ASTRAZENECA STRATEGY ON TRACK TO DELIVER SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND VALUE THROUGH INNOVATION

·     Late-stage pipeline transformed well ahead of plan through increased R&D
productivity, accelerated programmes and targeted business development;
14 potential new medicines in Phase III or registration; potential for 14-16
submissions and 8-10 approvals in 2015-2016.

·     Industry-leading immuno-oncology portfolio with 13 combination trials
underway and 16 planned; acquisition of Definiens will help to accelerate
further clinical
programmes through precise predictive and prognostic biomarker testing.

·     AZD9291 US submission expected in second quarter of 2015 as second line
treatment for patients with certain forms of non-small cell lung cancer.

·     The five current growth platforms - Brilinta, diabetes, respiratory,
Emerging Markets and Japan - now account for more than half of global revenues.

·     Oncology will become the sixth growth platform; several potential
submissions in 2015-2016; expected to contribute largest proportion of pipeline
-driven revenue
growth and potential to grow to quarter of sales by 2023.

·     Business shape is evolving to become more sustainable and profitable;
biologics account for nearly 50 percent of pipeline, increasing probability of
success and
enhancing durability along with growing focus on devices; portfolio balance of
primary and specialty care will boost profitability.

·     Disciplined capital allocation framework balances R&D investment with a
progressive dividend policy, value enhancing business development and an
efficient
capital structure. Business model includes value creation through partnerships
and licensing in neuroscience and infection.

·     Our exciting pipeline is expected to drive strong and consistent revenue
growth, delivering annual revenues in excess of $45 billion by 2023.

AstraZeneca will today provide an update for institutional investors and
financial analysts on the progress against the company's strategic priorities of
achieving scientific leadership and returning to growth. The presentation in
London will demonstrate AstraZeneca's growth prospects, rapidly progressing
pipeline and the company's vision for delivering long-term, sustainable value
for shareholders and patients.

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said: "I am delighted with
the progress we are making on our strategy. We have rapidly strengthened and
accelerated our pipeline, established strong momentum behind our growth
platforms and are creating significant value for patients and shareholders.

"We have more than doubled the number of potential medicines in our late-stage
pipeline since 2012 and we are on track to return to growth by 2017. Fuelled by
a very exciting portfolio of new products, oncology is set to become
AstraZeneca's sixth growth platform and play a large part in supporting our
efforts to bring life-changing medicines to patients as well as delivering long
-term growth.

"We are building a sustainable, more durable and profitable company. The
tangible results being delivered reinforce our confidence that we will achieve
our target of delivering revenues of over $45 billion by 2023."

Achieving scientific leadership

The progressive changes AstraZeneca has introduced since 2013 continue to fuel
the transformation of its pipeline through scientific discoveries and
accelerated clinical programmes. The investor presentation will highlight the
strong progress towards achieving scientific leadership in the three core
therapeutic areas - respiratory, inflammation and autoimmunity; cardiovascular
and metabolic disease; and oncology.

AstraZeneca's late-stage pipeline has transformed faster than anticipated, with
14 new molecular entities (NMEs) in Phase III or registration as compared to the
original target of eight. Alongside this late-stage acceleration, the early
-stage pipeline has also grown rapidly through a sharp focus on novel biology
and technologies, providing a sustainable discovery engine behind all core
therapeutic areas.

In 2015-2016, AstraZeneca is anticipating 12-16 Phase II starts, 14-16 NME and
major line extension regulatory submissions and 8-10 NME and major line
extension approvals. Near term delivery and longer term sustainability of the
pipeline will be reinforced by shifting the focus from rebuilding the late-stage
pipeline to supporting regulatory submissions and approvals, while continuing to
transition high quality programmes to late-stage as rapidly as possible.

Respiratory, Inflammation and Automimmunity (RIA)

Significant progress is being made across the RIA pipeline, which includes six
programmes in Phase III or registration. In particular, we are leveraging
biologics in severe asthma and COPD and developing several promising assets in
inflammatory and autoimmune disease areas such as dermatology, gout, systemic
lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

·     AMAGINE-3 Phase III trial investigating brodalumab in patients with
moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis has met all primary and key secondary
endpoints.  Brodalumab, being developed in partnership with Amgen, showed
superiority to Stelara (ustekinumab) in achieving total skin clearance (PASI
100) and met co-
 primary end-points against placebo.

·     More than 15 abstracts were accepted at this week's American College of
Rheumatology annual meeting, demonstrating the continued progress in this area.
Positive data presented across a range of investigational therapies include top
-line results from CLEAR1 and CLEAR2, the pivotal Phase III clinical trials
investigating the potential of lesinurad for the treatment of gout. EU and US
submission is planned by the end of this year for use as combination therapy
with the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor, allopurinol. Late-breaking Phase IIb
data on sifalimumab is also being presented, the first Phase II study to
demonstrate efficacy
in moderate to severe systemic lupus patients across multiple endpoints with an
anti-interferon molecule, as well as data from a Phase IIb study
for mavrilimumab as a first-in-class anti-GMCSFR antibody for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis.

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease

AstraZeneca's strategy in cardiovascular and metabolic disease focuses on ways
to reduce morbidity, mortality and organ damage by addressing multiple risk
factors across cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease
indications. This patient-centric approach is reinforced by science-led life
cycle management programmes and technologies, including early research into
regenerative methods.

·   The diabetes strategy focuses on shifting the treatment paradigm towards
early use of combination therapies, to help accelerate the achievement of goals
for  patients and potentially delay the progression of their disease.

·   Forxiga (dapagliflozin) is in Phase III development in type 1 diabetes.

·   Regulatory submissions for saxagliptin and dapagliflozin fixed-dose
combination are anticipated in the US and EU in early 2015.

·   Roxadustat is currently in Phase III development and has the potential to
become the first oral treatment for anaemia in patients with chronic kidney
disease. First filing is expected in 2016 (China).

·   The PARTHENON clinical development programme is assessing Brilinta's
(ticagrelor's) potential for the long term treatment of patients with a prior
myocardial
infarction, for the treatment of patients with peripheral arterial disease,
ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack, and for the prevention of
cardiovascular
events in patients with diabetes and coronary atherosclerosis.

·   Top line results for the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 study, investigating ticagrelor for
the long-term prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients who suffered a
heart
attack one to three years prior to study enrolment, are expected in the first
quarter of 2015.

·   Investigational antibody MEDI2452 is in pre-clinical development as a
potential reversal agent for ticagrelor for use in rare emergency situations
such as urgent
surgery, or in the event of major bleeding, where doctors need the option to
swiftly reverse the effects of oral antiplatelet agents.

·   The European label for ticagrelor has been updated to highlight that its
mechanism of action is different from the thienopyridine class of oral
antiplatelets.

·   The recently updated American Heart Association and American College of
Cardiology guidelines for the management of non-ST-elevation acute coronary
 syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients now recommend ticagrelor as the preferred P2Y12
inhibitor for the management of NSTE-ACS patients who undergo an early
invasive or ischaemia-guided strategy, or those who receive a coronary stent.
This is the first time the guidelines have recommended one oral antiplatelet
over
another.

Oncology

Oncology is a therapeutic area in which AstraZeneca has deep-rooted heritage. It
will be potentially transformational for the company's future, becoming the
sixth growth platform. Our vision is to help patients by redefining the cancer
treatment paradigm. By 2020, we are aiming to bring six new cancer medicines to
patients.

Our broad pipeline of next-generation medicines is focused on four main disease
areas - breast, ovarian, lung and haematological cancers. These are being
targeted through four key platforms - immunotherapy, the genetic drivers of
cancer and resistance, DNA damage repair and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).

AstraZeneca has one of the most exciting and comprehensive immuno-oncology
portfolios in the industry, with the potential to transform the way cancer
patients are treated. In particular, the company is uniquely positioned to
explore synergistic combinations of immunotherapies, both with each other and
with our own highly targeted small molecules, supported by external
collaborations.

Our firm commitment is to give patients the best chance of receiving the
medicines suited for their particular needs and we have reinforced our
personalised healthcare approach through recent partnerships with Illumina,
Qiagen and Roche. The recent acquisition of Definiens will also help to
accelerate further clinical programmes through precise predictive and prognostic
biomarker testing.

·      Positive CHMP opinion received for Lynparza (olaparib) in the EU and we
anticipate US and EU approvals in the first quarter of 2015 (US PDUFA goal date
is 3
 January 2015), with further studies ongoing in breast, gastric and pancreatic
cancers, and promising early-stage activity in prostate cancer.

·      US submission for AZD9291 as second line therapy for non-small cell lung
cancer (NSCLC) is expected in the second quarter of 2015, just over two years
since
first patient dosing. AstraZeneca also plans to start a Phase III clinical trial
for AZD9291 in the first line setting for NSCLC in the fourth quarter of 2014.
AZD9291 has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation, Orphan Drug and Fast
Track status by the US FDA.

·      Iressa (gefitinib) received a label update in the EU allowing the use of
circulating tumour DNA obtained from a blood sample for the assessment of
EGFR mutation status where a suitable tumour sample is not available - the first
in its class to achieve this. The technology will also be used for AZD9291.

·      Rapid progress with anti-PD-L1, anti-CTLA-4 and novel approaches such as
the OX40 biologics, combined with each other and small molecule assets, are
pening up new opportunities to target multiple immune pathways 'hijacked' by
tumour cells.

·      29 immuno-oncology combination trials are currently underway or planned.
Of these, MEDI4736 is being studied in 12 combination trials, including ongoing
Phase I development for a 'triplet' combination alongside BRAF and MEK
inhibitors in melanoma, with results expected in the first half of 2015.
Combination
studies of MEDI4736 with small molecule immuno-oncology assets (STAT3 and CXCR2)
are expected to start in early 2015. Early stage studies are also        planned
for MEDI4736 in combination with ibrutinib, an oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase
inhibitor, for patients with haematological cancers.

·      MEDI4736 is currently being investigated in Phase II as a monotherapy in
head and neck cancer, and in Phase III as a monotherapy in NSCLC, including in
adjuvant setting for NSCLC through a global study launched last week by the NCIC
Clinical Trials Group. Phase III trials of MEDI4736 in combination with
tremelimumab in both of these cancer types are scheduled to start in early 2015.

·      The fast developing mid-stage small molecule oncology pipeline has a
strong focus on tumour drivers and resistance, as well as DNA damage response.

Return to growth

As we set out in March 2013, AstraZeneca's strategy of returning to growth
focuses on building key growth platforms, accelerating growth through business
development and transforming the business shape through specialty care and
biologics. Since then, we have made strong progress against these priorities by
maximising the potential of the assets in our hands today, leveraging our global
scale, and investing in core therapeutic growth areas as well as key
geographies.

Our current business is focused in the three core therapeutic areas where we
have our development and commercial expertise. Our marketed brands in
respiratory, inflammation and autoimmunity; cardiovascular and metabolic
disease; and oncology are collectively delivering 69 percent of total revenues.
These are maximised through AstraZeneca's global scale, including a strong
presence in the Emerging Markets.

The five current growth platforms - Brilinta, diabetes, respiratory, Emerging
Markets and Japan - are sustaining near-term growth as we progress towards the
long-term revenue targets we previously set out. As highlighted in our third
quarter and nine months financial results presentation on 6 November 2014, these
platforms now account for more than half of AstraZeneca's global revenues,
helping to navigate a period during which some of our established products are
scheduled to lose exclusivity. We anticipate that oncology will become the sixth
growth platform in the mid-term.

AstraZeneca is making use of targeted business development to reinforce our
therapeutic areas while supporting our long-term pipeline aspirations. In the
past two years, there has been a more intense focus on early stage academic and
biotech alliances by our small molecule and biologics biotech units. In
addition, we continued to strengthen the pipeline, focusing predominately on the
three core therapy areas, while we will seek partnerships and bolt-on
acquisitions to support the late-stage and on-market portfolio to accelerate
revenues.

Strategic transactions including the acquisition of Bristol-Myers Squibb's share
of the diabetes alliance and the rights to Almirall's respiratory portfolio are
helping to reinforce our core therapeutic areas.

Our business model includes value creation through partnerships and licensing
from the strong science in our neuroscience and infection pipeline. This is
exemplified by the alliance with Eli Lilly to co-develop and commercialise our
BACE inhibitor, AZD3293, in Alzheimer's disease, and the funding support for
breakthrough infection medicine MEDI4893 from the European Commission's
Innovative Medicines Initiative. The recently announced divestment of Myalept to
Aegerion is another example of additional value creation through partnerships,
licensing or divestments.

In parallel with the pipeline transformation, and the company's global scale and
commercial excellence, AstraZeneca's business shape is changing to become more
sustainable, durable and profitable. Biologics now account for nearly 50 percent
of our pipeline, increasing the probability of success and enhancing the
longevity of our assets. A greater focus on innovative delivery devices offers
choice to patients while ensuring durability of our products. Overall, the
growing proportion of specialty care products in our portfolio will boost
profitability.

Making AstraZeneca a great place to work

AstraZeneca continues to drive its cultural transformation and operational
simplification to support our strategic goals of achieving scientific leadership
and returning to growth. Our efforts to nurture a strong culture of innovation
and enterprise are having a positive impact across the organisation. Results
from a recent employee survey reflect the progress we have made in engaging our
employees and gaining support for our science-led strategy. The simplification
of management structure has helped ensure a sharper focus, removed unnecessary
barriers and further accelerated decision making, increasing our productivity.

The changes we have made to our research and development footprint around three
strategic centres have increased our proximity to bioscience clusters in the US
and Europe. These enhancements are making it easier for our researchers to
collaborate with external partners and with each other to leverage our small and
large molecule capabilities, contributing to the pace of pipeline development
and targeted collaborations.

Robust financials and disciplined capital allocation are delivering shareholder
value

AstraZeneca recently reported (http://www.astrazeneca.com/Media/Press
-releases/Article/20141106--astrazeneca-plc-third-quarter-2014) a third
consecutive quarter of revenue growth and increased revenue and Core EPS
guidance for full year 2014.

The company has continued to invest in research and development, maximising the
impact of new product launches and undertaking strategic business development.
As previously stated, we expect 2017 revenues to be broadly in line with those
of 2013 (at constant exchange rates) as our key growth platforms continue to
deliver and the late-stage NMEs move to approval and launch.

Looking beyond 2017, our disciplined value creating framework, alongside one of
the most exciting pipelines in the industry, is expected to drive strong and
consistent revenue growth, leading to annual revenues in excess of $45 billion
by 2023. Furthermore, operating leverage is expected to result in core earnings
growth in excess of revenue growth during this period.

As a result of this growth, AstraZeneca is poised to generate significant
operating cash flow over the coming decade and the company is committed to
allocating capital in a balanced way through its disciplined framework. We will
continue to invest in R&D, focused on three core therapeutic areas, in order to
realise the full potential of our attractive pipeline. In line with our business
model, we will create value from the assets in our pipeline through partnerships
and licensing, in particular in neuroscience and infection.

AstraZeneca's renewed R&D productivity and development of the late-stage
pipeline has already generated significant value for our shareholders. We
anticipate that the pace of value creation will increase as the pipeline
continues to evolve, while our exciting early stage research provides a
sustainable discovery engine. The company will retain the flexibility to invest
selectively in value-enhancing and strategic business development as
opportunities arise.

AstraZeneca remains committed to its progressive dividend policy, returning $3.5
billion to shareholders in 2013. We anticipate this dividend policy, alongside
our commitment to an efficient capital structure, will underpin an attractive
total shareholder return proposition as the Company returns to growth.

Attention is drawn to the notice set out under the heading Forward Looking
Statements below.

AstraZeneca Investor Day

AstraZeneca's Investor Day briefing for institutional investors and financial
analysts will take place from 12:30 GMT / 07:30 EST to 18:30 GMT / 13:30 EST.
Details of the webcast and how to access the presentations are available on
www.astrazeneca.com/Investors and info.astrazenecaevents.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)

Vanessa Rhodes                         +44 20 7604 8037 (UK/Global)

Ayesha Bharmal                          +44 20 7604 8034 (UK/Global)

Jacob Lund                                  +46 8 553 260 20 (Sweden)

Michele Meixell                            +1 302 885 6351 (US)

Investor Enquiries

Thomas Kudsk Larsen                 +44 20 7604 8199    mob: +44 7818
524185

Karl Hård                                       +44 20 7604 8123 mob: +44 7789
654364

Anthony Brown                               +44 20 7604 8067   mob: +44 7585
404943

Eugenia Litz                                  +44 20 7604 8233   mob: +44 7884
735627

Christer Gruvris                             +44 20 7604 8126    mob: +44 7827
836825

Forward-looking statements

In order, among other things, to utilise the 'safe harbour' provisions of the US
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995, we are providing the following
cautionary statement: This press release contains certain forward-looking
statements with respect to the operations, performance and financial condition
of the Group. Although we believe our expectations are based on reasonable
assumptions, any forward-looking statements, by their very nature, involve risks
and uncertainties and may be influenced by factors that could cause actual
outcomes and results to be materially different from those predicted. The
forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the
date of preparation of this press release and AstraZeneca undertakes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements. We identify the forward
-looking statements by using the words 'anticipates', 'believes', 'expects',
'intends' and similar expressions in such statements. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward
-looking statements, certain of which are beyond our control, include, among
other things: the loss or expiration of patents, marketing exclusivity or trade
marks, 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 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 we expect; 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; and the impact of
increasing implementation and enforcement of more stringent anti-bribery and
anti-corruption legislation. Nothing in this press release should be construed
as a profit forecast.

18 November 2014

-ENDS-