Sharon Barr, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president, biopharmaceuticals R&D, in an interview with Scrip, outlines how the company is using a holistic approach to define a new competitive landscape in the weight loss sector. She also sees new frontiers for the firm and its potential partners both in China and beyond to jointly explore aimed at maintaining healthy muscle mass while decreasing body fat.

The company is adopting a two-pronged strategy to capitalize on its presence in the country to expand the market for its inhaled therapies and biologics for asthma and COPD.

Outstanding Q1 growth in sales and profits have pleased the markets, and investors are now keen to hear more about AstraZeneca’s 2030 masterplan at its investor day next month.

Not content with fulfilling its decade-long $45bn sales target, AstraZeneca is now preparing for Act 2: a new 10-year 'cycle of growth'.