Q3 core EPS 1.73 vs forecast 1.69
Q3 revenues 11.49 bln vs forecast 11.47 bln
Raises fullyear profit and revenue guidance
Signs deal with China39;s Eccogene for weightloss pill
China sales affected by government anticorruption campaign

LONDON, Nov 9 Reuters AstraZeneca raised its annual earnings forecast on Thursday, helped by strong demand for its cancer drugs, and reported thirdquarter profit and revenue just ahead of analyst expectations even as COVID19 vaccine sales evaporated.

The Londonlisted drugmaker now expects core earnings per share to increase by a low doubledigit to lowteens percentage for the year, compared with a previous forecast of high singledigit to low doubledigit percentage growth.

It also expects total revenue to increase by a mid singledigit percentage, compared with lowtomid singledigit growth previously.

For the third consecutive quarter, strong sales of AstraZeneca39;s blockbuster cancer treatments and healthy demand for its drugs in emerging markets offset the loss of sales of its COVID19 vaccine and therapy.

The AngloSwedish drugmaker one of the strongest performers recently among listed European pharmaceutical companies reported core profit per share of 1.73 on revenues of 11.49 billion for the third quarter.

Analysts on average expected core profit of 1.69 per share and revenues of 11.47 billion, according to a companycompiled consensus.

The results add to a string of strong quarters for Britain39;s biggest company by market…