Pharmaceutical group Astrazeneca reported 2007 sales of $29.55 billion, up 11% from $26.47 billion a year ago. However, profits fell from $8.54 billion to $7.98 billion. In Italy, sales fell by 5% last year to around 815 million euros. The decline, commented Hans Sijbesma, CEO of the group in Italy, "substantially reflects the difficult situation of the Italian market". Free Market of 02/01/2008 p. 14
