WILMINGTON, Del., July 23, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- More than a third of
the people who contacted AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) to inquire about the
company's prescription savings programs learned of the programs from their
doctors or pharmacists, according to a year-long survey of more than 12,000
patients.

The survey found that 35 percent of the patients who called AstraZeneca's
information center regarding prescription savings programs said they were
referred by healthcare professionals. Another 14 percent learned of the
program from brochures, which also are available in doctors' offices,
hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.

"AstraZeneca understands that our medicines don't do patients any good if
they cannot afford to pay for them," said Tony Zook, President and CEO,
AstraZeneca North America. "We connect families with our patient assistance
programs in a variety of ways, but our most valuable tool is providing doctors
and pharmacists with the information they need to help their patients."

As they meet with healthcare providers, AstraZeneca's pharmaceutical sales
specialists share up-to-date clinical information on medicines and other
issues impacting patient care, including adherence, educational materials and
prescription savings programs.

The study's data shows that the message on patient assistance programs is
getting through in a variety of ways. AstraZeneca asked 12,487 patients who
contacted its information center between April 2007 and March 2008 where they
learned about the company's patient assistance programs. The results:

    -- Doctor/pharmacist      35 percent
    -- Brochure               14 percent
    -- Advertising             9 percent
    -- AZ Web sites            7 percent
    -- Community programs      6 percent
    -- Family/friend           5 percent
    -- Other/don't know       24 percent

Patients who cited advertising said they learned of the program from a
variety of newspaper, radio and television ads. AstraZeneca was the first in
the industry to promote its prescription savings programs in its product
television ads. Television ads for NEXIUM started carrying the message in
April 2005, and all of AstraZeneca's product television ads have included the
information since then. Previous research shows that including this
information in our advertising significantly raised awareness and the impact
of AstraZeneca's patient assistance program among the public.

AstraZeneca has offered prescription savings programs side by side with
its medicines for three decades and now offers one of the industry's most
generous programs. People without insurance who earn up to $30,000 for an
individual and $60,000 for a family of four may be eligible for help from
AstraZeneca.

In 2007 alone, AstraZeneca helped nearly half a million people fill 2.8
million prescriptions, resulting in more than $500 million of savings to
patients. AstraZeneca offers help under the AZ&Me Prescription Savings
programs, including support for people without insurance, people with Medicare
Part D and a third program that provides medicines to healthcare facilities.

Patients can learn more about the AZ&Me Prescription Savings program at
www.azandme.com.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription
medicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the
world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $29.55
billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience,
respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. In the United States,
AstraZeneca is a $13.35 billion dollar healthcare business with 12,200
employees committed to improving people's lives. AstraZeneca is listed in the
Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

For more information visit www.astrazeneca-us.com .

SOURCE AstraZeneca

http://www.astrazeneca-us.com

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