Long-Term Safety Data for Arimidex(TM) (Anastrozole) Reinforce Patient Benefits Over Tamoxifen in Early Breast Cancer (y

-- The IBIS-II Prevention part of the study aims to recruit 6,000 postmenopausal women who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer. A number of factors for increased risk can make a woman eligible to enter the study and these are set according to the different age groups. Women can take part in the trial if they are aged between 40-70 years and are not on HRT.

-- The second part of the study, IBIS-II (DCIS), will recruit 4,000 women who have been diagnosed with and had surgery to remove a particular early form of breast cancer, which is not growing or spreading, known as DCIS (Ductal carcinoma in situ). As well as being at high risk of developing more advanced forms of breast cancer, these women are also more likely to develop a new tumour in the opposite breast. This part of the trial is designed to determine which of the two drugs, anastrozole or tamoxifen, can best prevent new cancers, both in the breast affected by DCIS and in the opposite breast.

AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US$23.95 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

ARIMIDEX is a trademark, the property of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

Lynn Grant, Global PR Director, Oncology, AstraZeneca, Direct Line: +44-(0)-1625-517-406, Mob: +44-(0)-7715-484-917, Email: Lynn.Grant@Astrazeneca.com, Fiona Robertson, Account Director, Shire Health, Mob: +44-(0)-781-241-4434, Email: fiona.robertson@shirehealth.com