AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2008

Aptium Oncology

For more than 25 years, Aptium Oncology has been developing and managing hospital-based outpatient cancer centres in the US. Its distinctive and comprehensive approach to cancer care incorporates all outpatient oncology and ancillary services in a single facility for maximum patient comfort and convenience.

Ownership of Aptium Oncology gives us a unique window to the provider sector of the US oncology market and, through Aptium Oncology’s network of over 160 physicians, access to many opinion leaders in the field of oncology who can help shape early phase drug development decisions. It is also involved in clinical trial delivery for a number of our pipeline products and provides scientific advice and staff training for oncology teams.

In 2008, Aptium Oncology continued to perform well in its cancer centre management business with positive profit and cash flow contributions. Focused on growth, Aptium Oncology continued to invest in sales and marketing. The resulting expansion of its consultancy business is creating new opportunities for management relationships in new markets in the US, with growing interest from international sources.

Clinical research is an integral part of care delivery at Aptium Oncology’s affiliated cancer centres. In 2008, the company established the Aptium Oncology GI Cancer Consortium, bringing together eight leading US academic institutions that will collaborate to speed the process of finding and testing active new compounds for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.