AstraZeneca (AZN) Drops 3% Amid China Restructuring
1min read On April 29, 2025, AstraZeneca's stock dropped 3% in pre-market trading, reflecting investor concerns and market sentiment.
In a significant organizational restructuring, AstraZeneca China has announced its largest adjustment since the beginning of 2025. The company has established two new business units focused on biopharmaceuticals: the Respiratory and Autoimmune Business Unit (R&I) and the Vaccines and Immunotherapy Business Unit (V&I). The R&I unit aims to strengthen the market position of inhaled products while accelerating the transition to biologic therapies. The V&I unit will oversee the development of the "Lucevia" vaccine in collaboration with Sanofi and the joint venture project with Kintai Biologicals.
Alongside these structural changes, AstraZeneca China has also seen several key personnel adjustments. Spearheading the changes, Hua Guo has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, overseeing the "Flying Eagle" business and additional responsibilities in respiratory inhalation and digestive injection businesses. Conversely, high-level departures include Liu Qian, the former General Manager of the Respiratory and Digestive Business Unit, and Chen Xi, the former Vice President overseeing respiratory and autoimmune biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and immunotherapy. Additionally, Zhang Jing, Assistant Vice President of the Respiratory and Digestive Business Unit, is set to retire in May.
These strategic moves are part of AstraZeneca's broader plan to introduce 20 breakthrough innovative drugs by 2030, with 10 of these expected to come from the biopharmaceutical sector. The company's 2024 financial report showed a 21% year-over-year increase in revenue, with China contributing significantly to this growth, achieving a record high of $64.13 billion, an 11% increase from the previous year. This performance underscores AstraZeneca's commitment to enhancing its research and development investments and production supply chain in China.
