AstraZeneca Welcomes Preliminary Results From TORCH

Lund, Sweden (ots/PRNewswire) -

- For Accredited International Medical Media Only

AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN , NYSE: AZN) has today welcomed preliminary
results from the TORCH (TOwards a Revolution in COPD Health) study1,
suggesting combination therapies containing an inhaled
corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta 2 agonist (LABA) have the
potential to show mortality benefits for COPD patients.

The reported 17% reduction in mortality compared to placebo shown
by the combination of an ICS and LABA further demonstrates the
beneficial effects of this class of medicines and the positive impact
on the lives of COPD patients. AstraZeneca looks forward to a more
detailed presentation of the data.

Coupled with the mortality data, the preliminary results also
underline the importance of preventing exacerbations as the key
driver of mortality. Reduction of exacerbations is an area where the
budesonide / formoterol ICS/LABA therapy (marketed by AstraZeneca as
Symbicort(R)) has strong clinical data. Of particular note, a study2
by Calverley et al. demonstrated that Symbicort reduced risk of
exacerbations(i) by 30% and 29% compared to formoterol and placebo
respectively, resulting in a clinically important improvement in
Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) compared to placebo.

Patients with COPD regard exacerbations as the aspect of their
disease that they fear most. Severe acute exacerbations of COPD are
associated independently with a poor prognosis and increased
mortality. Studies have shown that between 22% - 43% of COPD patients
hospitalised due to an exacerbation will be dead within one
year3,4,5,6.

COPD is a major cause of death worldwide, and is currently the
fourth most common cause of death after cancer, ischemic heart
disease and cerebrovascular disease. Of these diseases, only COPD
shows increasing rates of mortality. By 2020, COPD is anticipated to
become the third most common cause of death worldwide.

For further information, or to speak to a respiratory expert about
the clinical implications of today's TORCH results, please do not
hesitate to contact:

Anette Orheim, AstraZeneca Office: +46-46-33-80-87,
Mobile: +46-709-13-19-52

Or

Jim Baxter, Cohn & Wolfe Office: +44-207-331-5371,
Mobile: +44-790-060-5652

References:

1) GSK Press Release 'GSK announces positive results of
Seretide study in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)' 28th March 2006 (http://www.gsk.com/media/pressreleases.htm)

2) Calverley PM, Boonsawat Z, Zhong N, Peterson S and Olsson H.
Maintenance therapy with budesonide and formoterol in chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur Resp J 2003; 22; 912-919.

3) Eriksen N, et al. Ugeskr Laeger 2003;165:3499-3502

4) Groenewegen KH, et al. Chest 2003;124:459-467

5) Almagro P, et al. Chest 2002;121:1441-1448

6) Connors AF, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1996;154:959-967

(i) Definition of an exacerbation: requiring medical intervention
(oral antibiotics/and/or corticosteroids or hospitalisation)

ots Originaltext: AstraZeneca
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For further information, or to speak to a respiratory expert about
the
clinical implications of today's TORCH results, please do not
hesitate to
contact: Anette Orheim, AstraZeneca Office: +46-46-33-80-87, Mobile:
+46-709-13-19-52 Or Jim Baxter, Cohn & Wolfe Office:
+44-207-331-5371, Mobile: +44-790-060-5652