AstraZeneca Prescription Savings Programs Help More Patients in 2009

WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) announced today that it provided $769.6 million in savings to 507,475 patients in the United States last year through its AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs.

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In 2009, 13 percent more patients benefitted from AZ&Me than in the previous year. Patients filled 3.8 million prescriptions through the programs--a 20 percent increase in the number of prescriptions filled over 2008.  

"Last year was particularly difficult for many Americans who faced tough economic conditions," said Rich Fante, US President, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. "Our prescription savings programs responded to this growing demand for support by providing necessary medicines to patients in need."

AstraZeneca expanded its prescription savings program last year to extend assistance to qualifying patients who recently lost their jobs, had their incomes reduced, or experienced a change in marital status or family size.

AstraZeneca provides free medicines to patients through its AZ&Me Prescription Savings programs in three ways:

Individuals: AstraZeneca provides free medicines to qualifying individuals without prescription drug coverage who make up to $30,000 per year and families of four with $60,000 annual household income.

Part D beneficiaries: AstraZeneca provides free medicines for qualifying Medicare Part D patients who make up to $30,000 per year or couples who make up to $40,000 per year. Beginning January 1, Medicare Part D patients can now have their filled prescription mailed to their home or physician's office, eliminating a co-pay, and saving approximately 50,000 patients enrolled in the Part D Prescription Assistance Program a total of $3 million each year.

Healthcare facilities: AstraZeneca provides free medicines to qualifying non-profit organizations, such as disproportionate share hospitals, community health centers and community free clinics. This program connects patients to the medicines they need at the same time and place they receive their treatment.

AstraZeneca has offered prescription savings programs side-by-side with its medicines for over 30 years and offers one of the industry's most generous programs.

In January, AstraZeneca made accessing medicines through AZ&Me more efficient by offering enrollment and re-enrollment for two of its prescription savings programs available online at www.AZandMe.com.  The company will continue to make program enhancements that better serve patients and the people who support them.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines.  As a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease medicines, AstraZeneca generated global revenues of $32.8 billion in 2009.  In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $14.8 billion healthcare business.

For more information about AstraZeneca in the US or our AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363).

SOURCE AstraZeneca