividends paid by  
a UK company, such as the Company.

For US federal income tax purposes, 
distributions paid by the Company to a  
US holder are included in gross income  
as foreign source ordinary dividend income 
to the extent paid out of the Company’s 
current or accumulated earnings and profits, 
calculated in accordance with US federal 
income tax principles. The Company does 
not maintain calculations of its earnings and 
profits under US federal income tax 
principles and so it is expected that 
distributions generally will be reported to  
US holders as dividends. The amount  
of the dividend will be the US dollar amount 
received by the depositary for US holders of 
ADRs (or, in the case of Ordinary Shares, 
the US dollar value of the foreign currency 
payment, determined at the spot rate of the 
relevant foreign currency on the date the 
dividend is received by the US holders, 
regardless of whether the dividend is 
converted into US dollars), and it will not be 
eligible for the dividends received deduction 
generally available to US corporations. If the 
dividend is converted into US dollars on the 
date of receipt, US holders of Ordinary 
Shares generally should not be required to 
recognise foreign currency gains or losses  
in respect of the dividend income. They may 
have foreign currency gain or loss (taxable 
at the rates applicable to ordinary income)  
if the amount of such dividend is converted 
into US dollars after the date of its receipt.

Subject to applicable limitations and the 
discussion above regarding concerns 
expressed by the US Treasury, dividends 
received by certain non-corporate US 
holders of Ordinary Shares or ADRs may  
be taxable at favourable US federal income 
tax rates. US holders should consult their 
own tax advisers to determine whether they 
are subject to any special rules which may 
limit their ability to be taxed at these 
favourable rates.

Taxation on capital gains
Under present English law, individuals  
who are neither resident nor ordinarily 
resident in the UK, and companies which 
are not resident in the UK, will not be liable 
for UK tax on capital gains made on the 
disposal of their Ordinary Shares or ADRs, 
unless such Ordinary Shares or ADRs  
are held in connection with a trade, 
profession or vocation carried on in the  
UK through a branch or agency or other 
permanent establishment.

A US holder will generally recognise US 
source capital gains or losses for US federal 
income tax purposes on the sale or 
exchange of Ordinary Shares or ADRs in an 
amount equal to the difference between the 
US dollar amount realised and such holder’s 
US dollar tax basis in the Ordinary Shares or 
ADRs. US holders should consult their own 
tax advisers about the treatment of capital 
gains, which may be taxed at lower rates 
than ordinary income for non-corporate US 
holders and capital losses, the deductibility 
of which may be subject to limitations.

Passive Foreign Investment Company 
(PFIC) rules 
We believe that we were not a PFIC for  
US federal income tax purposes for the year 
ended 31 December 2016. However, since 
PFIC status depends on the composition  
of our income and assets, and the market 
value of our assets (including, among 
others, less than 25% owned equity 
investments), from time to time, there can  
be no assurance that we will not be 
considered a PFIC for any taxable year. If we 
were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year 
during which Ordinary Shares or ADRs were 
held, certain adverse tax consequences 
could apply to US holders.

Information reporting and backup 
withholding
Payments of dividends and sales proceeds 
that are made within the US or through 
certain US-related financial intermediaries 
may be subject to information reporting and 
backup withholding, unless: (i) the US holder 
is a corporation or other exempt recipient; or 
(ii) in the case of backup withholding, the  
US holder provides a correct taxpayer 
identification number and certifies that  
it is not subject to backup withholding.  
The amount of any backup withholding  
from a payment to a US holder will be 
allowed as a credit against the holder’s  
US federal income tax liability and may 
entitle the holder to a refund, provided that 
the required information is timely supplied  
to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Certain US holders who are individuals (and 
certain entities closely-held by individuals), 
may be required to report information 
relating to securities issued by non-US 
persons (or foreign accounts through which 
the securities are held), generally on IRS 
Form 8938, subject to certain exceptions 

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Additional Information 

Shareholder Information continued

(including an exception for securities held  
in accounts maintained by US financial 
institutions). US holders should consult  
their tax advisers regarding their reporting 
obligations with respect to the Ordinary 
Shares or ADRs.

UK inheritance tax
Under the current Double Taxation (Estates) 
Convention (the Estate Tax Convention) 
between the US and the UK, Ordinary 
Shares or ADRs held by an individual 
shareholder who is domiciled for the 
purposes of the Estate Tax Convention in 
the US, and is not for the purposes of the 
Estate Tax Convention a national of the  
UK, will generally not be subject to UK 
inheritance tax on the individual’s death or 
on a chargeable gift of the Ordinary Shares 
or ADRs during the individual’s lifetime, 
provided that any applicable US federal  
gift or estate tax liability is paid, unless the 
Ordinary Shares or ADRs are part of  
the business property of a permanent 
establishment of the individual in the UK or, 
in the case of a shareholder who performs 
independent personal services, pertain  
to a fixed base situated in the UK. Where 
the Ordinary Shares or ADRs have been 
placed in trust by a settlor who, at the  
time of settlement, was a US domiciled 
shareholder, the Ordinary Shares or  
ADRs will generally not be subject to UK 
inheritance tax unless the settlor, at the time 
of settlement, was a UK national, or the 
Ordinary Shares or ADRs are part of the 

business property of a permanent 
establishment of the individual in the UK or, 
in the case of a shareholder who performs 
independent personal services, pertain  
to a fixed base situated in the UK. In the 
exceptional case where the Ordinary Shares 
or ADRs are subject to both UK inheritance 
tax and US federal gift or estate tax, the 
Estate Tax Convention generally provides  
for double taxation to be relieved by means 
of credit relief.

UK stamp duty reserve tax  
and stamp duty
A charge to UK stamp duty or UK stamp 
duty reserve tax (SDRT) may arise on the 
deposit of Ordinary Shares in connection 
with the creation of ADRs. The rate of stamp 
duty or SDRT will generally be 1.5% of the 
value of the consideration or, in some 
circumstances, the value of the Ordinary 
Shares. There is no 1.5% SDRT charge on 
the issue of Ordinary Shares (or, where it is 
integral to the raising of new capital, the 
transfer of Ordinary Shares) into the ADR 
arrangement. 

No UK stamp duty will be payable on the 
acquisition or transfer of existing ADRs 
provided that any instrument of transfer or 
written agreement to transfer is executed 
outside the UK and remains at all times 
outside the UK. An agreement for the 
transfer of ADRs will not give rise to a  
liability for SDRT.

A transfer of, or an agreement to, transfer 
Ordinary Shares will generally be subject  
to UK stamp duty or SDRT at 0.5% of the 
amount or value of any consideration, 
provided, in the case of stamp duty, it is 
rounded to the nearest £5.

Transfers of Ordinary Shares into CREST  
will generally not be subject to stamp duty 
or SDRT, unless such a transfer is made for 
a consideration in money or money’s worth,  
in which case a liability to SDRT will arise, 
usually at the rate of 0.5% of the value  
of the consideration. Paperless transfers  
of Ordinary Shares within CREST are 
generally liable to SDRT at the rate of 0.5% 
of the value of the consideration. CREST is 
obliged to collect SDRT from the purchaser 
on relevant transactions settled within  
the system.

Exchange controls and other 
(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)
There are no governmental laws, decrees  
or regulations in the UK restricting the 
import or export of capital or affecting the 
remittance of dividends, interest or other 
payments to non-resident holders of 
Ordinary Shares or ADRs.

There are no limitations under English law  
or the Articles on the right of non-resident or 
foreign owners to be the registered holders 
of, or to exercise voting rights in relation to, 
Ordinary Shares or ADRs or to be registered 
holders of notes or debentures of Zeneca 
Wilmington Inc. or the Company.

Exchange rates 
The following information relating to average and spot exchange rates used by AstraZeneca is provided for convenience:

Average rates (statement of comprehensive income, statement of cash flows) 

2014

2015

2016

End of year spot rates (statement of financial position) 

2014

2015

2016

Compliance requirements under Listing Rule 9.8.4
Other than as set out below, the Company has nothing to report under Listing Rule 9.8.4

Item

Location of details in Annual Report

Details of any long-term incentive schemes 

Note 27 of the Financial Statements and Directors’ Remuneration Report

Shareholder waiver of dividends 

Page 96 in the Corporate Governance Report 

SEK/US$

US$/GBP

6.7901

8.3950

8.5286

7.7451

8.4114

9.1162

1.6532

1.5357

1.3673

1.5559

1.4816

1.2272

236

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Corporate Information

History and development of the 
Company
AstraZeneca PLC was incorporated in 
England and Wales on 17 June 1992 under 
the Companies Act 1985. It is a public 
limited company domiciled in the UK. The 
Company’s registered number is 2723534 
and its registered office is at 1 Francis Crick 
Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, 
Cambridge CB2 0AA, UK (telephone  
+44 20 3749 5000). From February 1993 
until April 1999, the Company was called 
Zeneca Group PLC. On 6 April 1999,  
the Company changed its name to 
AstraZeneca PLC.

The Company was formed when the 
pharmaceutical, agrochemical and specialty 
chemical businesses of Imperial Chemical 
Industries PLC were demerged in 1993.  
In 1999, the Company sold the specialty 
chemical business. Also in 1999, the 
Company merged with Astra of Sweden.  
In 2000, it demerged the agrochemical 
business and merged it with the similar 
business of Novartis to form a new 
company called Syngenta AG.

In 2007, the Group acquired MedImmune,  
a biologics and vaccines business based  
in the US.

Articles
The current Articles were adopted by 
shareholders at the Company’s AGM held 
on 24 April 2015.

Objects
The Company’s objects are unrestricted.

Any amendment to the Articles requires  
the approval of shareholders by a special 
resolution at a general meeting of  
the Company.

Directors
The Board has the authority to manage  
the business of the Company, for example, 
through powers to allot and repurchase  
its shares, subject where required to 
shareholder resolutions. Subject to certain 
exceptions, Directors do not have power to 
vote at Board meetings on matters in which 
they have a material interest.

The quorum for meetings of the Board is a 
majority of the full Board, of whom at least 
four must be Non-Executive Directors. In the 
absence of a quorum, the Directors do not 
have power to determine compensation 
arrangements for themselves or any 
member of the Board.

The Board may exercise all the powers of 
the Company to borrow money. Variation  
of these borrowing powers would require 
the passing of a special resolution of the 
Company’s shareholders.

 > Subject to the provisions of the 

Companies Act 2006, the Company  
has the right to redeem the Redeemable 
Preference Shares at any time on giving 
not less than seven days’ written notice.

All Directors must retire from office at the 
Company’s AGM each year and may present 
themselves for election or re-election. 
Directors are not prohibited, upon reaching  
a particular age, from submitting themselves 
for election or re-election.

Within two months of the date of their 
appointment, Directors are required to 
beneficially own Ordinary Shares of an 
aggregate nominal amount of at least $125, 
which currently represents 500 shares.

Rights, preferences and restrictions 
attaching to shares
As at 31 December 2016, the Company  
had 1,265,229,424 Ordinary Shares and 
50,000 Redeemable Preference Shares  
in issue. The Ordinary Shares represent 
99.98% and the Redeemable Preference 
Shares represent 0.02% of the Company’s 
total share capital (these percentages  
have been calculated by reference to the 
closing mid-point US$/GBP exchange rate 
on 31 December 2016 as published  
in the London edition of the Financial  
Times newspaper).

As agreed by the shareholders at the 
Company’s AGM held on 29 April 2010,  
the Articles were amended with immediate 
effect to remove the requirement for the 
Company to have an authorised share 
capital, the concept of which was abolished 
under the Companies Act 2006. Each 
Ordinary Share carries the right to vote at 
general meetings of the Company. The rights 
and restrictions attaching to the Redeemable 
Preference Shares differ from those 
attaching to Ordinary Shares as follows: 

 > The Redeemable Preference Shares carry 

no rights to receive dividends.

 > The holders of Redeemable Preference 
Shares have no rights to receive notices 
of, attend or vote at general meetings 
except in certain limited circumstances. 
They have one vote for every 50,000 
Redeemable Preference Shares held.

 > On a distribution of assets of the 

Company, on a winding-up or other return 
of capital (subject to certain exceptions), 
the holders of Redeemable Preference 
Shares have priority over the holders of 
Ordinary Shares to receive the capital 
paid up on those shares.

There are no specific restrictions on  
the transfer of shares in the Company,  
which is governed by the Articles and 
prevailing legislation.

The Company is not aware of any 
agreements between holders of shares that 
may result in restrictions on the transfer of 
shares or that may result in restrictions on 
voting rights. The Company is also not 
aware of any arrangements under which 
financial rights are held by a person other 
than the holder of the shares.

Action necessary to change the rights  
of shareholders
In order to vary the rights attached to any 
class of shares, the consent in writing of the 
holders of three-quarters in nominal value  
of the issued shares of that class or the 
sanction of a special resolution passed at a 
general meeting of such holders is required.

General meetings
AGMs require 21 clear days’ notice to 
shareholders. Subject to the Companies  
Act 2006, other general meetings require  
14 clear days’ notice.

For all general meetings, a quorum of  
two shareholders present in person or by 
proxy, and entitled to vote on the business 
transacted, is required unless each of  
the two persons present is a corporate 
representative of the same corporation; or 
each of the two persons present is a proxy 
of the same shareholder.

Shareholders and their duly appointed 
proxies and corporate representatives are 
entitled to be admitted to general meetings.

Limitations on the rights to own shares
There are no limitations on the rights to  
own shares.

Property
Substantially all of our properties are held 
freehold, free of material encumbrances and 
are fit for their purpose.

For more information please refer to Note 7 
to the Group Financial Statements on  
page 155.

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237

 
Additional Information 

Trade Marks

AstraZeneca, the AstraZeneca logotype, and the AstraZeneca symbol are all trade marks of the Group. 

The following brand names which appear in italics in this Annual Report are trade marks of the Group: 

Trade mark

Accolate1

Arimidex

Atacand 

Atacand HCT

Atacand Plus

Bevespi Aerosphere 

Bricanyl 

Brilinta

Brilique

Bydureon

Byetta
Caprelsa2

Carbocaine

Casodex

Citanest

Cosudex

Crestor

Daliresp

Daxas

Diprivan

EMLA
Entocort3

Farxiga

Faslodex

Fluenz

FluMist

Forxiga

Genuair
Imdur 4

Iressa

Kombiglyze

Komboglyze

Losec

Lynparza

Marcaine
Meronem5
Merrem5

Movantik

Moventig
Myalept6

Naropin

Nexium

Nolvadex

Onglyza

Oxis Turbuhaler

Plendil

Pressair

Prilosec

Pulmicort

Pulmicort Flexhaler

Pulmicort Respules

Pulmicort Turbuhaler

Qtern

Respules
Rhinocort7
Rhinocort Aqua7

Seloken

Seroquel

Seroquel XR

Symbicort

Symbicort SMART

Symbicort Turbuhaler

Symlin
Synagis8

Tagrisso
Tenormin9

Toprol-XL

Turbuhaler

Vimovo

Xigduo

Xylocaine

Xylocard

Xyloproct
Zavicefta10
Zestril 9

Zoladex

Zomig

Zurampic

1(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:17)
2(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:93)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:17)
3(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:42)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:17)(cid:3)
4(cid:3) (cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)
5    AstraZeneca assigned Meronem and Merrem(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:430)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:3)
6(cid:3) (cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:17)
7    AstraZeneca assigned Rhinocort and Rhinocort Aqua(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)
8  AstraZeneca owns this trade mark in the US only. AbbVie owns it in the rest of the world.
9(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:89)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:17)
10(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:61)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:430)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:428)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:3)

The following brand names which appear in italics in this Annual Report are trade marks licensed to the Group by the entities set out below:

Trade mark

Duaklir

Eklira

Epanova

Tudorza

Zinforo

Licensor or Owner

Almirall, S.A.

Almirall, S.A.

Chrysalis Pharma AG

Almirall, S.A.

Forest Laboratories Holdings Limited

The following brand names which appear in italics throughout this Annual Report are not owned by or licensed to the Group and are owned 
by the entities set out below:

Trade mark

Lipitor

Owner

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals

messenger RNA Therapeutics

Moderna Therapeutics, Inc. 

Vidaza

Celgene Corporation

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

Glossary

(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)

Region

US

Europe

Established ROW

Emerging Markets

Country

US

Albania*

Austria

Belgium

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia*

Bosnia and Herzegovina*

Finland

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus*

Australia

Canada

Algeria

Argentina

Aruba*

Bahamas*

Bahrain*

Barbados*

Belarus*

Belize*

Bermuda*

Brazil

Chile

China

Colombia

France

Germany

Greece

Japan

New Zealand

Costa Rica

Cuba*

Dominican Republic*

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Georgia*

Guatemala

Honduras

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Iran*

Hungary

Iceland*

Ireland

Israel*

Italy

Latvia*

Lithuania*

Iraq*

Jamaica*

Jordan*

Kazakhstan

Kuwait*

Lebanon*

Libya*

Malaysia

Mexico

Morocco*

Netherlands Antilles*

Nicaragua

Oman*

Luxembourg*

Malta*

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal*

Romania

Other Africa*

Pakistan*

Palestine*

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Qatar*

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Africa

South Korea

Sri Lanka*

Serbia and Montenegro*

Slovakia

Slovenia*

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

UK

Sudan*

Syria*

Taiwan

Thailand

Trinidad and Tobago*

Tunisia*

Turkey

Ukraine* 

United Arab Emirates

Uruguay*

Venezuela*

Vietnam*

Yemen*

*  IMS Health, IMS Midas Quantum Q3 2016 data is not available or AstraZeneca does not subscribe for IMS Health quarterly data for these countries.

The above table is not an exhaustive list of all the countries in which AstraZeneca operates, and excludes countries with revenue in 2016 of 
less than $1 million.

Established Markets means US, Europe and Established ROW.

North America means US and Canada.

Other Established ROW means Australia and New Zealand. 

Other Emerging Markets means all Emerging Markets except China.

Other Africa includes Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, 
Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

Asia Area comprises India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

US equivalents 

Terms used in this Annual Report

Accruals 

Allotted 

Called-up share capital 

Creditors 

Debtors 

Earnings 

Employee share schemes 

Fixed asset investments 

Freehold 

Interest payable 

Loans 

Prepayments 

Profit 

Profit and loss account 

Share premium account 

Short-term investments 

A
d
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i
o
n

US equivalent or brief description

Accrued expenses 

Issued 

Issued share capital 

Liabilities/payables 

Receivables and prepaid expenses 

Net income 

Employee stock benefit plans 

Non-current investments 

Ownership with absolute rights in perpetuity 

Interest expense 

Long-term debt 

Prepaid expenses 

Income 

Income statement/consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Premiums paid in excess of par value of Ordinary Shares 

Redeemable securities and short-term deposits 

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

239

 
Additional Information 

Glossary continued

The following abbreviations and expressions  
have the following meanings when used in this 
Annual Report:

Abbott – Abbott Laboratories. 

Celgene – Celgene International Sàrl/Celgene 
Corporation.

CEO – the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Company.

AbbVie – AbbVie Inc. 

CER – constant exchange rates.

FRC – Financial Reporting Council.

GAAP – Generally Accepted Accounting 
Principles.

GMD – Global Medicines Development.

GPPS – Global Product and Portfolio Strategy.

gross margin – the margin, as a percentage, by 
which sales exceed the cost of sales, calculated 
by dividing the difference between the two by the 
sales figure.

Group – AstraZeneca PLC and its subsidiaries.

CFDA – China Food and Drug Administration.

CFO – the Chief Financial Officer of the 
Company.

CHMP – the Committee for Medicinal Products 
for Human Use.

Cilag – Cilag GmbH International.

GSK – GlaxoSmithKline plc.

CIS – Commonwealth of Independent States.

HHA – Healthy Heart Africa programme.

CMS – China Medical System Holdings Ltd.

HR – human resources.

Code of Conduct – the Group’s Code of 
Conduct.

Company or Parent Company – AstraZeneca 
PLC (formerly Zeneca Group PLC (Zeneca)).

COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 

CREST – UK-based securities settlement 
system.

CRL – Complete Response Letter.

CROs – contract research organisations.

IA – the Group’s Internal Audit Services function.

IAS – International Accounting Standards.

IAS 19 – IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’.

IAS 32 – IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: 
Presentation’.

IAS 39 – IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: 
Recognition and Measurement’.

IASB – International Accounting Standards 
Board.

CRUK – Cancer Research UK.

ICS – inhaled corticosteroid.

CV – cardiovascular.

CVMD – Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease.

Daiichi Sankyo – Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

Definiens – Definiens AG.

IFPMA – International Federation of 
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations.

IFRS – International Financial Reporting 
Standards or International Financial Reporting 
Standard, as the context requires.

Director – a director of the Company.

IFRS 8 – IFRS 8 ‘Operating Segments’.

DJSI – Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

DOJ – the United States Department of Justice.

DTR – UK Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules.

IMED – Innovative Medicines and Early 
Development.

Incyte – Incyte Corporation.

Innate Pharma – Innate Pharma S.A. 

earnings per share (EPS) – profit for the year 
after tax and non-controlling interests, divided by 
the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares 
in issue during the year.

IO – immuno-oncology.

IP – intellectual property.

Ironwood – Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ACA (Affordable Care Act) – the US Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act which was 
signed into law on 23 March 2010 as amended 
by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation 
Act which was signed into law on 30 March 2010.

Acerta Pharma – Acerta Pharma B.V.

ACS – acute coronary syndromes.

Actavis – Actavis plc.

ADC Therapeutics – ADC Therapeutics Sàrl.

ADR – an American Depositary Receipt 
evidencing title to an ADS.

ADS – an American Depositary Share 
representing one underlying Ordinary Share.

Aegerion – Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

AGM – an Annual General Meeting of the 
Company.

Allergan – Allergan plc.

Almirall – Almirall, S.A.

Amgen – Amgen, Inc. 

Amplimmune – Amplimmune, Inc.

Amylin – Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC (formerly 
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). 

ANDA – an abbreviated new drug application, 
which is a marketing approval application for a 
generic drug submitted to the FDA.

Annual Report – this Annual Report and Form 
20-F Information 2016.

API – active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Aralez – Aralez Pharmaceuticals Trading DAC.

Ardea – Ardea Biosciences, Inc.

Articles – the Articles of Association of the 
Company.

Aspen – Aspen Global Incorporated.

EC – European Commission.

IS – information services.

Astellas – Astellas Pharma Inc.

Astra – Astra AB, being the company with whom 
the Company merged in 1999. 

AstraZeneca – the Company and its 
subsidiaries.

AZIP – AstraZeneca Investment Plan.

BACE – beta secretase cleaving enzyme. 

biologic(s) – a class of drugs that are produced 
in living cells.

biosimilars – a copy of a biologic that is 
sufficiently similar to meet regulatory 
requirements.

BMS – Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Board – the Board of Directors of the Company.

Bureau Veritas – Bureau Veritas UK Limited.

CDP – a not-for-profit that runs the global 
disclosure system for investors, companies, 
cities, states and regions to manage their 
environmental impacts.

EFPIA – European Federation of Pharmaceutical 
Industries and Associations.

EGFR – epidermal growth factor receptor.

EMA – European Medicines Agency.

EPO – European Patent Office.

ESPC – Early Stage Product Committee.

ESRD – end-stage renal disease.

EVP – Executive Vice-President. 

EU – the European Union.

FDA – the US Food and Drug Administration, 
which is part of the US Department of Health and 
Human Services Agency, which is the regulatory 
authority for all pharmaceuticals (including 
biologics and vaccines) and medical devices in 
the US.

FDC – fixed-dose combination.

FibroGen – FibroGen, Inc.

ISAs – International Standards on Auditing.

IT – information technology.

KPI – key performance indicator.

krona or SEK – references to the currency of 
Sweden.

Kyowa Hakko Kirin – Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., 
Ltd.

LABA – long-acting beta2-agonist.

LAMA – long-acting muscarinic antagonist.

LCM projects – significant life-cycle 
management projects (as determined by potential 
revenue generation), or line extensions.

Lean – means enhancing value for customers 
with fewer resources. 

LEO Pharma – LEO Pharma A/S.

Lilly – Eli Lilly and Company. 

LSPC – Late Stage Product Committee.

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AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

LTI – long-term incentive, in the context of share 
plan remuneration arrangements.

PhRMA – Pharmaceutical Research and 
Manufacturers of America.

MAA – a marketing authorisation application, 
which is an application for authorisation to place 
medical products on the market. This is a specific 
term used in the EU and European Economic 
Area markets.

MAb – monoclonal antibody, a biologic that is 
specific, that is, it binds to and attacks one 
particular antigen.

major market – US, EU, Japan (JP) and  
China (CN).

MAT – moving annual total.

MedImmune – MedImmune, LLC (formerly 
MedImmune, Inc.).

Merck – Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (formerly 
Merck & Co., Inc.).

MI – myocardial infarction.

Moderna – Moderna Therapeutics, Inc.

NCD – non-communicable disease.

NDA – a new drug application to the FDA for 
approval to market a new medicine in the US.

NME – new molecular entity.

Novartis – Novartis Pharma AG.

NSAID – a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

NSCLC – non-small cell lung cancer.

NSTE-ACS – non-ST-Elevation acute coronary 
syndromes.

NYSE – the New York Stock Exchange.

n/m – not meaningful.

OECD – the Organisation for Economic 
Cooperation and Development.

Omthera – Omthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

operating profit – sales, less cost of sales, less 
operating costs, plus operating income.

Ordinary Share – an ordinary share of $0.25 
each in the share capital of the Company.

Orphan Drug – a drug which has been 
approved for use in a relatively low-incidence 
indication (an orphan indication) and has been 
rewarded with a period of market exclusivity; the 
period of exclusivity and the available orphan 
indications vary between markets.

OTC – over-the-counter.

Paediatric Exclusivity – in the US, a six-month 
period of exclusivity to market a drug which is 
awarded by the FDA in return for certain 
paediatric clinical studies using that drug. This 
six-month period runs from the date of relevant 
patent expiry. Analogous provisions are available 
in certain other territories (such as European 
Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) 
paediatric extensions).

PARP – an oral poly ADP-ribose polymerase.

PD-L1 – an anti-programmed death-ligand 1.

Pearl Therapeutics – Pearl Therapeutics, Inc.

Pfizer – Pfizer, Inc.

Phase I – the phase of clinical research where a 
new drug or treatment is tested in small groups of 
people (20 to 80) to check that the drug can 
achieve appropriate concentrations in the body, 
determine a safe dosage range and identify side 
effects. This phase includes healthy volunteer 
studies.

Phase II – the phase of clinical research  
which includes the controlled clinical activities 
conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
drug in patients with the disease under study and 
to begin to determine the safety profile of the 
drug. Phase II studies are typically conducted in 
small or medium sized groups of patients and 
can be divided into Phase IIa studies, which tend 
to be designed to assess dosing requirements, 
and Phase IIb studies, which tend to assess 
safety and efficacy.

Phase III – the phase of clinical research which 
is performed to gather additional information 
about effectiveness and safety of the drug, often 
in a comparative setting, to evaluate the overall 
benefit/risk profile of the drug. Phase III studies 
usually include between several hundred and 
several thousand patients.

PHC – personalised healthcare.

PMDA – Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices 
Agency of Japan.

pMDI – pressurised metered-dose inhaler.

PMI – process mass intensity.

pound sterling, £, GBP or pence – references 
to the currency of the UK.

Pozen – POZEN, Inc.

primary care – general healthcare provided by 
physicians who ordinarily have first contact with 
patients and who may have continuing care for 
them.

Proof of Concept – data demonstrating that a 
candidate drug results in a clinical change on an 
acceptable endpoint or surrogate in patients with 
the disease.

PSP – AstraZeneca Performance Share Plan.

PTE – Patent Term Extension, an extension  
of up to five years in the term of a US patent 
relating to a drug which compensates for delays 
in marketing resulting from the need to obtain 
FDA approval. The analogous right in the EU  
is an SPC.

Qiagen – Qiagen NV.

R&D – research and development.

Redeemable Preference Share – a 
redeemable preference share of £1 each in the 
share capital of the Company.

Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) – see the 
Intellectual Property section on page 57.

Regulatory Exclusivity – any of the IP rights 
arising from generation of clinical data and 
includes Regulatory Data Protection, Paediatric 
Exclusivity and Orphan Drug status.

RNA – ribonucleic acid

Roche – F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.

ROW – rest of world.

RSV – respiratory syncytial virus.

Sanofi – SANOFI S.A.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act – the US Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002.

SDRT – UK stamp duty reserve tax.

SEC – the US Securities and Exchange 
Commission, the governmental agency that 
regulates the US securities industry and stock 
markets.

Seroquel – Seroquel IR and Seroquel XR.

SET – Senior Executive Team.

SG&A costs – selling, general and administrative 
costs.

SGLT2 – sodium-glucose co-transporter 2.

SHE – Safety, Health and Environment.

Shionogi – Shionogi & Co. Ltd.

SLE – systemic lupus erythematosus.

SPC – supplementary protection certificate

specialty care – specific healthcare provided by 
medical specialists who do not generally have 
first contact with patients.

Spirogen – Spirogen Sàrl.

SSE – the Stockholm Stock Exchange.

Takeda – Takeda Pharmaceutical Company 
Limited.

Teva – Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

Total Revenue – the sum of Product Sales and 
Externalisation Revenue.

TSR – total shareholder return, being the total 
return on a share over a period of time, including 
dividends reinvested.

UK – United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
Northern Ireland.

UK Corporate Governance Code – the UK 
Corporate Governance Code published by the 
FRC in September 2014 that sets out standards 
of good practice in corporate governance for  
the UK.

US – United States of America.

US dollar, US$, USD or $ – references to the 
currency of the US.

Valeant – Valeant Holdings Ireland/Valeant 
Pharmaceutical International, Inc.

WHO – World Health Organization, the United 
Nations’ specialised agency for health.

YHP – Young Health Programme. 

ZS Pharma – ZS Pharma, Inc.

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Additional Information 

Index

Accounting policies
Acerta Pharma
Acquisitions
Affordable Care Act
Almirall
Animal research
Annual General Meeting
Articles of Association
AstraZeneca at a glance
Audit Committee
Audit Committee Report
Bioethics
Biologics
BMS
Board of Directors
Brilinta/Brilique
Business model
Cambridge
Capitalisation and shareholder return
Cardiovascular and Metabolic diseases
Cash and cash equivalents
Chairman’s Statement
Chief Executive Officer’s Review
Clinical trials
Code of Conduct
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Community investment
Company history 
Compliance and Internal Audit Services
Consolidated Statements
Corporate Governance
Corporate Information
Corporate Integrity Agreement
Definiens
Development pipeline
Diabetes
Directors’ interest in shares
Directors’ responsibility statement
Diversity
Dividends
Earnings per Ordinary Share
Employee costs and share plans for employees
Employees
Environmental impact
Ethics

Externalisation
Finance income and expense
Financial instruments
Financial position 2016
Financial Review
Financial risk management 
Financial Statements 2016
Financial summary
Gender diversity
Geographical Review
Global pharmaceutical sales
Glossary 
Group Financial Record 
Group Subsidiaries and Holdings
Growth Platforms
Healthy Heart Africa programme
Human Rights
Independent auditor’s report 
Infection, Neuroscience and Gastrointestinal

77, 142, 200
26, 29, 62-74, 173
173-177
13, 49, 82
68, 72, 176
48
97, 105, 237
237
2-3
84, 98-102
98-102
47-48
12, 15
63-69, 175
86-87
31-33
8-10
7
76
30-34
162
82-83
4-6
8-9, 46-48
52, 95-96
185-191
53
237
95
138-141
82-131
237
98
176-177
23, 204-210
32-34
114-115
133
55-56, 90-91
3, 76, 96, 172
152
182-184
52-57
60-61
52, 95

23-24, 67
149
149
72
62-81
76-77, 177-181
133-192
1
55-56
226-230
11-12
239-241
203
193-196
17
49
56-67
134-137
See Other Disease Areas

Information Technology
Intangible assets
Intellectual Property
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
Key performance indicators
Leases
Life-cycle of a medicine
Litigation
Lynparza 
Manufacturing and Supply
Market definitions
Marketplace
Modern Slavery Act
Oncology
Operating profit 
Operational overview
Other Disease Areas
Other investments
PARTHENON programme
Patent Expiries
Patents
Patient safety
Personalised healthcare
Physician Payments Sunshine Act
Political donations
Post-retirement benefits 
Product revenue information
Property, plant and equipment
Provisions
Regulatory requirements
Related party transactions
Relations with shareholders
Remuneration
Remuneration Policy
Research and Development 
Reserves
Respiratory
Restructuring 
Results of operations 2016
Risk
Sales and Marketing 
Sales by geographical area
Sales by therapy area
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Science Committee
Segment information 
Senior management (SET)
Share capital 
Share repurchase
Shareholder distributions
Shareholder information
Strategic priorities
Sustainability: supplementary information
Tagrisso
Takeda
Taxation
Taxation information for shareholders 
Therapy Area Overview and Pipeline
Trade and other payables
Trade and other receivables
Trade marks
Values and Purpose
Young Health Programme
ZS Pharma

60
73, 80, 101, 134-135, 143, 157-159
57
162-163
16-19
144, 146, 191
8-9
20, 80, 101, 135, 145, 185-200
26-29
58-59
239
11-15
56
25-29
1, 62-65, 148-149
2-3
38-41
144, 160
33
15, 211-213
See Intellectual Property
47-48
46
52
97
80, 136, 165-171
226-230
73
165
13-14
192, 234
93
103-121
122-132
45-48
172
37
43, 69, 148
65
20-22, 214-225
48-51
226-230
23, 226-230
81
93-94
152-153
85, 88-89
172
76, 172
3, 76, 96
232-236
2, 5, 16-19
231
4-5, 26-29
24, 36-37, 57
69, 76, 81, 143, 150-152, 200
234-236
23-41
72, 144, 164
72, 144, 162, 181
238
8
53
34, 62-73, 174-175

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Important information for readers of this Annual Report

AstraZeneca websites
Information on or accessible through our 
websites, including www.astrazeneca.com, 
www.astrazenecaclinicaltrials.com and 
www.medimmune.com, does not form part 
of and is not incorporated into this Annual 
Report.

External/third party websites
Information on or accessible through any 
third party or external website does not form 
part of and is not incorporated into this 
Annual Report.

Figures
Figures in parentheses in tables and in the 
Financial Statements are used to represent 
negative numbers.

Inclusion of Reported performance, 
(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:430)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)
exchange rate growth rates
AstraZeneca’s determination of non-GAAP 
measures together with our presentation of 
them within our financial information may 
differ from similarly titled non-GAAP 
measures of other companies.

Statements of competitive position, 
growth rates and sales
In this Annual Report, except as otherwise 
stated, market information regarding the 
position of our business or products relative 
to its or their competition is based upon 
published statistical sales data for the  
12 months ended 30 September 2016 
obtained from IMS Health, a leading supplier 
of statistical data to the pharmaceutical 
industry. Unless otherwise noted, for the 
US, dispensed new or total prescription 
data and audited sales data are taken, 
respectively, from IMS Health National 
Prescription Audit and IMS National Sales 
Perspectives for the 12 months ended  
31 December 2016; such data is not 
adjusted for Medicaid and similar rebates. 
Except as otherwise stated, these market 
share and industry data from IMS Health 
have been derived by comparing our sales 
revenue with competitors’ and total market 
sales revenues for that period, and except 
as otherwise stated, growth rates are given  
at CER. For the purposes of this Annual 
Report, unless otherwise stated, references 
to the world pharmaceutical market or 
similar phrases are to the 54 countries 
contained in the IMS Health database, 
which amounted to approximately 96%  
(in value) of the countries audited by  
IMS Health.

Cautionary statement regarding 
forward-looking statements
The purpose of this Annual Report is to 
provide information to the members of the 
Company. The Company and its Directors, 
employees, agents and advisers do not 
accept or assume responsibility to any other 
person to whom this Annual Report is 
shown or into whose hands it may come 
and any such responsibility or liability is 
expressly disclaimed. In order, among other 
things, to utilise the ‘safe harbour’ provisions 
of the US Private Securities Litigation 
Reform Act of 1995 and the UK Companies 
Act 2006, we are providing the following 
cautionary statement: This Annual Report 
contains certain forward-looking statements 
with respect to the operations, performance 
and financial condition of the Group, 
including, among other things, statements 
about expected revenues, margins, 
earnings per share or other financial or other 
measures. Forward-looking statements are 
statements relating to the future which are 
based on information available at the time 
such statements are made, including 
information relating to risks and uncertainties. 
Although we believe that the forward-
looking statements in this Annual Report  
are based on reasonable assumptions, the 
matters discussed in the forward-looking 
statements may be influenced by factors 
that could cause actual outcomes and 
results to be materially different from those 
expressed or implied by these statements. 
The forward-looking statements reflect 
knowledge and information available at the 
date of the preparation of this Annual Report 
and the Company undertakes no obligation 
to update these forward-looking statements. 
We identify the forward-looking statements 
by using the words ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, 
‘expects’, ‘intends’ and similar expressions 
in such statements. Important factors that 
could cause actual results to differ materially 
from those contained in forward-looking 
statements, certain of which are beyond our 
control, include, among other things, those 
factors identified in the Risk section from 
page 214 of this Annual Report. Nothing in 
this Annual Report should be construed as 
a profit forecast.

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Additional Information 

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Investor relations
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UK
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244

AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2016

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