Regulatory Approval

AstraZeneca PLC
12 July 2000


'NEXIUM' GAINS FULL EUROPEAN UNION MUTUAL RECOGNITION APPROVAL WITH WIDE RANGE
OF INDICATIONS 

AstraZeneca today announced full European Union (EU) approval of 'Nexium'
(esomeprazole), through the Mutual Recognition Procedure. 

'Nexium' the first proton pump inhibitor (PPI) developed as an isomer, is
approved across a broad range of indications including two new treatment
approaches.    'Nexium' will soon be available in 15 EU Member States, in
addition to Norway and Iceland, subject to local licensing, pricing and
reimbursement approvals.   Sweden acted as the Reference Member State for 
the European Mutual Recognition Procedure and obtained fast clearance 
approval of 'Nexium' in March 2000.

Launches in a number of European countries, including the UK and Germany, 
are planned before the end of 2000, starting in Sweden next month (August).   
AstraZeneca is awaiting 'Nexium' approval in the USA and in other major
markets, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.

'Nexium' has shown superior acid-control that is greater, faster and more
sustained compared with other PPIs.   'Nexium' has also demonstrated superior
clinical efficacy over omeprazole, the current unsurpassed gold standard
treatment and has been approved across a wide range of acid-related diseases. 
'Nexium' is indicated for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) including:

 - Treatment of erosive reflux esophagitis
 - Long-term management of patients with healed esophagitis to prevent relapse
      - Symptomatic treatment of GERD.

And 'Nexium' in combination with an appropriate antibacterial therapeutic
regimen for the eradication of H. pylori for:

 - Healing of H. pylori-associated duodenal ulcer 
     - Prevention of relapse of peptic ulcers in patients with H.
pylori-associated ulcers. 

This broad indication base includes a whole new treatment approach unique to
'Nexium' across Europe.  On-demand treatment allows doctors to prescribe
'Nexium' to patients, who then take a single dose of medication as and when
needed, to control their recurrent symptoms.  Results from clinical trials
suggest that after six months' treatment, up to 90 percent of patients are
able to control symptoms effectively by taking 'Nexium' on-demand.  This is a
new, highly convenient, approach to the long-term control of the symptoms of
GERD that is likely to be cost-effective.

Another treatment approach is one-week 'Nexium' triple-therapy in treating H.
pylori-associated duodenal ulcers, a regimen that has been shown to be as
effective as one-week triple-therapy with omeprazole followed by three
additional weeks of omeprazole monotherapy (the currently recommended
regimen).

'Nexium' provides superior acid control compared with the standard therapeutic
dose of omeprazole 20 mg as well as omeprazole 40 mg, and standard doses of
other drugs in this class such as pantoprazole 40 mg and lansoprazole 30 mg.  
'Nexium' is also the first drug that has ever shown significant clinical
advantages over omeprazole.


Further enquires to:

Elizabeth Sutton:         Tel. [phone] 
Michael Olsson:           Tel  [phone]
Ed Seage:                 Tel. [phone]
Jorgen Winroth:           Tel. [phone] or [phone]