STATEMENT REGARDING PFIZER WITHDRAWAL

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO
WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

STATEMENT REGARDING PFIZER WITHDRAWAL

AstraZeneca PLC ("AstraZeneca") notes the announcement made by Pfizer Inc.
("Pfizer") that, in accordance with the requirements of the UK City Code on
Takeovers and Mergers (the "Takeover Code"), Pfizer does not intend to make an
offer for AstraZeneca. Accordingly, Pfizer is bound by the restrictions of the
Takeover Code.

Leif Johansson, Chairman of AstraZeneca, said: "We note Pfizer's confirmation
that it no longer intends to make an offer for AstraZeneca. We welcome the
opportunity to continue building on the momentum we have already demonstrated as
an independent company.

We are fully focused on the delivery of our strategy. We have attractive growth
prospects and a rapidly progressing pipeline. In the coming months, we
anticipate positive news flow across our core therapeutic areas, which underpins
our confidence in the long-term prospects of the business.

The Board is grateful to Pascal, his management team and to all our employees
for their dedication and focus over a period of uncertainty. AstraZeneca has a
culture of innovation, with science at the heart of everything we do. I believe
this will create significant value for our shareholders, employees and patients
who will benefit from our life-changing medicines."

A copy of this announcement will be available on AstraZeneca's website at
www.astrazeneca.com.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that
focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription
medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic,
respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience
diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative
medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information
please visit: www.astrazeneca.com

CONTACTS

Media Enquiries
Esra Erkal-Paler    +44 20 7604 8030 (UK/Global)
Ayesha Bharmal      +44 20 7604 8034 (UK/Global)
Jacob Lund          +46 8 553 260 20 (Sweden)
Investor Enquiries
Karl Hård           +44 20 7604 8123                   mob: +44 7789 654364
Adviser Enquiries
Robey Warshaw:      Simon Robey                        +44 20 7317 3900
                    Simon Warshaw
Evercore Partners:  Francois Maisonrouge               +1 212 857 3100
Goldman Sachs:      Karen Cook                         +44 20 7774 1000
                    Phil Raper (Corporate Broking)
Morgan Stanley:     Colm Donlon                        +44 20 7425 8000
                    Andrew Foster (Corporate Broking)
RLM Finsbury:       Conor McClafferty                  +44 20 7251 3801

Further Information

Robey Warshaw LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by
the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as financial adviser exclusively for
AstraZeneca and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this
announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to
the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to
anyone other than AstraZeneca for providing the protections afforded to clients
of Robey Warshaw LLP, nor for providing advice in relation to the matters
referred to in this announcement.

Evercore Partners International LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the
United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as financial
adviser exclusively for AstraZeneca and no one else in connection with the
matters referred to in this announcement and will not regard any other person as
its client in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement and will
not be responsible to anyone other than AstraZeneca for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Evercore Partners International LLP, nor for
providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement.

Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation
Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential
Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for
AstraZeneca and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than AstraZeneca for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs International, or
for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to in this
announcement.

Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, which is authorised by the Prudential
Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the
Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting as financial
adviser to AstraZeneca, and no one else in connection with the matters referred
to in this announcement. In connection with such matters, Morgan Stanley & Co.
International plc, its affiliates and its and their respective directors,
officers, employees and agents will not regard any other person as their client,
nor will they be responsible to any other person other than AstraZeneca for
providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in
connection with the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred
to herein.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this
announcement), oral statements made regarding the Proposal, and other
information published by AstraZeneca contain statements which are, or may be
deemed to be, "forward-looking statements", including for the purposes of the US
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are
prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on
current expectations and projections of the management of AstraZeneca about
future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could
cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward
-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such
as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to",
"budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or
"does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or
statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should",
"would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Although AstraZeneca
believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, AstraZeneca can give no assurance that such expectations will prove
to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will
occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual
results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. These factors include the loss or expiration of
patents, marketing exclusivity or trademarks, or the risk of failure to obtain
patent protection; the risk of substantial adverse litigation/government
investigation claims and insufficient insurance coverage; exchange rate
fluctuations; the risk that R&D will not yield new products that achieve
commercial success; the risk that strategic alliances and acquisitions will be
unsuccessful; the impact of competition, price controls and price reductions;
taxation risks; the risk of substantial product liability claims; the impact of
any delays in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of any of AstraZeneca's
products; the impact of any failure by third parties to supply materials or
services; the risk of failure to manage a crisis; the risk of delay to new
product launches; the difficulties of obtaining and maintaining regulatory
approvals for products; the risk of failure to observe ongoing regulatory
oversight; the risk that new products do not perform as AstraZeneca expects; the
risk of environmental liabilities; the risks associated with conducting business
in emerging markets; the risk of reputational damage; the risk of product
counterfeiting; the risk of failure to successfully implement planned cost
reduction measures through productivity initiatives and restructuring
programmes; the risk that regulatory approval processes for biosimilars could
have an adverse effect on future commercial prospects; the impact of failing to
attract and retain key personnel and to successfully engage with AstraZeneca's
employees; and the impact of increasing implementation and enforcement of more
stringent anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation. Other unknown or
unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should
therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Neither AstraZeneca nor any
of its associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any
representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events
expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will
actually occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward
-looking statements. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory
obligations, AstraZeneca is not under any obligation, and AstraZeneca expressly
disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

27 May 2014

-ENDS-