Exanta Sportif

AstraZeneca PLC
17 February 2003



  RESULTS OF EXANTA(TM) (ximelagatran) TRIAL IN PREVENTION OF STROKE IN ATRIAL
                           FIBRILLATION (SPORTIF III)

                         TO BE PRESENTED AT ACC MEETING



AstraZeneca announced today that headline results of the recently completed
SPORTIF III (Stroke Prevention Oral Thrombin Inhibitor in Atrial Fibrillation)
trial comparing ExantaTM (ximelagatran), with warfarin, the current standard of
care, are encouraging.  The data support the emerging positive benefit / risk
profile for Exanta in this indication and will be presented in the Late-Breaking
Clinical Trial section of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in
Chicago on 2 April 2003.



The Exanta regulatory submission for prevention of stroke in atrial
fibrillation, which remains on track in Europe and the US, also includes SPORTIF
V and other trials in the extensive clinical trial programme.



Exanta is set to be the first new fixed-dose oral anticoagulant since the
introduction of warfarin over 50 years ago and is currently being investigated
in an extensive clinical trials programme for a number of key indications.



Exanta is a trademark, property of the AstraZeneca Group of Companies



For further information, please contact:





February 17, 2003



Media Enquiries:

Emily Denney, Tel: [phone]
Steve Brown, Tel: [phone]



Investor Relations:

Mina Blair Robinson, Tel: [phone]
Jonathan Hunt, Tel:  [phone]



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