ASTRAZENECA COMPLETES STRATEGIC TRANSACTION WITH ALMIRALL IN RESPIRATORY DISEASE

AstraZeneca today announced that it has completed the strategic transaction to
transfer the rights to Almirall's respiratory franchise to the company.

As previously announced (http://www.astrazeneca.com/Media/Press
-releases/Article/20140730--astrazeneca-agrees-transaction-with--almirall), the
business combination gives AstraZeneca ownership of the rights for the
development and commercialisation of Almirall's proprietary respiratory
business, including rights to revenues from Almirall's existing partnerships, as
well as its pipeline of investigational novel therapies.

The franchise includes Eklira ® (aclidinium); Duaklir® Genuair®, the combination
of aclidinium with formoterol (LAMA/LABA) that has received a positive opinion
from the CHMP in the EU and is being developed in the US; LAS100977
(abediterol), a once-daily long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) in Phase II; an M3
antagonist beta2-agonist (MABA) platform in pre-clinical development (LAS191351,
LAS194871) and Phase I (LAS190792); and multiple pre-clinical programmes.
Almirall Sofotec, an Almirall subsidiary focused on the development of
innovative proprietary devices, also transfers to AstraZeneca.

From completion, AstraZeneca will access all on-market revenues, contributing to
the company's return to growth. The company expects the transaction to be
neutral to Core EPS in 2015 and accretive from 2016. The transaction will have
no impact on AstraZeneca's guidance for 2014.

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said: "I am delighted to
welcome our Almirall colleagues to AstraZeneca. Respiratory disease is one of
our company's key therapeutic areas, and the combination of these exciting
portfolios reinforces our long-term commitment to patients with asthma and COPD.
Our expanded product and device offering will enable us to bring better
treatment options to patients."

Following the completion of the transaction, AstraZeneca will pay Almirall
approximately $875 million of initial consideration, subject to adjustment for
working capital, and up to $1.22 billion in development, launch and sales
-related milestones. AstraZeneca has also agreed to make various sales-related
payments.

About COPD

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a progressive disease associated
mainly with tobacco smoking, air pollution or occupational exposure, which can
cause obstruction of airflow in the lungs resulting in debilitating bouts of
breathlessness. It affects an estimated 210 million people worldwide and is
predicted to be the third leading cause of death by 2020. Although COPD is
widely regarded as a disease of the elderly, 50 per cent of patients are
estimated to be between 50 and 65 years of age, meaning half of the COPD
population is likely to be affected at a stage in their life when they are at
the peak of their earning potential and are likely to have major family
responsibilities.

About Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which the bronchi
are reversibly narrowed. It affects people of all ages and is a significant
source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Asthma can be allergic (induced by
an immune response to inhaled allergens such as pollen, fungal spores or dust
mite particles) or non-allergic (induced by exercise, cough, viral respiratory
infection, or inhalation of smoke or chemicals in the workplace). The airway
narrowing characteristic of asthma is a response of the immune system to the
asthma trigger.

Severe persistent asthma is classified by the frequency of symptoms throughout
the day and night, use of reliever inhalers, interference with daily activities,
peak flow readings and whether asthma exacerbations require use of inhaled
corticosteroids (ICS) more than twice a year. Asthma treatment usually includes
ICS that reduce inflammation of the airways to prevent asthma symptoms and
exacerbations, combined with long-acting β2-agonist bronchodilators and a short
-acting β2-agonist or other bronchodilator for relief.

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

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3 November 2014

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