Pharma Stock Updates: AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN), Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MNTA),Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA)

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AstraZeneca’s plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) American depositary shares edged higher in Thursday’s pre-market session, after the biopharmaceutical giant reported Q2 results above analysts’ expectations and boosted its full-year guidance.

It posted an operating profit of $1.11 billion, down 8% from a year earlier. Earnings per share declined 4% to $0.63. However, core EPS was $1.30, up 8%, or up 13% at constant exchange rates, and above the $1.09 expected on average by analysts polled by Capital IQ. The company posted a 4% increase in revenue to $6.45 billion, topping analysts’ mean estimate of $6.29 billion.

“We have made significant progress in the first half of the year, with visible momentum across our cardiovascular, diabetes and respiratory franchises as well as strong growth in the emerging markets,” said CEO Pascal Soriot. “This has driven revenue growth for the second consecutive quarter and achieved a 13% increase in core EPS in the quarter. The pace of execution of our strategy and the underlying performance of our teams give us confidence to raise 2014 guidance for the full year.”

The company now sees revenue in line with 2013, versus its prior guidance for a low-to-mid-single-digit percentage decline. It sees core EPS declining in the low double digits, up from its prior guidance for a drop in the teens. Analysts recently were expecting a 1% decline in revenue to $25.46 billion and core EPS of $4.27, down 15% from 2013.

Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MNTA) was higher in pre-market trading after it reported that for Q2 ended June 30, 2014, its loss was wider than expected, and revenue fell short of analysts’ expectations.

The biotechnology company specializing in the characterization and process engineering of complex molecules posted Q2 net loss of $26.2 million, or $0.51 loss per share, compared with the prior-year period’s net loss of $28.8 million, or $0.57 loss per share. Revenue was $11 million, up from $4.3 million in the same quarter last year. Analysts polled by Capital IQ were expecting a loss of $0.44 per share on revenues of $12.25 million.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) reported Q2 earnings that were ahead of analysts’ expectations while sales were below.

The pharmaceutical company said non-GAAP earnings rose 3% o $1.23, topping the $1.22 average estimate from analysts polled by Capital IQ. Sales rose 2% to $5.05 billion but were short of the $5.09 billion consensus.

TEVA reported a net income of $748 million or $0.87 per diluted share compared to a loss of $452 million or $0.53 the year earlier. The year-earlier was weighed down by $1.4 billion in legal settlement costs and loss contingencies.

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