Statement re Asthma Treatment

AstraZeneca PLC
29 August 2000


ASTRAZENECA RECEIVES FIRST APPROVAL FOR 
SYMBICORT TURBUHALER FOR THE TREATMENT OF ASTHMA

AstraZeneca has gained its first approval for Symbicort Turbuhaler, a new and
innovative asthma treatment.  Containing the corticosteroid budesonide and
fast and long-acting bronchodilator formoterol in a single inhaler
(Turbuhaler), Symbicort is being hailed as a significant new step in the field
of asthma management.

The rationale behind using budesonide and formoterol in a single inhaler is
based on the landmark Pauwels et al study published in the New England Journal
of Medicine.  This study shows that when budesonide and formoterol are used
together, the rate of severe asthma attacks in patients with moderate to
severe asthma is reduced by between 26 and 63 percent, and mild attacks are
reduced by up to 62 percent.

The Pauwels' study also shows that adding formoterol to budesonide also
improves control of asthma in terms of patients' lung function and night-time
symptoms.  Such benefits have the additional effect of providing a significant
and sustained improvement in patients' quality of life.

One of the unique benefits Symbicort provides for patients is that dosing may
be adjusted with the same single inhaler, as prescribed by the physician. 
Patients starting out on Symbicort are likely to be prescribed two inhalations
twice daily.  When good asthma control is achieved, the patient can then be
maintained on a lower dose using the same inhaler with the option of once
daily dosing.  If asthma deteriorates, the prescriber can return the dose to
the original two inhalations twice daily using the same single inhaler.  No
other currently available asthma therapy provides this degree of convenience
for patients and physicians. 

Formoterol, one of the components of Symbicort, is the only long-acting
beta-agonist with an onset of effect as rapid as that of short-acting beta
agonists and with a safety profile at least as good. 

Symbicort Turbuhaler is expected to be available on prescription in Sweden
from September 2000.  Further approvals are expected throughout Europe later
this year.

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacture and marketing of ethical (prescription)
pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services.  It is one of the top
five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of over $15
billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology,
anaesthesia including pain management, cardiovascular, central nervous system
(CNS) and respiratory products.

29 August 2000

Further enquires to:

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