Tokyo, Japan, October 29, 2010 - "AstraZeneca KK (an affiliate of AstraZeneca) and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo), today announced that AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo signed an agreement for the co-promotion and supply of esomeprazole (Nexium), a proton pump inhibitor, in Japan.

Under the terms of this agreement AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo will co-promote this product after it is approved for use in Japan. AstraZeneca will manufacture and develop the product and Daiichi Sankyo will be responsible for its sales and distribution.

Daiichi Sankyo will make an initial payment of $100 million to AstraZeneca, paying further undisclosed sums when the product is approved and sales targets milestones are achieved.

Esomeprazole is a once-daily, proton-pump inhibitor, which has been developed for indications for the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease such as reflux esophagitis in Japan. Esomeprazole is approved in more than 120 countries and is marketed in Europe and the United States under the brand name Nexium and is one of the most successful drugs in the world in terms of sales.