AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative to Increase Interest in the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative to Increase Interest in the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Global Initiative Will Highlight Benefits of Scientific Breakthroughs to Human Health and Feature Lecture Events, Interactive Educational Content, and Broadcast Documentaries to the General Public

STOCKHOLM, November 11/PRNewswire/ -- AstraZeneca AB, Nobel Media AB and Nobel Web AB today announced the launch of a global co-operation that aims to increase the general public's understanding of and interest in the achievements of the Nobel Laureates within the fields of Physiology or Medicine and to further explain the benefits of the discoveries made. The AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative will enable the general public worldwide to learn directly from Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine by combining live lecture events, interactive educational content and broadcast documentaries. The co-operation is for three years starting 2008.

"I am very pleased and proud of this collaboration" says Jan Lundberg, Executive Vice Pesident, Global Discovery Research, AstraZeneca. "It is truly an honour to be able to contribute to an increased understanding of what medical breakthrough science can mean for new treatments to enhance patient health and wellbeing - and to do this in partnership with Nobel Media and Nobel Web."

"We are very happy for this great and promising co-operation with AstraZeneca supporting Nobel related programming reaching a global audience. We hope by this initiative, to enhance people's interest for these discoveries and their impact on all our lives," said Camilla Hylten-Cavallius, Chief Executive Officer, Nobel Media.

"Our exciting new co-operation with AstraZeneca supports and contributes to Nobelprize.org's educational outreach mission to provide interactive tools to inspire and encourage interest about the achievements behind the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine," said Alf A. Lindberg, Chief Executive Officer, Nobel Web.

The AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative will consist of three core elements:

Lecture Events: AstraZeneca, in co-operation with Nobel Media and Nobel Web, will host a lecture event with the current year's Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine at selected AstraZeneca research centers worldwide. Visiting Nobel Laureates will participate in an interview, lecture, and Question and Answer session. The lectures events will be made available on http://www.astrazeneca.com and Nobelprize.org.

Interactive Educational Content in Physiology or Medicine: Nobel Web will create, with the support of AstraZeneca, an educational Internet production per year called a Nobel Prize Narrative which will reflect the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and will place a series of related Nobel Prizes in a broader context, exploring the evolution of the discipline. The educational content will be accessible on Nobelprize.org.

Documentaries in Physiology or Medicine: Nobel Media will produce, with the support of AstraZeneca, one broadcast documentary per year on a topic related to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US $29.55 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection product sales. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index. For more information visit http://www.astrazeneca.com

About Nobel Media AB

Nobel Media AB is a subsidiary company within the Nobel sphere entrusted with managing and developing rights connected with the Nobel Prizes in the areas of TV, web production, distribution, publishing and events. The Nobel Program portfolio comprises a number of documentaries and TV-productions: The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo, The Nobel Banquet, Nobel Documentaries, Nobel Minds, Nobel Highlights and the Nobel Prize Concert. These programs are distributed in Sweden and internationally and reach a large audience.

About Nobel Web AB

Nobel Web AB is responsible for Nobelprize.org, the official website of the Nobel Foundation. Nobelprize.org acts as the online gateway to the Nobel Foundation's activities and hosts a unique collection of archival material on all Nobel Prizes from their inception in 1901 to the present day. Currently receiving well over 35 million visitors a year, Nobelprize.org aims to be the best source of information and educational materials related to the Nobel Prizes, and the site offers audio and video interviews, articles and interactive games alongside coverage of Nobel Prize Announcements and the Award Ceremonies. Building on this deep base of resources focused around every individual Nobel Prize, Nobelprize.org aims to offer extra levels of understanding, affording visitors a larger view of the history of science and exhibiting each Prize within its broader context.

Nobel Media(R), Nobelprize.org(R) and Nobel Prize(R) are registered trademarks of the Nobel Foundation.

          Media Contacts:     AstraZeneca     Neil McCrae/Chris Sampson (London), +44-207-304-5045/5130     Alex Kalombaris, Head of Global R&D Communication, Tel: +44-207-304-5027     Anne-Charlotte Knutsson (Sodertalje, Sweden), +46(8)553-213-75      Nobel Media and Nobel Web     Merci Olsson     Marketing and Communications Manager     Tel: +46-738-52-35-95     E-mail: merci.olsson@nobel.se  

Source: Nobel Web AB

Media Contacts: AstraZeneca, Neil McCrae/Chris Sampson (London) +44-207-304-5045/5130 Alex Kalombaris, Head of Global R&D Communication, Tel: +44-207-304-5027, Anne-Charlotte Knutsson (Sodertalje, Sweden)+46(8)553-213-75; Nobel Media and Nobel Web, Merci Olsson Marketing and Communications Manager, Tel: +(46)738-52-35-95, E-mail: merci.olsson@nobel.se

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