Statement

AstraZeneca PLC
19 November 2004



                             ASTRAZENECA - CRESTOR





During the course of testimony yesterday, to the Committee of Finance of the US
Senate Hearing on the worldwide withdrawal of VIOXX, Dr David Graham raised the
possibility of safety concerns surrounding five other products including
AstraZeneca's lipid lowering medicine 'Crestor'.



AstraZeneca has followed up these remarks with speed and diligence.   We have
been assured today at senior levels in the FDA that there is no concern in
relation to 'Crestor's safety and that they have issued a statement explaining
that Dr Graham's testimony does not reflect the views of the agency.



To date over 12 million prescriptions have been written for 'Crestor' worldwide
and 3.5 million patients have been prescribed the drug.  'Crestor' has been
approved in 65 countries worldwide and with the latest information on 'Crestor'
patient safety, available as recently as Friday 12 November 2004, (available on
www.rosuvastatininformation.com) AstraZeneca is confident in both the safety and
the efficacy of 'Crestor'



                                    - Ends -

19 November 2004





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