ASTRAZENECA PLC ANNOUNCES US DISTRICT COURT DECISION IN

AstraZeneca has announced that the US District Court for the District of New
Jersey ruled US Patent No. 7,524,834 ("the '834 patent"), protecting PULMICORT
RESPULES in the US, is invalid.

"AstraZeneca strongly disagrees with the Court's decision," said Paul Hudson,
President, AstraZeneca US and Executive Vice President, North America.
"AstraZeneca has full confidence in the strength of its intellectual property
rights protecting PULMICORT RESPULES. We are reviewing the decision and
considering our legal options, including an appeal."

The decision is limited to the United States and has no impact on the validity
of patents related to PULMICORT RESPULES in other countries. The 834 patent was
set to expire in 2018, with paediatric exclusivity extending into 2019.

This decision will not impact AstraZeneca's guidance for 2015, which is that
sales revenue is expected to decline by mid single-digit percent at Constant
Exchange Rates (CER) and Core EPS is expected to increase by low single-digit
percent at CER.

About the litigation

AstraZeneca had filed patent infringement lawsuits against Apotex Inc., Apotex
Corp., Watson Laboratories and Breath Limited; and Sandoz Inc., for infringement
of US patents directed to methods of use and formulation and form of active
ingredient (budesonide) for PULMICORT RESPULES.

On 1 April 2013, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled that
AstraZeneca's US Patent No. 6,598,603 ("the '603 patent") is invalid. The Court
further ruled that the generic defendants involved in the litigation do not
infringe AstraZeneca's second patent, US Patent No. 7,524,834 ("the '834
patent").

On 30 October 2013, AstraZeneca announced that the United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit had reversed and remanded for further
proceedings the US District Court decision that generic defendants involved in
the litigation do not infringe the '834 Patent.  The Court of Appeals upheld,
however, the trial court's decision as to the '603 Patent.

At the remand, AstraZeneca contended that the defendants' generic budesonide
inhalation suspension products and their use will infringe the claims of the
'834 Patent.  The defendants denied that they will infringe and asserted that
the '834 Patent is invalid.

Under agreement with AstraZeneca, Teva has a generic PULMICORT RESPULES product
in the market.

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)
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Jacob Lund            +46 8 553 260 20
                      (Sweden)
Michele Meixell       + 1 302 885 2677
                      (US)

Investor Enquiries
Thomas Kudsk Larsen   +44 20 7604 8199              mob: +44 7818 524185
Karl Hård             +44 20 7604 8123              mob: +44 7789 654364
Eugenia Litz          +44 20 7604 8233              mob: +44 7884 735627
Craig Marks           +44 20 7604 8591              mob: +44 7881 615764
Christer Gruvris      +44 20 7604 8126              mob: +44 7827 836825

16 February 2015

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ASTRAZENECA PLC ANNOUNCES US DISTRICT COURT DECISION IN PULMICORT RESPULES® (BUDESONIDE INHALATION SUSPENSION) PATENT LITIGATION

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