Exanta

AstraZeneca PLC
23 June 2003



Stock Exchange Announcement



                   ASTRAZENECA ANNOUNCES ABSTRACT PUBLISHED ON
   EXANTA(TM) (ximelagatran) IN THE TREATMENT OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM (VTE)


AstraZeneca today announced the publication of an abstract, which details the
results from the phase III THRIVE Treatment study 1 for Exanta(TM)
(ximelagatran), the first of a new class of oral direct thrombin inhibitor (oral
DTI).  The results of the THRIVE Treatment study will be presented at the XIX
Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, on Monday
14 July 2003. The abstract is available online at:
http://www.isth2003.co.uk/layersite/ indexbluelay.html.  Top line results
include:


  • In the study, designed to show non-inferiority 2, Exanta was shown to be as
    effective as the current standard of care, enoxaparin/warfarin, in treatment
    of acute VTE over six months in order to prevent recurrent VTE events (26
    Exanta vs 24 enoxaparin/warfarin, ITT population).


  • A favourable trend for Exanta over enoxaparin/warfarin was seen with
    respect to risk of major bleeding (14 Exanta vs 25 enoxaparin/warfarin, OT
    population) and mortality (28 Exanta vs 42 enoxaparin/warfarin, ITT
    population).


  • Laboratory blood tests showed transient liver enzyme elevations in 9.8% of
    patients receiving Exanta, compared with 2% of patients receiving enoxaparin
    /warfarin. These elevations spontaneously decreased with treatment
    continuation or discontinuation and, as has been seen in previous studies,
    were not typically associated with specific clinical symptoms.


THRIVE Treatment, together with THRIVE III, will form the basis for the
regulatory submission for Exanta in the treatment and long-term prevention of
VTE and contribute to the overall benefit-risk profile for the drug.  This
submission remains on track to be submitted in Europe in the fourth quarter of
this year.


Exanta is the first of a new class of oral anticoagulants called direct thrombin
inhibitors (oral DTIs).  The drug is currently under phase III investigation and
is the first oral anticoagulant to reach late clinical development in more than
50 years - since the development of warfarin.



23 June 2003


Investor Inquiries:

Mina Blair-Robinson, [phone]
Jonathan Hunt, [phone]



- Ends -




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