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Press Release: NEXIUM® (esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate) Now Available in Canada

Contributor: AstraZececa Canada Inc.

Good News for Millions of Canadians Suffering from Acid-Related Gastrointestinal Disease

Results of New National Survey Indicate that Six in 10 Sufferers
have Daily Activities Affected by Symptoms

TORONTO, September 11, 2001 -- AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce Nexium® (esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate), a new proton pump inhibitor (PPI), is now available in Canada. Nexium® is indicated in Canada for treatment of a variety of conditions where a reduction in gastric acid secretion is required. Symptoms of such conditions may include stomach pain or discomfort, indigestion, heartburn, and acid regurgitation. Nexium is the only PPI to prove clinical superiority over the gold standard, Losec® .

More than seven million Canadian adults suffer from acid-related disease. It is the fourth most common reason to visit a physician , and accounts for seven per cent of family physician visits.

New Survey Reveals Scope of Canadian Digestive Problems

The Gut Feelings Study, a survey commissioned by AstraZeneca Canada Inc. and conducted by Decima Research this summer, shows that 45 per cent of Canadian households have at least one person suffering from symptoms of digestive disease. The survey, completed in August 2001, has a margin of error no more than *2.8 per cent (at the 95 per cent confidence level). In total, 694 of the 1,235 Canadians interviewed suffered from symptoms of digestive disease. Their symptoms included stomach pain, heartburn, acid regurgitation, belching, bloating, nausea, fullness before finishing a meal, and discomfort after eating.

According to the survey, 74 per cent of sufferers, who take prescription medication daily, need their prescription medication to ease their symptoms and get through the day. Sixty-one per cent of sufferers said they would begin using a new medication that offered symptom improvement on the first day, symptom relief in half the time of current treatment, and total relief from symptoms in five days.

"Digestive symptoms have a tremendous impact on the enjoyment of normal everyday activities including eating and sleeping," comments Dr. Nigel Flook, a family physician at Misericordia Community Hospital and Health Centre in Edmonton, Alberta and member of the Canadian Dyspepsia Working Group (CanDys). "And, surprisingly, many patients are not aware of how easily their symptoms can be treated."

According to the study, 40 per cent of sufferers report that their symptoms also impact their family and friends in many negative ways. They report: being more cautious about the food they eat; not being able to sleep through the night; feeling cut off from family and friends; waking others in the household; complaining more; and going out less often.

The Gut Feelings Study identified the myths surrounding this disease area. Many sufferers do not understand their disease, and these misconceptions and lack of knowledge can cause patients to believe they are at fault for their symptoms. Eighty-five per cent of those surveyed believe that inappropriate lifestyle and diet choices are causes of acid-related disease. While lifestyle may contribute to or exacerbate symptoms, many sufferers experience symptoms while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

"Many sufferers who experience dyspepsia feel it is attributed to irregular meals, dietary abuse, smoking, etc.," says Dr. Richard Hunt, vice president of the Canadian Digestive Disease Foundation (CDDF). "But in truth, most individuals experience symptoms through no fault of their own. Fortunately, many who seek treatment for dyspepsia can lead normal, healthy lives."

Hope for Acid-related Disease Sufferers

"Until now, no other PPI has demonstrated any significant clinical advantages over Losec® ," says Dr. David Armstrong, a gastroenterologist with Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and member of the CanDys Working Group. "Nexium® is the only PPI that has been proven to be clinically superior to Losec® .î

With Nexium® , acid control is greater, faster, and more sustained compared to Losec®. Comparative studies have shown that gastric acid control with Nexium® is also superior to that of all PPIs currently available.

"Large clinical studies in esophagitis patients have demonstrated that Nexium® advances the clinical efficacy and predictability that can be achieved with PPI therapy," adds Dr. Armstrong. "It enables improved strategies for patient management, and therefore raises the standard of treatment for acid-related disease."

Nexium® is available in 40 mg and 20 mg tablets. A dose of 40 mg once daily provides superior acid suppression to all currently available drugs in this class.

Nexium® is a new member of what has proven to be an extremely safe and effective class of medication. Nexium® offers patients excellent safety and tolerability. Most adverse events have been mild and transient, showing no consistent relationship with treatment.

Pioneers in the Gastrointestinal Field

For more than two decades, AstraZeneca has pioneered research committed to advancing the treatment of acid-related disease. Losec® (omeprazole), the first PPI, was discovered and developed by AstraZeneca and is regarded as the current 'gold standard' for the treatment of dyspepsia and acid-related disease. To date, more than 500 million patients worldwide have been treated with Losec® .

"AstraZeneca has a rich history of market leadership in the gastrointestinal field," says Gerry McDole, president and chief executive officer of AstraZeneca Canada Inc. "We are proud to introduce and deliver innovative products like Nexium® that will help improve the quality of life for Canadians."

Nexium® - now approved in 35 countries worldwide including the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Ireland, and now Canada - represents the first significant advance in the treatment of acid-related disease in more than 10 years.

AstraZeneca is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies globally with a formidable product portfolio spanning seven major therapeutic areas: gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, oncology, pain control, respiratory, central nervous system and infection. AstraZeneca's brands include Nexium® , Losec® , Atacand®, Xylocaine®, Arimidex®, Pulmicort®, Zomig® and Seroquel® The Canadian headquarters and manufacturing facilities of AstraZeneca are located in Mississauga, Ontario, with a state-of-the-art basic research centre based in Montréal, Québec. For more information, visit the company's website at www.astrazeneca.ca.

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Non-ulcer Dyspepsia and Helicobacter Pylori Infection: To Treat or Not to Treat

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Pregnancy

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