Collaboration with Celgene on PD-L1 in haematology

ASTRAZENECA ENTERS STRATEGIC IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY COLLABORATION WITH CELGENE
CORPORATION TO DEVELOP PD-L1 INHIBITOR PROGRAMME FOR PATIENTS WITH SERIOUS BLOOD
CANCERS

AstraZeneca and MedImmune, the Company's global biologics research and
development arm, today announced that they have entered into an exclusive
collaboration agreement with Celgene Corporation, a global leader in
haematological cancers, for the development and commercialisation of MEDI4736
across a range of blood cancers including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,
myelodysplastic syndromes and multiple myeloma.

MEDI4736 is an investigational immune checkpoint inhibitor, directed against
programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Signals from PD-L1 help tumours avoid
detection by the immune system. MEDI4736 blocks these signals, countering the
tumour's immune-evading tactics. Within the collaboration, MEDI4736 will be
assessed both as monotherapy and in combination with other AstraZeneca and
Celgene potential and existing cancer medicines. Over time, the collaboration
could expand to include other assets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Celgene will make an upfront payment of $450
million to AstraZeneca in relation to MEDI4736. Celgene will lead on development
across all clinical trials within the collaboration and will take on all
research and development costs until the end of 2016, after which they will take
on 75 percent of these costs. Celgene will also be responsible for global
commercialisation of approved treatments. AstraZeneca will continue to
manufacture and book all sales of MEDI4736 and will pay a royalty to Celgene on
worldwide sales in haematological indications. The royalty rate will start at 70
percent and will decrease to approximately half of the sales of MEDI4736 in
haematological indications over a period of four years.

Dr. Bahija Jallal, Executive Vice President at MedImmune, said: "We are excited
about our strategic collaboration with Celgene, a globally recognised leader in
treatments for haematological cancers. This agreement is a great example of how
we are accelerating the development of medical innovation in our portfolio in
collaboration with other experts, in order to bring life-enhancing new medicines
to patients faster. Together with Celgene, we are designing a programme for our
anti-PD-L1 that will explore its full potential as a game-changing treatment
that could activate the patients' immune system to fight and change the course
of blood cancers in this area of high unmet need."

"The potential of rationally combining immunotherapies such as MEDI4736 with
existing and novel haematology compounds creates new opportunities for patients
with blood cancers to live longer, better lives," said Jacqualyn A. Fouse,
Ph.D., President, Global Haematology and Oncology for Celgene. "This strategic
collaboration leverages the deep expertise of AstraZeneca/MedImmune in immuno
-oncology along with the experience of Celgene in the study and treatment of
blood cancers. This collaboration advances Celgene's already deep, diverse
scientific platform to include checkpoint inhibitors, an area of significant
promise in haematology."

The collaboration agreement will become effective upon the expiration or
termination of applicable waiting periods under all applicable antitrust laws,
if any, and is expected to become effective in the second quarter of 2015.
AstraZeneca's 2015 financial guidance is unaffected by today's announcement.

About MEDI4736

MEDI4736 is an investigational human monoclonal antibody directed against
programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Signals from PD-L1 help tumours avoid
detection by the immune system. MEDI4736 blocks these signals, countering the
tumour's immune-evading tactics.

MEDI4736 was accelerated into Phase III clinical development in non-small cell
lung cancer and head and neck cancer. The OCEANS clinical development programme
will evaluate MEDI4736 as monotherapy and in combination with a CTLA-4
(tremelimumab) in lung cancer, across the spectrum of the disease. In head and
neck cancer, MEDI4736 is being investigated both as monotherapy and in
combination with tremelimumab, looking at patients with different PD-L1
expression status who have failed on chemotherapy.

About AstraZeneca in Oncology

Oncology is a therapeutic area in which AstraZeneca has deep-rooted heritage. It
will be potentially transformational for the company's future, becoming the
sixth growth platform. Our vision is to help patients by redefining the cancer
treatment paradigm and one-day eliminate cancer as cause of death. By 2020, we
are aiming to bring six new cancer medicines to patients.

Our broad pipeline of next-generation medicines is focused on four main disease
areas - ovarian, lung, breast, and haematological cancers. These are being
targeted through four key platforms - immuno-oncology, the genetic drivers of
cancer and resistance, DNA damage repair and antibody drug conjugates.

About Celgene

Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, is an integrated
global pharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development
and commercialisation of innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer and
inflammatory diseases through gene and protein regulation. For more information,
please visit
www.celgene.com (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2
F 
www.celgene.com&esheet=51070672&newsitemid=20150401005140&lan=en
-US&anchor=www.celgene.com&index=1&md5=3747277bb09e54afecb397f2785c9a39). Follow
Celgene on Twitter @Celgene, and on
Pinterest (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.p
i 
nterest.com%2FCelgene%2F&esheet=51070672&newsitemid=20150401005140&lan=en
-US&anchor=Pinterest&index=2&md5=2074454fa482ea6f55843405ab3c5b48) and
LinkedIn (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.l
i 
nkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fcelgene&esheet=51070672&newsitemid=20150401005140&lan=en
-US&anchor=LinkedIn&index=3&md5=65121550978808b4cbe9f18dd2fd4559).

About MedImmune

MedImmune is the worldwide biologics research and development arm of
AstraZeneca, a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses
on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule and
biologic prescription medicines. MedImmune is pioneering innovative research and
exploring novel pathways across key therapeutic areas, including respiratory,
inflammation and autoimmunity; cardiovascular and metabolic disease; oncology;
neuroscience; and infection and vaccines. The MedImmune headquarters is located
in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZeneca's three global R&D centers. For more
information, please visit www.medimmune.com.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that
focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription
medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic,
respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience
diseases. 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



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24 April 2015

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