British drugmaker AstraZeneca posted a net profit in the first half of this year of $748 million, down $65% from the same period in 2021, the company announced Friday.

Sales of the Covid-19 vaccine boosted the company's results in the first six months of last year, when turnover increased by 23%, while in the first half of this year the increase was 43%, despite a decline in profits.

In the report sent this Friday to the London Stock Exchange, AstraZeneca notes that revenues reached $22,161 million (€21,670 million at current exchange rates) between January and June.

The drug maker said operating profit also fell 531TP2Q, from $3,022 million (€2,948 million) last year to $1,417 million (€1,382 million) in 2022.

It also reported that net debt as of June 30 was $24,689 million, up from $11,721 million at the end of June 2021.

By business area, AstraZeneca's oncology products generated revenues of $7,454 million in the first half, an increase of 18%, to represent 34% of total revenues.

Immunotherapy and vaccine products, which include the Vaxzevria preparation against Covid-19, contributed 13% of total revenues, with revenues of $2.795 billion.

"The Vaxzevria preparation is estimated to have saved more than six million lives in the first year of vaccination, and Evusheld has protected hundreds of thousands of people, allowing them to return to normal life. The preparation Evusheld continues to demonstrate its activity against new variants," AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot said in the report. (Lusa)