Glossary
F-M
The following abbreviations and expressions have the following meanings when used in this report:
finance income and expense Includes interest earned and payable, and similar items.
first good laboratory practice (FGLP) The point at which a compound undergoes the first pre-clinical study that is required for regulatory approval, which marks entry into the development pipeline.
first-line therapy Treatment given to a newly diagnosed patient, who has therefore not yet been treated.
first time in man The first time that an experimental compound is administered to a human. It implies that the compound has passed ethical review bodies and passed formal regulatory toxicology studies.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Part of the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency, which is the regulatory authority for all pharmaceuticals (including biologics and vaccines) and medical devices in the US.
free cash flow Represents net cash flows before financing activities, and is calculated as net cash inflow before financing activities, adjusted for acquisitions of businesses, movements in short term investments and fixed deposits and disposal of intangible assets.
gastrointestinal (GI) Relating to the stomach and intestines.
gastrointestinal stromal tumours A rare tumour of the gastrointestinal tract.
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) A condition where gastric juices, containing acid, travel back from the stomach into the oesophagus.
generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) A neurotic illness characterised by chronic and persistent apprehension and tension.
GIA Group Internal Audit, our internal audit function.
glioblastoma A type of primary brain tumour.
gross margin The margin, as a percentage, by which sales exceed the cost of sales, calculated by dividing the difference between the two by the sales figure.
Group AstraZeneca PLC and its subsidiaries.
head-to-head study A clinical trial in which two different treatments are directly compared with each other. (For drugs under development, this is often a comparison with a marketed drug that is seen to be the gold standard).
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) Cholesterol carried in the blood by HDL back to the liver, sometimes referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol.
high-throughput screening The process of using automated tests to search quickly through large numbers of substances for desired binding or activity characteristics.
HKAPI Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry.
hormone A chemical messenger carried in the blood which produces a biological effect at its site of action.
human papilloma virus (HPV) A group of viruses that can cause cervical cancer.
hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) A water pill (thiazide diuretic) that helps prevent the body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) New propellants for metered-dose inhalers that are more environmentally friendly than the current CFC-based inhalers.
hyperglycaemic The condition of abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood.
hypertension High blood pressure.
IAS International Accounting Standards.
ICH The International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, which brings together regulators and pharmaceutical industry experts from the three ICH regions (Europe, the US and Japan) to discuss scientific and technical aspects of drug registration.
IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards.
immunosuppressed A condition in which the response of the immune system is reduced.
IMS Health Inc. Provider of global pharmaceutical market data.
inside information Precise, confidential, share-price sensitive information which relates to the Group.
IR Immediate release.
ischaemic heart disease A chronic disease caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart muscles via the coronary arteries.
KPI Key performance indicator.
large molecule A general term used to describe pharmaceutical R&D using biology and biological methods and materials to discover and develop new medicines. Biological molecules are large compared with chemical molecules.
Lean Sigma™A business improvement methodology.
leukotriene receptor antagonist A non-steroidal asthma medication taken over the long term and shown to reduce use of inhalers etc. and may also allow the asthmatic to reduce high doses of inhaled steroids.
LIBID London Interbank Bid Rate.
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate.
line extension A new formulation, indication or presentation of a marketed product.
Lipid Another word for fat. Lipids are one of the main constituents of plant and animal cells.
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) Cholesterol that is carried in the blood by LDL, sometimes referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol.
LSE London Stock Exchange plc.
luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) A naturally occurring hormone that controls sex hormones in both men and women.
LHRH agonist A drug that mimics the effect of LHRH.
major depressive disorder (MDD) Depression where five or more symptoms of depression are present for at least two weeks.
Markman hearing A pre-trial hearing in the US in which judges hear from both parties as to the appropriate meaning of relevant key words used in the claims of a patent.
marketing authorisation application (MAA) An application for authorisation to place medical products on the market. This is a specific term for the EU/EEA markets.
Medicaid A US health insurance programme for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.
Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) The UK regulatory authority, a government agency, for medicines and medical devices.
Medicare A US health insurance programme for US citizens aged 65 or older, US citizens under age 65 with certain disabilities, and US citizens of all ages with permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. Recently, Medicare began offering prescription drug coverage under Part D of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit.
metabolic syndrome A combination of medical disorders that increase one’s risk of cardiovascular disease.
metastatic disease Disease that has spread from one part of the body to another.
MHLW The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
minority interests Share of profits that belong to non-AstraZeneca shareholders in partially-owned subsidiaries.
monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) An antibody derived from a single clone of cells; all antibodies derived from such a group of cells have the same sequence of DNA.
monotherapy Treatment where only one agent is given.
moving annual total (MAT) A figure that represents the financial value of a variable for 12 months.
multiple sclerosis (MS) Progressive deterioration of the nervous system.
multiple unit pellet system (MUPS) A formulation in which each dose is subdivided into hundreds or thousands of smaller units with modified release properties.
myocardial infarction (MI) A heart attack.
myocardial ischaemia See ischaemic heart disease.
