AZ agreement with Aspen for anaesthetics portfolio

ASTRAZENECA ENTERS COMMERCIALISATION AGREEMENT WITH ASPEN FOR ANAESTHETIC
MEDICINES PORTFOLIO

Agreement expands commercial reach for anaesthetics and supports the Company's
sharp focus on innovative new medicines in its three main therapy areas

 AstraZeneca today announced it has entered into a commercialisation agreement
with Aspen Global Incorporated (AGI), part of the Aspen Group, for rights to its
global anaesthetics portfolio outside the US. The agreement covers seven
established medicines - Diprivan (general anaesthesia), EMLA (topical
anaesthetic) and five local anaesthetics (Xylocaine/Xylocard/Xyloproct,
Marcaine, Naropin, Carbocaine and Citanest).

Under the terms of the agreement, AGI will acquire the commercialisation rights,
outside the US, to AstraZeneca's portfolio of anaesthetic medicines for an
upfront consideration of $520 million. Additionally, AGI will pay AstraZeneca up
to $250 million in a Product Sales-related payment, as well as double-digit
percentage trademark royalties on Product Sales. AstraZeneca will manufacture
and supply the products on a cost plus basis to AGI for an initial period of 10
years. Upon completion, Aspen will assume responsibility for all activities
relating to the sale of the portfolio in all relevant markets.

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said: "AstraZeneca has a
rich heritage in anaesthetic medicines and this agreement will extend the reach
of our established portfolio to a greater number of patients through AGI's
extensive commercial network. This agreement supports our strategic focus on the
new medicines in three main therapy areas."

Stephen Saad, Group Chief Executive, Aspen, said: "This is a strategically
-important investment for AGI and it is pleasing to have a company such as
AstraZeneca recognise Aspen's commercial competencies. This transaction is an
excellent opportunity to build on the quality brands commercialised through AGI,
working alongside an acknowledged pioneer and leader in the field of
anaesthetics."

AstraZeneca's portfolio of anaesthetics is available in over a hundred countries
worldwide, including key markets such as China, Japan, Australia and Brazil. The
portfolio continues to generate stable revenue, with global Product Sales in
2015 of $592 million. The US rights to the products were divested to Abraxis,
now part of Fresenius Kabi, in 2006.

Financial considerations

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is anticipated to
complete in the third quarter of 2016. AstraZeneca will retain a significant
ongoing interest in the anaesthetics portfolio through ongoing milestone and
royalty payments and the manufacture and supply of the products to Aspen. The
upfront and milestone payments, as well as royalty receipts, which are open
-ended, will therefore be reported as Externalisation Revenue in the Company's
financial statements. The agreement will not impact the Company's financial
guidance for 2016.

About AstraZeneca's anaesthetics portfolio

  Product                 Indications
Carbocaine
(mepivacaine)             · Local anaesthesia solution for injection
                          · Also available with added adrenaline
                        (vasoconstrictor) in some countries/presentations

Citanest
(prilocaine)              · Local anaesthesia solution for injection
                          · Also available with added adrenaline
                        (vasoconstrictor) in some countries/presentations

Diprivan   (propofol)
                          · Short-acting intravenous sedative /
                        anaesthetic

EMLA   (lidocaine +
prilocaine)               · Topical anaesthetic

Marcaine
(bupivacaine)             · Local anaesthesia solution for injection
                          · Also available with added adrenaline
                        (vasoconstrictor) in some countries/presentations

Naropin
(ropivacaine)             · Local anaesthesia solution for injection

Xylocaine   (lidocaine
/                         · Local anaesthesia solution for injection
lignocaine)               · Solutions also available with added   adrenaline
                        (vasoconstrictor) in some countries/presentations
                          · Also available in several additional forms   for
                        topical pain relief
                          · Injectable antiarrhythmic



About Aspen

Aspen is a leading global player in specialty and generic pharmaceuticals with
an extensive basket of products that provide treatment for a broad spectrum of
acute and chronic conditions experienced through all stages of life. Aspen
continues to increase the number of lives benefitting from its products,
reaching more than 150 countries.

Aspen has a strong presence in both emerging and developed countries. Its
emerging market footprint includes Sub-Saharan Africa (where it is the largest
pharmaceutical company), Latin America, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the
Commonwealth of Independent States, comprising Russia and the former Soviet
Republics. From a developed-world perspective Aspen is one of the leading
pharmaceutical companies in Australia and has a growing presence in other
developed countries, most notably in Western Europe.

Aspen operates with an established business presence in approximately 50
countries spanning 6 continents and employs more than 10,000 people. The Group
operates 26 manufacturing facilities across 18 sites. Aspen holds international
-manufacturing approvals from some of the most stringent global regulatory
agencies including the FDA, TGA and EMA. Aspen's manufacturing capabilities are
scalable to demand and cover a wide variety of product-types including oral
solid dose, liquids, semi-solids, steriles, biologicals, APIs and INs.

Aspen, with a market capitalisation of approximately $10 billion, is the largest
pharmaceutical company listed on the JSE Limited (share code: APN) and ranks
amongst the top-20 listed companies on this exchange. For more information
visit: http://www.aspenpharma.com/



About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company that
focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription
medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three main therapy areas -
oncology; respiratory and autoimmunity; and cardiovascular and metabolic
disease. We are also active in infection, neuroscience and inflammatory diseases
through collaborations with others. 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
Neil   Burrows         UK/Global     +44   7824 350541
Vanessa   Rhodes       UK/Global     +44   7880 400690
Karen   Birmingham     UK/Global     +44   7818 524012
Jacob   Lund           Sweden        +46   8 553 260 20
Michele   Meixell      US            +1   302 885 2677
Investor   Enquiries
UK
Thomas Kudsk Larsen                  +44 7818 524185
Nick Stone             RIA           +44 7717 618834
Henry Wheeler          Oncology      +44 7788 354619
Craig Marks            Finance       +44 7881 615764
Christer Gruvris       ING           +44 7827 836825
US
Lindsey Trickett           CVMD      +1   240 543 7970
Mitchell 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

09 June 2016

-ENDS-