Astra initiates collaboration

ASTRA INITIATES COLLABORATION IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS RESEARCH Astra has signed a collaboration agreement with the British genomics research company Oxagen aimed at identifying hereditary causes behind the development of atherosclerosis. The research program will be conducted in collaboration with clinical research centers in the U.K., Sweden, Germany and Italy. The collaboration agreement has a term of five years and entails a commitment by Astra to pay for research support plus royalties on future products. Oxagen is responsible for the identification of disease markers and genes that are involved in the development of atherosclerosis and its complications. This, in turn, will create new opportunities to develop improved therapies. "This agreement is a step in Astra's strategy to broaden its cardiovascular research. The collaboration with Oxagen and the academic research units gives us access to strategic genomics research in the cardiovascular area," says Björn Wallmark, head of preclinical research at Astra Hässle. Contact persons: Mikael Widell, Press Officer, PR & Information, Astra AB, +46 8 553 264 28 Michael Olsson, Manager, Investor Relations, Astra AB, +46 8 553 259 52 Jörgen Winroth, Investor Relations U.S., Astra AB, +1 609 896 4148