AstraZeneca and Columbia University Medical Center Sign Strategic Research Collaboration to Develop Novel Therapeutics for Diabetes and Obesity

AstraZeneca and Columbia University Medical Center Sign Strategic Research
Collaboration to Develop Novel Therapeutics for Diabetes and Obesity 

AstraZeneca and Columbia University Medical Center in New York today announced
that they have entered into a strategic research collaboration in metabolic
related diseases, to develop novel therapeutics primarily in type 2 diabetes and
obesity and, with a secondary focus on atherosclerosis (hardening of the
arteries)/dyslipidaemia (abnormal blood lipid levels).

The preclinical and clinical research will focus on discovering mechanisms and
identifying new biological targets for intervention that have the potential of
being starting points for successful and commercially viable treatments to
tackle these diseases that are major risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity
and mortality.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are now widely regarded as the largest and most
rapidly growing health problems. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions
globally, with more than 1 billion adults and 150 million children overweight -
of whom 200-500 million are clinically obese - and obesity is a major
contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability, according to
the World Health Organization. In addition, it is estimated that almost 250
million people (between the ages of 20-79) worldwide have diabetes and 3.8
million deaths are attributable to diabetes each year. The number of people
(between the ages of 20-79) with diabetes is expected to rise to 380 million by
2025.  Obesity is a major contributor to risk of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Rudolph Leibel, head of Molecular Genetics and co-director of the Naomi
Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center said: "Our
scientists are delighted to collaborate with AstraZeneca. Our mutual focus on
novel and translational science is an excellent fit between the two
organizations, and active, ongoing scientific exchange will be the basis for
this collaboration. We are in the process of establishing the joint project
teams that will work to translate biological concepts developed in experimental
models to patients, as well as to establish clinical methodologies designed to
test novel therapeutic concepts in a timely way in humans.”
Jan Lundberg, Executive Vice President Discovery Research, AstraZeneca, said:"AstraZeneca is determined to be a significant contributor to the resolution of
the health problems that stem from the pandemic of diabetes and obesity.
Columbia University Medical Center has outstanding expertise and skills in
discovery research, as well as in translational science. With this being our
first metabolic related disease research collaboration with a U.S. academic
medical centre, we are very excited to be teaming up with such a distinguished
and like-minded partner who shares our commitment to pursuing novel medical
solutions to tackle these diseases where the unmet medical need is so great.”

The agreement supports a multi-year relationship aiming to make efficient use of
the best scientific expertise from both Columbia University Medical Center and
AstraZeneca to find optimal treatments for patients with these diseases as
quickly as possible.
- Ends -

17 June 2008

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription
medicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the
world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $29.55 billion
and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory,
oncology and infectious disease medicines. 
For more information visit www.astrazeneca.com

About Columbia University Medical Center 
Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic,
pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education,
and in patient care. The medical center trains future health care leaders at the
College of Physicians & Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the
College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of
the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and
institutions. CUMC (www.cumc.columbia.edu) is home to the largest medical
research enterprise in New York City and state and one of the largest in the
United States. Columbia University's technology transfer organization, Science
and Technology Ventures, serves as a bridge between Columbia's researchers and
the business community. STV's core objective is to facilitate the transfer of
inventions from academic research to outside organizations for the benefit of
society on a local, national and global basis. For more information on STV,
visit http://www.stv.columbia.edu.

Media Contacts: 
Susan Craig, CUMC Communications:  +1 212-305-9746  -  sc2756@columbia.edu
Bish Niewola, AstraZeneca (UK):  +44 (788)411-4974  - 
bish.niewola@astrazeneca.com
Jamie Smith, AstraZeneca (USA):  +1 (302)290-5266  - 
jamie.smith@astrazeneca.com