AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2008

Managing risk, principal risks and uncertainties

As a global, research-based pharmaceutical company, we face a diverse range of risks and uncertainties that may adversely affect our business.

We work continuously to ensure that we have effective processes in place for identifying, assessing and managing these risks appropriately, in line with our strategic objectives, the material needs of our stakeholders and our core values. As part of this, we continue to monitor our business activities and our external and internal environments for new and emerging risks, including environmental, social and governance matters, to ensure that these are captured and managed at the appropriate level.

In this section we describe our key risk management and assurance mechanisms, together with the associated accountabilities and the principal areas of risks and uncertainties that we currently consider to be material to our business in that they may have a significant effect on our financial condition, results of operations and/or reputation. Where relevant, specific risks and uncertainties are also discussed at various points in the Directors’ Report.