Stmnt re Lawsuit

AstraZeneca PLC
23 April 2001


ASTRAZENECA FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST APOTEX CORPORATION AND TORPHARM FOR PATENT
INFRINGEMENT

AstraZeneca confirmed today that it has filed a lawsuit in Illinois against
Apotex Corporation and Torpharm for patent infringement.

The lawsuit is the result of an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) filed
by Torpharm with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning its intent
to market a generic omeprazole product in the US.  The antisecretory drug
omeprazole is marketed in the US by AstraZeneca, L.P. under the brand name
Prilosec and is marketed internationally by AstraZeneca as Losec.

The basis for AstraZeneca's complaint is that the action by Torpharm infringes
at a minimum formulation patents for Prilosec, the omeprazole sulphenamides
patent and patents relating to the treatment of H.Pylori infections.

AstraZeneca intends to fully enforce its patent rights and is steadfast in its
belief that all the patents are valid.

23 April 2001

Further enquires to:

Media Enquiries: 
      
Chris Major,      Tel: [phone] 
 

Investor Relations:
 
Michael Olsson,   Tel: [phone]