Statement re Zoladex

AstraZeneca PLC
23 June 2003

Stock Exchange Announcement


               ASTRAZENECA ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT WITH U.S. GOVERNMENT
                          ON ZOLADEX(R) INVESTIGATION


AstraZeneca today announced the settlement of a multi-year investigation into US
sales and marketing practices for Zoladex(R) (goserelin acetate implant), a
treatment for prostate cancer.


Under the terms of the settlement, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP will admit to
having violated the Prescription Drug Marketing Act by providing free samples of
Zoladex(R) to physicians during the period 1993 through 1996, with the
understanding that these physicians would bill Medicare for reimbursement.
AstraZeneca will also settle, without admitting liability, civil claims
involving allegations that the Company provided inducements to physicians to
purchase Zoladex(R) and for improperly setting and reporting its price.


The settlement also provides for a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with
the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Health and Human
Services under which AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP is required, among other
obligations, to keep in place its current Compliance Program and provide
periodic reports to the OIG on the status of compliance activities.



AstraZeneca understands that the government investigation is closed, all
outstanding issues related to the investigation are resolved and no indictments
of current or former employees are expected.



The total payment associated with the negotiated settlement is $354,900,000.
This amount includes funds set aside to cover individual settlement agreements
with the states involving related claims. The company previously announced that
it set aside $350,000,000 to cover these settlement costs in its 2002 Annual
Results and subsequently in the 20-F filing with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.


                                    - Ends -


June 23, 2003



Investor Relations:


Mina Blair-Robinson, [phone]
Jonathan Hunt, [phone]
Ed Seage (US IR contact), [phone]





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange