HUMBLE, Texas -- Stuart Appleby was named this week’s AstraZeneca Charity Challenge winner for his first-place standing entering the final round of the Shell Houston Open. Appleby carries a two-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round thanks to three straight rounds in the 60s. The AstraZeneca Charity Challenge, formerly known as the CRESTOR® Charity Challenge, is a season-long competition that recognizes and rewards the tournament leader entering the final round at 35 PGA TOUR events. Through the sponsorship, AstraZeneca will donate $3.5 million this year to designated health care charities and will have donated a three-year total of $9.7 million by the conclusion of the 2006 PGA TOUR season.

For Stuart Appleby’s performance, AstraZeneca will donate $100,000 to the American College of Gastroenterology, on behalf of Appleby and the Shell Houston Open. “The American College of Gastroenterology and its digestive health specialists are committed to quality patient care through education and research,” said Jack A. DiPalma, M.D., ACG’s President. “We are grateful for the generous support of the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge in advancing the College’s mission of enhancing awareness of digestive diseases and promoting life-saving screening for colorectal cancer.”

AstraZeneca produces a wide range of products that make significant contributions to treatment options and patient care including CRESTOR, NEXIUM, SEROQUEL, ARIMIDEX, and PULMICORT RESPULES. Through this year’s sponsorship, as part of its commitment to patient health and well being, AstraZeneca will also designate health care related charities across therapeutic areas as recipients at the 35 PGA TOUR events throughout the year.

“AstraZeneca’s partnership with the PGA TOUR is an integral part of our mission of giving back in local communities throughout America,” said Tony Zook, CEO, AstraZeneca U.S. “The AstraZeneca Charity Challenge offers a unique platform for providing important disease awareness, health information and education to make a difference in the lives of patients and consumers everyday.”

The AstraZeneca Charity Challenge is the centerpiece of a multi-year PGA TOUR partnership with AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN). Last year, AstraZeneca donated $3.5 million through the program. Highlights from the AZCC include:
•Last week the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge co-winners at the Verizon Heritage were Jim Furyk and Aaron Baddeley
•At 12 of the first 13 tournaments of 2006, the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge winner or co-winner went on to win the tournament
•More than 85 charities have benefited from the program
•Vijay Singh leads all players with eight AstraZeneca Charity Challenge wins. With some of his charitable “winnings,” Singh donated money to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Funds in Florida and New Orleans
•Other multiple winners have included Tom Lehman (four), Chad Campbell, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Rod Pampling and David Toms (three), and the following players who triumphed twice: Stuart Appleby, Bart Bryant, Chris DiMarco, Arron Oberholser, Joe Ogilvie, Kenny Perry, Carl Petterson, Ted Purdy, Adam Scott and Tiger Woods.

Fans can log on to www.astrazeneca.pgatour.com to read about past AstraZeneca Charity Challenge winners and learn more about AstraZeneca.

The American College of Gastroenterology
The American College of Gastroenterology is committed to quality in patient care and works to raise public awareness of digestive health. The College is dedicated to the continuing fight against colon cancer and to improving utilization of lifesaving colorectal cancer screening among Americans over 50.

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. Worldwide, AstraZeneca has six major research and development sites, four discovery facilities and a clinical research site. In total, AstraZeneca’s R&D organization is comprised of more 11,500 people located in seven countries including Canada, France, India, Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.