FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For March 2003
Commission File Number: 001-11960
AstraZeneca PLC
15 Stanhope Gate, London W1K 1LN, England
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
_____ _____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): _____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): _____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
_____ _____
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the Registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-_____________
AstraZeneca PLC
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
1. Press release entitled "Repurchase of Shares in AstraZeneca PLC" dated 3
March 2003.
2. Press release entitled "First European Launch for Crestor(R) in the
Netherlands" dated 3 March 2003.
3. Press release entitled "Repurchase of Shares in AstraZeneca PLC" dated
5 March 2003.
4. Press release entitled "Repurchase of Shares in AstraZeneca PLC" dated
7 March 2003.
5. Press release entitled "Repurchase of Shares in AstraZeneca PLC" dated
10 March 2003.
6. Press release entitled "Successful Outcome of the Mutual Recognition
Procedure for Crestor(R) in Europe" dated 10 March 2003.
7. Press release entitled "Repurchase of Shares in AstraZeneca PLC" dated
11 March 2003.
8. Press release entitled "Repurchase of Shares in AstraZeneca PLC" dated
13 March 2003.
9. Press release entitled "Dealing by Directors" dated 26 March 2003.
10. Press release entitled "Repurchase of Shares in AstraZeneca PLC" dated
31 March 2003.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
AstraZeneca PLC
Date: 11 April 2003 By: /s/ G H R Musker
------------------------
Name: G H R Musker
Title: Company Secretary & Solicitor
Item 1
REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC
AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 28 February 2003, it purchased for
cancellation 375,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 1990 pence
per share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue
will be 1,717,431,329.
G H R Musker
Company Secretary
3 March 2003
Item 2
FIRST EUROPEAN LAUNCH FOR CRESTOR(R) IN THE NETHERLANDS
AstraZeneca announced today it has launched CRESTOR(R) (rosuvastatin) 10-40 mg
for the management of primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia in
the Netherlands, the first European market to launch CRESTOR.
Dr Gunnar Olsson, Head of the Cardiovascular Therapy Area at AstraZeneca, said:
"An estimated 1.6 million people in the Netherlands have elevated cholesterol
levels, putting them at risk of cardiovascular disease. With the efficacy we've
seen in clinical studies, CRESTOR has the potential to make a real difference
to these patients' lives."
The company plans to launch in the remaining EU markets over the coming months,
following the conclusion of the Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) and the
local Marketing Authorisations and subsequent pricing and reimbursement
discussions. The Netherlands acted as the reference member state for the MRP.
The Dutch statin market is valued at 240 million Euros ($220 million), and is
growing at 15 per cent a year. The global statin market is currently worth
approximately US $19 billion annually and is also growing at about 15 per cent
a year.
The clinical development programme for CRESTOR now involves over 16,000
patients and includes a number of head-to-head comparative studies. In multiple
clinical studies, CRESTOR has been shown to be more effective in lowering
LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C or 'bad cholesterol') than currently prescribed statins.
CRESTOR 10mg gets significantly more patients to their European LDL-C goal than
atorvastatin 10mg (82% v 51% respectively), simvastatin 20mg (80% v 48%) and
pravastatin 20mg (80% v 16%). In addition to the dramatic reductions seen in
LDL-C, CRESTOR produces a significant increase in HDL-C ('good cholesterol'),
as well as reducing total cholesterol and triglycerides.
CRESTOR is a trade mark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
Media Enquiries:
Emily Denney, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5034
Steve Brown, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5033
Investor Relations:
Mina Blair Robinson, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5084
Jonathan Hunt, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5087
-Ends-
Item 3
REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC
AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 4 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
550,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2070 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,716,881,329.
G H R Musker
Company Secretary
5 March 2003
Item 4
REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC
AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 6 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2013 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,716,381,329.
G H R Musker
Company Secretary
7 March 2003
Item 5
REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC
AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 7 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2000 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,715,881,329.
G H R Musker
Company Secretary
10 March 2003
Item 6
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THE MUTUAL RECOGNITION
PROCEDURE FOR CRESTOR(R)IN EUROPE
AstraZeneca announced today that it has successfully completed the Mutual
Recognition Procedure (MRP) in Europe for CRESTOR(R) (rosuvastatin) 10-40 mg
for the management of primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia.
The Netherlands acted as the reference member state for the MR procedure, and
CRESTOR has been launched in that market. National marketing authorisations in
an additional 13 countries will be issued in the coming months.
Germany, Spain and Norway have been withdrawn from the MR process, and
discussions will be held with their agencies to progress further regulatory
options.
The global statin market is estimated to be worth approximately $19 billion and
growing at a rate of around 15 per cent annually.
The clinical development programme for CRESTOR now involves over 16,000
patients and includes a number of head-to-head comparative studies. In multiple
clinical studies, CRESTOR has been shown to be more effective in lowering
LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C or 'bad cholesterol') than currently prescribed statins.
CRESTOR 10mg gets significantly more patients to their European LDL-C goal than
atorvastatin 10mg (82% v 51% respectively), simvastatin 20mg (80% v 48%) and
pravastatin 20mg (80% v 16%). In addition to the dramatic reductions seen in
LDL-C, CRESTOR produces a significant increase in HDL-C ('good cholesterol'),
as well as reducing total cholesterol and triglycerides.
CRESTOR has been approved in Singapore and in Canada, where it was recently
launched. It is awaiting approval in the USA, Japan and in other markets.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for
up to 17 million deaths per year. CRESTOR, a member of the statin class, is a
once daily treatment for dyslipidaemia, a key risk factor in the development of
cardiovascular disease, providing important benefits for both patients and
health care professionals.
CRESTOR is a Trade Mark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
10 March 2003
Media Enquiries:
Emily Denney, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5034
Steve Brown, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5033
Investor Relations:
Mina Blair Robinson, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5084
Jonathan Hunt, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5087
Notes to Editors:
o European MR countries include: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Iceland and Norway
-Ends-
Item 7
REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC
AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 10 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
552,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 1952 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,715,329,329.
G H R Musker
Company Secretary
11 March 2003
Item 8
REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC
AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 12 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
700,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 1839 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,714,629,329.
G H R Musker
Company Secretary
13 March 2003
Item 9
DEALING BY DIRECTORS
COMPANIES ACT 1985 SECTIONS 324/329
WE HEREBY INFORM YOU THAT ON 25 MARCH 2003 THE FOLLOWING DIRECTORS OF
ASTRAZENECA PLC WERE GRANTED OPTIONS UNDER THE ASTRAZENECA SHARE OPTION PLAN.
THE OPTIONS ARE EXERCISABLE OVER THE COMPANY'S USD0.25 ORDINARY SHARES.
NAME OF DIRECTOR NUMBER OF EXERCISE PERIOD WHEN TOTAL NUMBER
SHARES OVER PRICE PER EXERCISABLE OF SHARES
WHICH OPTION SHARE UNDER OPTION
IS GRANTED
T F W MCKILLOP 128,498 2231p 25.3.06-24.3.13 467,566
H L MOGREN 65,551 2231p 25.3.06-24.3.13 269,976
J R SYMONDS 48,012 2231p 25.3.06-24.3.13 208,388
G H R MUSKER
COMPANY SECRETARY
26 MARCH 2003
Item 10
REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC
AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 28 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2203 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,714,135,544.
G H R Musker
Company Secretary
31 March 2003