AstraZeneca posts double-digit profit growth in Q2

LONDON AstraZeneca’s profits grew by 13 percent in the second quarter, Britain’s second largest drug company reported Thursday.

Net profit for the quarter ending June 30 was $1.62 billion, compared with $1.43 billion in the second quarter of last year. Meanwhile, revenue was $7.96 billion, a 9 percent increase over the same period last year.

AstraZeneca’s stock increased to $48.89 on the London Stock Exchange following the announcement, as the company forecast that earnings per share for the full year would be $4.60 to $4.90, an increase of 20 cents over the forecast it made in January.