AstraZeneca Provides More Than Half Million People with Free Medicine in 2010

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) announced today that it provided $947 million in savings last year to the more than 545,000 patients in the United States who participate in its AZ&Me prescription savings programs. Through these programs that provide medicines at no cost to eligible participants, AstraZeneca saved patients a total of $2.3 billion on 10.6 million prescriptions since the economic downturn took hold in 2008.

“While the economy appears to be getting stronger, we are still seeing record numbers of patients in our prescription savings programs and they are staying in the programs longer,” said Rich Fante, President, AstraZeneca U.S. and Regional Vice President, North America.

Participation in the AZ&Me prescription savings programs has steadily increased over the past three years. In 2010:

  • Patients served: 545,927 patients benefitted from AZ&Me, an increase of 7 percent over 2009 and an increase of 19 percent over 2008
  • Prescriptions filled: Patients filled 4.1 million prescriptions through the programs in 2010, a 7 percent increase over 2009 and an increase of 34 percent since 2008
  • Patient savings: Patients saved $947 million through the AZ&Me programs, an 18 percent increase over 2009 and a 35 percent increase since 2008

An interactive map of the numbers of patients in AZ&Me programs in each state can be found here.

AstraZeneca provides free medicines to patients through its AZ&Me prescription savings programs in three ways:

  • Individuals: AstraZeneca provides free medicines to qualifying individuals without prescription drug coverage who make up to $30,000 per year and families of four with $60,000 annual household income.
  • Part D beneficiaries: AstraZeneca provides free medicines for qualifying Medicare Part D patients who make up to $30,000 per year or couples who make up to $40,000 per year. Medicare Part D patients can have their filled prescription mailed to their home or physician’s office.
  • Healthcare facilities: AstraZeneca provides free medicines to qualifying non-profit organizations, such as disproportionate share hospitals, community health centers and community free clinics. This program connects patients to the medicines they need at the same time and place they receive their treatment.

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 $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™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363).



CONTACT:

AstraZeneca
Media Contact:
Katie Lubenow, 302-885-9960

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Delaware

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Biotechnology  Hospitals  Pharmaceutical  Professional Services  Insurance  Managed Care

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