POTOMAC, Md. -- Ben Curtis was named this week’s AstraZeneca Charity Challenge winner for his first-place standing entering the final round of the Booz Allen Classic. 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 Curtis' performance, AstraZeneca will donate $100,000 to the American Diabetes Association on behalf of Curtis and the Booz Allen Classic.

“This generous donation from the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge will help the Association move forward in its mission to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of the more than 21 million children and adults in the United States living with this disease,” said Betty Digges, Executive Director, Washington, D.C. office American Diabetes Association.

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:

•Two weeks ago, the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge winner at the Barclays Classic was Billy Andrade.

• At 17 of the first 21 tournaments of 2006, the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge winner or co-winner went on to win the tournament.

• More than 95 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 Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, Phil Mickelson and Rod Pampling (four), Carl Pettersson, Chad Campbell, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott and David Toms (three), and the following players who triumphed twice: Stuart Appleby, Bart Bryant, Chris DiMarco, Tim Herron, Arron Oberholser, Joe Ogilvie, Tom Pernice, Jr., Kenny Perry, Ted Purdy 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.

About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. The Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides services to hundreds of communities across the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

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.