AstraZeneca began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, February 2, 2026, marking a significant shift in the pharmaceutical giant’s U.S. market strategy as it ended its American Depositary Shares program on Nasdaq.
The UK-based drugmaker delisted its ADS and certain debt securities from Nasdaq after market close on January 30, transitioning to direct listing of its ordinary shares on the NYSE. The FTSE 100 company will maintain its existing listings on the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stockholm.
Simplifying Global Trading Structure
The move replaces AstraZeneca’s two-for-one ADS structure with direct $0.25 ordinary shares, enabling global investors to trade consistently across exchanges without ADS intermediaries. The company told shareholders the new listing will help U.S. investors participate in the company’s “strong growth.”
“Today marks the start of an exciting new period for AstraZeneca, one which we believe gives broader access to the largest capital market in the world,” said Michel Demare, AstraZeneca’s chairman. “This will allow even more investors to participate in AstraZeneca’s future.”
AstraZeneca generates nearly half of its revenues in the U.S. and is targeting further growth in the world’s largest pharmaceutical market.
NYSE Welcomes Pharma Giant
Lynn Martin, president of NYSE Group, emphasized the strategic significance of the listing. “Today we are proud to welcome AstraZeneca to the NYSE, where it joins a community of ground-breakers and industry leaders,” Lynn said. “Through its listing on the world’s largest and most liquid capital market, the company is well-positioned to expand its global investor base and accelerate its commitment to delivering innovation to patients and the wider biopharmaceutical industry.”
Michel Demare, chairman of AstraZeneca, added that the “harmonized listing across New York, London and Stockholm reflects strong shareholder support for our growth strategy and positions AstraZeneca to deliver more innovative medicines to more patients around the world.”
Following Major China Announcements
The NYSE listing comes days after AstraZeneca unveiled an $18.5 billion partnership with China’s CSPC Pharmaceutical Group to develop experimental weight loss and diabetes drugs.
Under the deal, the pharmaceutical giant will have access to exclusive global rights outside China to CSPC’s once-monthly injectable technology portfolio for weight management, offering more convenient alternatives to daily injections.
AstraZeneca will pay CSPC $1.2 billion upfront, with an additional $17.3 billion contingent on achieving regulatory, research, and sales milestones.
The company also announced a $15 billion investment in China through 2030 during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing on January 29. The investment will expand manufacturing, research and development capabilities. “These investments span the value chain, from drug discovery and clinical development to manufacturing, and bring Chinese innovation to the world,” the company stated.
China represents AstraZeneca’s second-largest market, accounting for approximately 12% of the company’s total revenue.
