NEW ORLEANS -- Chris Couch was named this week’s AstraZeneca Charity Challenge winner for his first-place standing entering the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 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 Couch’s performance, AstraZeneca will donate $100,000 to the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition (FDHN) on behalf of Couch and the Zurich Classic.

“AstraZeneca is to be applauded for its willingness to share in the responsibility of ensuring the future of strong science through funding for digestive disease research,” said FDHN Foundation Chairman, James W. Freston, M.D., Ph.D. “This donation, given through the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge, will help enable a strong future for gastroenterology and ensure we have a whole new generation of researchers.”

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 winner at the Shell Houston Open was Stuart Appleby.
•At 13 of the first 14 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 and Phil Mickelson (four), Stuart Appleby, Chad Campbell, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Rod Pampling and David Toms (three), and the following players who triumphed twice: Bart Bryant, Chris DiMarco, Arron Oberholser, Joe Ogilvie, Kenny Perry, Carl Pettersson, 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 Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition and the American Gastroenterological Association
The Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition (FDHN) is the foundation of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). The Foundation raises funds for research and public education in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of digestive diseases. For more information, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.fdhn.org. The AGA is dedicated to the mission of advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology. Founded in 1897, the AGA is the oldest medical-specialty society in the United States. The AGA’s 14,000 members include physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. For more information, visit the AGA Web site at www.gastro.org.

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.