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AstraZeneca Outlines Principles for Product-Related Online Communications

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Corporate News
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WILMINGTON, Del., March 1 AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) today asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to adopt guidance that will enable AstraZeneca and others to fully engage in real-time, social media conversations that responsibly provide accurate, balanced information on medicines from a known, identifiable and reliable source.
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(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091027/PH99766LOGO )

AstraZeneca's proposal was in response to the FDA's September 2009 Call for Comments on their public notice: Promotion of Food and Drug Administration-Regulated Medical Products Using the Internet and Social Media Tools.
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"AstraZeneca understands the value of social media to engage key stakeholders in today's technology-driven world," said Bob Perkins, Vice President, Public Policy and Promotional Affairs. "While we have developed a corporate presence in the digital space, we believe it is increasingly important to participate in online channels to provide accurate and regulated information about our branded products in conversations with patients, caregivers, and health care providers."

AstraZeneca believes that five principles should be at the core of any company engagement in social media:

In its comments to the FDA, AstraZeneca proposed a regulatory framework that is consistent with these principles and defines, distinguishes, and distinctly regulates three types of communications on the Internet and in social media:

The company also noted that, "Without guidance, our activities are limited in a manner that we believe is not in the best interests of informed health care decision making. In our absence, consumers will turn to information sources that are not regulated and not always well informed."

AstraZeneca believes the company has an obligation to participate in social media in a responsible way to help educate and empower patients, caregivers and prescribers to make informed decisions about its products.

Click here to view AstraZeneca's full submission: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/_mshost795281/content/media/FDA-2009-N-0441.pdf

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines. As a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease medicines, AstraZeneca generated global revenues of US $32.8 billion in 2009. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $14.8 billion healthcare business.

For more information about AstraZeneca in the US or our AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363).

-- Truth and Accuracy: Content must be created, developed, or made available that is truthful, balanced, accurate, and not misleading.

SOURCE AstraZeneca
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