Despite the controversy surrounding CEO Pascal Soriot’s salary, AstraZeneca has reported strong sales growth in the first three months of the year. Sales grew by 18% to $12.7 billion (£10.1 billion), driven by cancer treatments and the top-selling drug Farxiga. The positive results may potentially mitigate concerns about Soriot’s compensation, which had faced opposition from shareholders at the company’s AGM. The company’s shares have also performed well, increasing by 10% this year and quadrupling in value since Soriot took charge in 2012. AstraZeneca has also made two billion-dollar acquisitions during the quarter, strengthening its position in the pharmaceutical sector. Analysts and investors remain optimistic about the company’s future prospects, particularly with the development of new drugs and a strong pipeline of potential treatments.