German Interlocutory Injunction Denied

AstraZeneca PLC
12 November 1999


ASTRAZENECA - INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION TO
PREVENT MARKETING OF A GENERIC OMEPRAZOLE PRODUCT
IN GERMANY DENIED 

AstraZeneca today announced that its request for an interlocutory injunction
in Germany to prevent Azupharma GmbH from marketing a generic omeprazole
version has been denied by the Appeal Court in Frankfurt.  Omeprazole is the
substance used in 'Losec'.

AstraZeneca has filed requests in Germany for preliminary injunctions against
eight companies, has filed six main actions and is currently defending its
patent rights in seven other patent cases related to omeprazole.  In August
1999, AstraZeneca was granted an interlocutory injunction to prevent
Ratiopharm GmbH and Merckle GmbH selling a generic version of omeprazole.

The substance patent for omeprazole began expiring in the first countries in
1999.  In most countries, AstraZeneca has been granted Patent Term Extensions
or Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs).  This extended coverage for
the substance expires in the USA in 2001, in most European countries in
2002-2004, and in Japan in 2004.  The product is also protected by patents
directed to formulations, uses, intermediates and processes.


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