AstraZeneca shares rose on September 17, 2026, following two major strategic milestones.
England’s National Health Service (NHS) approved the breast cancer drug Enhertu for routine use. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended the treatment for patients with HER2-low advanced or metastatic breast cancer. This decision will benefit approximately 1,000 women annually. A new commercial agreement resolved previous cost concerns that led to an earlier rejection.
AstraZeneca also committed nearly 200 million yuan ($29.8 million) to upgrade its manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China. This investment supports the production and global supply of a new cardiovascular drug. The upgraded site should become operational by late 2029. The Wuxi base will serve as a primary global supply hub for the company's new medicines.