What science can do
Annual Report and Form 20-F
Information 2021
Our Annual Report
We are a global, science-led, patient-focused pharmaceutical company. We are tireless in seeking to realise the potential of what science can do. In our Annual Report we report on the progress we made in 2021 in pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines.
Reflecting this increased confidence, the Board has approved an increase in the annualised dividend.
Leif Johansson, Chair
In July, we completed our landmark acquisition of Alexion, which established our rare disease capability.
Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer
Strategic overview
We are a global pharmaceutical business with a science-led and patient-focused value proposition committed to excellence in the research, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines.
Inspired by our Values and what science can do, we are focused on accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines that create enduring value for patients and society.
Accelerate Innovative Science
Accelerating the next wave of new molecular entities, building our capabilities in immunology and rare diseases, pursuing new scientific modalities and driving R&D productivity.
Pipeline progression events
321 •
(2020: 36)
1. 26 against our Group scorecard for determining annual bonus. 2021 total includes Alexion.
2. 25 against our Group scorecard for determining annual bonus.
3. 17 against our Group scorecard for determining annual bonus.
Regulatory events
491 •
(2020:53)
1. 37 against our Group scorecard for determining annual bonus. 2021 total includes Alexion.
2. 43 against our Group scorecard for determining annual bonus.
3. 37 against our Group scorecard for determining annual bonus.
Deliver Growth and Therapy Area Leadership
Meeting our growth and profitability goals through successful innovation and commercial excellence, as well as completing the Alexion acquisition.
Total revenue*
$37,417m •
(2020:$26,617m)
*Total Revenue consists of Product Sales and Collaboration Revenue.
Be a Great Place to Work
Contributing to the enterprise and to society, with a focus on inclusion and diversity, lifelong learning, improving access to healthcare, environmental protection, and ethics and transparency, as well as delivering our Ambition Zero Carbon programme.
Employee belief that AstraZeneca is a great place to work1
85%
(2020:89%)
1. Source: November Pulse survey for each year.
Sustainability scorecard performance2
83% •
(2020: 93%)
2. A Green rating = more than 70% of our categories are rated green. Each category consists of several KPIs. We have 14 priority goals. Achievement of <9 is Red; 9 or 10 is Amber; 11 or 12 is Green; and 13 or 14 is Blue.
• Used for remuneration of Executive Directors
// Denotes a scale break. All bar chart scales start from zero. We use a scale break where charts of a different magnitude, but the same unit of measurement, are presented alongside each other.
Disease Area Review
We have a diversified portfolio with broad coverage across primary, specialty care and rare disease.
Oncology
We are leading a revolution in oncology to redefine cancer care.
Our ambition is to follow the science to discover, develop and deliver life-changing treatments that increase the potential for cure.
We strive to push the boundaries of science to change the practice of medicine and transform the lives of patients living with cancer.
BioPharmaceuticals
We want to change the lives of billions of people living with chronic diseases for the better, enabling them to live life without limits.
Our ambition is to stop the progress of these often degenerative, debilitating and life-threatening conditions, achieve remission and, one day, cure them.
BioPharmaceuticals is responsible for Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory & Immunology.
Rare Disease
On 21 July 2021, we completed the acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and created Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, a new disease area within our company.
Our mission is to transform the lives of people affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions. By understanding patients’ unique needs, we can research and develop innovative medicines, support access and advocate for the rare disease community.
COVID-19
We are working to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.
With Vaxzevria and Evusheld, we are significantly contributing to global public health.
AstraZeneca and our global partners released for supply 2.5 billion vaccine doses to over 180 countries. Approximately two-thirds of these went to LMICs, and more than 247 million doses have been delivered to 130 countries through the COVAX Facility in 2021.
Sustainability Highlights
Our ambition is to harness the power of science and innovation in ways that have a positive impact on society, patients, healthcare systems and the environment, through actions for the long term.
Through our flagship $1 billion Ambition Zero Carbon programme, we are on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our global operations by 98% by 2026 and halve our entire value chain footprint by 2030, on the way to a 90% reduction by 2045.
Access to healthcare
We are working towards a future where everyone can have access to sustainable health solutions for life-changing treatment and care.
Achievements in 2021:
31.0m
Over 199,000 healthcare workers and others trained since 2010 and over 31 million people reached through Access to Healthcare programmes.
Environmental protection
We aim to demonstrate global leadership by minimising our environmental impact across all our activities and products. Becoming increasingly circular, we are designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and maximising resource efficiency.
Achievements in 2021:
59%
59% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions since 2015.
Ethics and transparency
We seek to create positive societal impact and embed ethical behaviour in all our business activities, markets and value chain. We do this by promoting ethical, transparent and inclusive policies within our company as well as across all our partners and suppliers.
Achievements in 2021:
48.1%
48.1% of senior middle management roles and above are held by women.
Achieve Group Financial Targets
Cash generation is a key driver of long-term shareholder returns and facilitates reinvestment in our pipeline, which is critical for delivering new medicines and future value.
Net cash flow from operating activities
$6.0bn •
Up 24% at actual rate of exchange to $6.0bn
Reported EPS
$0.08
Down 97% at actual rate of exchange to $0.08
(down 84% at CER)
Core EPS
$5.29 •
Up 32% at actual rate of exchange to $5.29
(up 37% at CER)
• Used for remuneration of Executive Directors
// Denotes a scale break. All bar chart scales start from zero. We use a scale break where charts of a different magnitude, but the same unit of measurement, are presented alongside each other.
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