First Pharmaceuticals R&D Presentation - Details

AstraZeneca PLC
6 December 1999


ASTRAZENECA'S FIRST
PHARMACEUTICALS R&D PRESENTATION

HIGHLIGHTS

-    AstraZeneca has a significant number of key new products in
     late development or awaiting registration covering cancer, 
     cardiovascular (two products), gastrointestinal and respiratory 
     diseases.

-    159 projects, including 57 new compounds, are in AstraZeneca's
     R&D pipeline.

-    R&D targets aim to deliver more than 15 candidate drugs per
     year by 2003 into development, contributing to doubling the 
     future value of the portfolio every five years.

-    AstraZeneca today announces (December 6) submission to the US 
     Food and Drug Administration of a New Drug Application for Nexium 
     - the brand name of the second generation of Proton Pump Inhibitor, 
     which will extend the company's gastrointestinal franchise.  Clinical
     data show that Nexium has set a new therapy standard with
     significant clinical benefits over Losec.  The first launch in
     Europe is expected in the second half of 2000.

-    Phase II trials data for AstraZeneca's ZD4522 superstatin
     confirms better lipid lowering efficacy than any existing product 
     and tolerability equivalent to the best in the class.

-    Phase III studies have started on AstraZeneca's compound
     H376/95 (an oral thrombin inhibitor), potentially the first advance in   
       more than 50 years in thrombosis treatment - a product to supersede    
         warfarin that will not require frequent monitoring.

-    Iressa, AstraZeneca's new cancer treatment, shows promise in 
     Phase II trials and is included in 15 promising cancer products in       
       pre-clinical and clinical investigation.  The company has novel        
         approaches including anti-proliferatives, anti-angiogenics and       
           inhibitors of cancer invasion in development.

-    Phase III trials of Viozan for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
     Disease (COPD) have started.  Together with other opportunities within   
       the Respiratory area such as Symbicort and Oxis, AstraZeneca now
     has the opportunity to offer all current modalities for asthma
     and an exciting extension into COPD.

-    Novel approaches to the treatment of pain, including strong
     analgesics without opioid side effects, will be added to a world leading 
       position in anaesthesia to build global leadership in pain control.

-    In addition to Seroquel for schizophrenia and Zomig for
     migraine, the Central Nervous System area will be broadened with a series
       of new approaches for acute treatment of stroke added to new compounds
     for the treatment of depression and anxiety.

Dr Tom McKillop, Chief Executive of AstraZeneca said 'We have
transformed AstraZeneca into a focused pharmaceutical company.  We
are opportunity rich and have the determination and resources to
bring these successfully to the market.'

A list of compounds in AstraZeneca's R&D portfolio will follow.  The
full Press release issued today to coincide with the R&D
presentation to financial analysts is available on
www.astrazeneca.com under 'Financials'.


6 December 1999

Further Enquiries:
Media:
Steve Brown, tel [phone]  
Lucy Williams, tel [phone]
Mikael Widell, tel [phone]

Investor Relations:
Michael Olsson, tel [phone]    
Elizabeth Sutton, tel [phone]
Ed Seage, tel [phone] 
Jorgen Winroth, tel [phone]