Patients filled 2.7 million prescriptions through AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings Programs WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) announced today that it provided $612.6 million in savings to 440,541 patients in the United States last year through its AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings programs. Patients filled 2.7 million prescriptions through the programs in 2008. "AstraZeneca is committed to helping patients who are facing health and financial challenges," said Rich Fante, President of AstraZeneca US. "Our prescription savings programs provide support for patients who might otherwise go without the medicines they need." AstraZeneca provides free or low-cost medicines to patients through its AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings programs in three ways: -- Individuals: AstraZeneca provides free medicines to qualifying individuals without prescription drug coverage who make up to $30,000 per year and families of four with $60,000 annual household income. -- Part D beneficiaries: AstraZeneca provides low-cost medicines for qualifying Medicare Part D patients who make up to $30,000 per year or couples who make up to $40,000 per year. -- Healthcare facilities: AstraZeneca provides free medicines to qualifying non-profit organizations, such as disproportionate share hospitals, community health centers and community free clinics. This program connects patients to the medicines they need at the same time and place they receive their treatment. AstraZeneca has offered prescription savings programs side by side with its medicines for three decades and offers one of the industry's most generous programs. In 2009, AstraZeneca will continue to reach patients who need help through a variety of channels, including community health centers, our product advertisements, and health care professionals and advocates, who are the leading source of information about our programs, according to an AstraZeneca survey. The company also participates in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a multi-company program. Patients can learn more about the AZ&Me Prescription Savings program at http://www.azandme.com/ or by calling 1-800-AZandMe. A podcast related to this news release can be found here. 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 http://www.astrazeneca-us.com./ DATASOURCE: AstraZeneca CONTACT: Tony Jewell of AstraZeneca, +1-302-885-4594 Web Site: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/

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