EPO Patent Decision

AstraZeneca PLC
19 December 2006



                  EPO Announces European Nexium(R) Substance

Patent Decision

AstraZeneca today announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) has ruled that
one of the European substance patents for Nexium(R) (EP 0652872) will be
rejected, following an appeal from the German generic manufacturer Ratiopharm.
The original patent expiry for this patent was 2014.

While disappointed with the EPO decision, AstraZeneca has confidence in the
intellectual property portfolio protecting Nexium(R). This portfolio includes
process, method of use and additional substance patents with expiration dates
ranging from 2009 through to 2019. In addition to these patents Nexium has data
exclusivity valid to 2010 in major European markets.

Process patent (EP 0773940) is under opposition with the EPO and an Opposition
Division oral hearing is scheduled for 7th March 2007.

AstraZeneca will defend and enforce its intellectual property rights protecting
Nexium.

Worldwide sales reached $4.6 billion in 2005. Europe accounted for $1.1 billion.


19th December 2006

For further information contact:

Media Enquiries:
Steve Brown, [phone]
Edel McCaffrey, [phone]

Investor Enquiries:
Jonathan Hunt, [phone]
Mina Blair, [phone]
Ed Seage, [phone]
Jorgen Winroth, [phone]

-Ends-


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