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 ANNOUNCEMENT

The Board of AstraZeneca PLC ("AstraZeneca") notes the announcement made by
Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") earlier today. Pfizer's announcement contains no new
proposal nor substantive new information.

The Board of AstraZeneca believes Pfizer is making an opportunistic attempt to
acquire a transformed AstraZeneca, without reflecting the value of its exciting
pipeline. This value should accrue fully to AstraZeneca shareholders.

The Board reiterates its confidence in AstraZeneca's ability to deliver on its
prospects as an independent, science led business.

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

AstraZeneca Enquiries

Investor Relations:
Karl Hård (London)                            +44 20 7604 8123
Colleen Proctor (US)                          +1 302 886 1842
Jens Lindberg (London)                      +44 20 7604 8414
Anthony Brown (London)                    +44 20 7604 8067

Corporate Communications:
Esra Erkal-Paler                                 +44 20 7604 8030
Ayesha Bharmal                                 +44 20 7604 8034
Vanessa Rhodes                                +44 20 7604 8037
RLM Finsbury
Conor McClafferty                              +44 20 7251 3801

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)

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.

Dealing Disclosure Requirements

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any
class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been
announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an
Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and,
if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is
first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the
person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any
relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities
exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule
8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th
business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate,
by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the
announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified.
Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or
of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening
Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1%
or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any
securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals
in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and
of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for,
any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any
securities exchange offeror, save to the extent that these details have
previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom
Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the
business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding,
whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant
securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be
deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any
offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any
offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1,
8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant
securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can
be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant
securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was
first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44
(0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make
an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

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

13 May 2014

-ENDS-