New Website Looks at the Science Behind Stroke

Macclesfield, England (ots/PRNewswire) -

- www.novelneuroprotection.com Aims to Increase Understanding of
Acute Ischemic Stroke and the Potential Role of Neuroprotection

- For Medical Media Only

A new resource for the international medical community was
launched in September 2006 by AstraZeneca,
www.novelneuroprotection.com. This educational site aims to help
healthcare professionals understand more about acute ischemic stroke
and the potential therapeutic approach of neuroprotection.

Dr Tomas Odergren, Global Product Director, AstraZeneca commented,
"Around a third of the 15 million people worldwide who suffer a
stroke each year are left permanently disabled. There are relatively
few treatment options available for acute stroke patients.
Neuroprotectants are a new class of drugs in development to treat
this life-shattering condition. This website is designed to help
stroke specialists and other healthcare professionals understand the
science behind neuroprotection and the latest advances in
technology."

The site includes key information on the effects of cerebral
ischemia, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked
during a stroke. Cerebral ischemia triggers a series of biochemical
events known as the ischemic cascade. This results in the death of
brain cells, or neurons, in the core affected area of the brain. In
addition, neurons are injured in the wider surrounding area, known as
the ischemic penumbra. Neuroprotectants are thought to help preserve
brain cells in the ischemic penumbra by interfering with the damaging
events of the ischemic cascade.

In a series of short articles, the web site explains these changes
which take place at the cellular and molecular level. Details of how
neuroprotectants are thought to interfere with these events and could
potentially offer improved outcomes for stroke patients are also
discussed. With the stroke image atlas, healthcare professionals have
access to over 750 high-quality images that are accompanied by
detailed explanatory text. It provides a visual and practical insight
into the etiology, diagnosis, and management of stroke. In addition,
www.novelneuroprotection.com is interactive and features constantly
updated stroke news, a calendar of stroke events, key international
meetings and links to relevant PubMed articles.

Alternatively visit www.astrazenecapressoffice.com

Notes to Editors:

- AstraZeneca is currently developing NXY-059, an investigational
drug for treatment of stroke, licensed from Renovis, Inc. NXY-059 has
a proposed mechanism of action of free radical trapping and is being
studied as a neuroprotectant in clinical trials based on positive
effects seen in experimental models of acute ischemic stroke.

- The SAINT trials for NXY-059 are being conducted worldwide in
approximately 400 centres across 40 countries to evaluate the effect
of the compound in acute ischemic stroke patients. These countries
and regions include: Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa, United States, Canada and Latin America. SAINT II is due to
report in the first half of 2007.

- NXY-059 was previously referred to as 'Cerovive'. NXY-059 will
be used from this point forward until a global trademark has been
approved.

- A preliminary analysis of SAINT I was first presented at the
European Stroke Congress in May 2005.

- CHANT (Cerebral Hemorrhagic And NXY-059 Treatment) is a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group,
multi-center, phase IIb study to assess the safety and tolerability
of NXY-059 in adult patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage.
This study is complete and is due to report in Q1 2006.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca 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 over $21.4 billion and leading positions in sales
of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, oncology and
neuroscience products.

AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index
(Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

In Neuroscience, AstraZeneca markets several products including
SEROQUEL(R), one of the fastest growing global antipsychotics and
ZOMIG(R), a migraine therapy and a leader within the global triptan
market. The Neuroscience pipeline includes investigational compounds
for the treatment of depression and anxiety, overactive bladder,
dementia, stroke, pain control and anaesthesia.

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

Contact:
For further information contact: Virginie Bousquet, AstraZeneca, Tel:
+44-(0)162-551-7831, Virginie.Bousquet@astrazeneca.com. Nii Turkson,
Porter Novelli, Tel: +44-(0)207-853-2237, Fax: +44-(0)207-853-2244,
Nii.Turkson@porternovelli.co.uk