ASTRAZENECA COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ZS PHARMA

AstraZeneca COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ZS PHARMA



AstraZeneca announced today the successful completion of the tender offer for
all of the outstanding shares of ZS Pharma (NASDAQ: ZSPH) and the subsequent
acquisition of ZS Pharma as previously announced in
November (https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-company/media-centre/press
-releases/2015/AstraZeneca-strengthens-Cardiovascular-and-Metabolic-disease
-portfolio-with-acquisition-of-ZS-Pharma-06112015.html).

The transaction strengthens AstraZeneca's cardiovascular and metabolic disease
(CVMD) portfolio with the addition of the potassium-binding compound ZS-9
(sodium zirconium cyclosilicate), a potential best-in-class treatment for
hyperkalaemia, a condition associated with increased mortality in patients with
chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and chronic heart failure
(CHF). ZS-9 is under regulatory review by the US Food and Drug Administration
with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date of 26 May 2016. A submission for
European Marketing Application Authorisation is also progressing as planned. ZS
-9 complements the Company's increasing focus on CKD and CHF, including the
investigational medicine roxadustat, which is currently in Phase III development
for patients with anaemia associated with CKD, as well as its leading diabetes
portfolio, a comorbidity often associated with CKD and CHF patients.

The tender offer expired at 00:00 EST on 16 December 2015 and was not extended.
As of the expiration of the tender offer, a total of approximately 21,948,939
shares of ZS Pharma common stock were validly tendered and not withdrawn
(excluding shares tendered pursuant to notices of guaranteed delivery for which
certificates have not been delivered), representing approximately 86.6% of ZS
Pharma's outstanding shares. All shares that were validly tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer were accepted for payment today.

 After the acceptance of shares that were validly tendered and not withdrawn
pursuant to the tender offer, AstraZeneca completed its acquisition of ZS Pharma
through a merger of one of its subsidiaries with and into ZS Pharma. In
connection with the merger, each outstanding share of ZS Pharma that was not
accepted for payment in the tender offer (excluding shares held as treasury
stock and any shares as to which appraisal rights have been validly exercised
under Delaware law) were cancelled and converted into the right to receive
$90.00 per share in cash, without interest and less any required withholding
taxes, the same as the tender offer price. Following completion of the merger,
ZS Pharma's shares ceased to be listed on NASDAQ, and ZS Pharma became a wholly
owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

SOME OF THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ARE FORWARD LOOKING
STATEMENTS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE TRANSACTION WILL NOT BE COMPLETED
AND OTHER RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES DISCUSSED IN ZS PHARMA'S PUBLIC FILINGS WITH
THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC), INCLUDING THE "RISK
FACTORS" SECTIONS OF ZS PHARMA'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND SUBSEQUENT QUARTERLY REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q, AS WELL AS THE
TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS FILED BY SUBSIDIARIES OF ASTRAZENECA AND THE
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT FILED BY ZS PHARMA. THESE STATEMENTS ARE
BASED ON CURRENT EXPECTATIONS, ASSUMPTIONS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS, AND
INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE
RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE MATERIALLY
DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE STATEMENTS. THESE STATEMENTS ARE GENERALLY IDENTIFIED
BY WORDS OR PHRASES SUCH AS "BELIEVE," "ANTICIPATE," "EXPECT," "INTEND," "PLAN,"
"WILL," "MAY," "SHOULD," "ESTIMATE," "PREDICT," "POTENTIAL," "CONTINUE" OR THE
NEGATIVE OF SUCH TERMS OR OTHER SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS. IF UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS
PROVE INACCURATE OR UNKNOWN RISKS OR UNCERTAINTIES MATERIALIZE, ACTUAL RESULTS
AND THE TIMING OF EVENTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE RESULTS AND/OR TIMING
DISCUSSED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, AND YOU SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE
RELIANCE ON THESE STATEMENTS. ASTRAZENECA AND ZS PHARMA DISCLAIM ANY INTENT OR
OBLIGATION TO UPDATE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF DEVELOPMENTS
OCCURRING AFTER THE DATE HEREOF OR OTHERWISE.

About ZS Pharma

ZS Pharma, founded in 2008, is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to challenging the status quo in disease states where therapeutic
options have been limited. The company has been focused on using its proprietary
ion-trap technology to develop new treatments of kidney and liver diseases that
are focused on addressing unmet needs in the medical community. For more
information, please visit: www.zspharma.com.

About AstraZeneca in Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease (CVMD)

Cardiovascular, metabolic disease and chronic kidney disease are key areas of
focus for AstraZeneca as part of the company's strategy for achieving scientific
leadership and returning to growth. Our patient-led strategy is focused on
addressing the multiple risk factors facing CVMD and CKD patients at different
stages of their disease, with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality
through life changing medicines. One of the innovative medicines currently in
Phase III development is roxadustat as a potential therapy for anaemia
associated with chronic kidney disease, in patients on dialysis and those who
are not on dialysis. The global development programme is being conducted by
FibroGen in collaboration with AstraZeneca and Astellas.

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        UK/Global            +44 20 7604 8030
Vanessa Rhodes          UK/Global            +44 20 7604 8037
Karen Birmingham        UK/Global            +44 20 7604 8120
Jacob Lund              Sweden               +46 8 553 260 20
Michele Meixell         US                   +1 302 885 2677
Investor   Enquiries
UK
Thomas   Kudsk Larsen   Oncology             +44   7818 524185
Eugenia   Litz          RIA                  +44   7884 735627
Nick   Stone            CVMD                 +44   7717 618834
Craig   Marks           Finance              +44   7881 615764
Christer   Gruvris      Consensus Forecasts  +44 7827 836825
US
Lindsey   Trickett      Oncology, ING        +1 240 543 7970
Mitch   Chan            Oncology             +1 240 477 3771
Dial   / Toll-Free                            +1 866 381 7277

Key: RIA - Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, CVMD - Cardiovascular and
Metabolic Disease,

ING - Infection, Neuroscience and Gastrointestinal

17 December 2015

-ENDS-