Nexium ANDA

AstraZeneca PLC
18 October 2005

NEXIUM ANDA

AstraZeneca has received a notice from Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. that Ranbaxy
Laboratories Limited has submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA)
for esomeprazole magnesium delayed-release capsules, 20mg and 40mg, containing
Paragraph IV Certifications of invalidity and/or non-infringement with respect
to certain AstraZeneca US patents listed in the Orange Book in reference to
Nexium, the latter of which expires in 2018.

AstraZeneca has 45 days within which to commence a patent infringement lawsuit
against Ranbaxy that would automatically stay, or bar, the FDA from approving
Ranbaxy's ANDA for 30 months or until an adverse court decision, whichever may
occur earlier.

Ranbaxy has also certified with respect to certain other AstraZeneca US patents
listed in the Orange Book in reference to Nexium that Ranbaxy will not launch
its product prior to the expiry of those patents, the latter of which expires in
October 2007.

AstraZeneca is evaluating Ranbaxy's notice and continues to have full confidence
in its intellectual property protecting Nexium.


-Ends-

18 October 2005

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