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03 July 2000

NICE appraisal endorses Proton Pump Inhibitor's (PPIs) and shows dyspepsia sufferers may be missing appropriate treatment

AstraZeneca UK Limited notes that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) made public today its Guidance to the NHS for Proton Pump Inhibitors. The Guidance endorses the use of this class of medicines in the treatment of dyspepsia. The Guidance comments that up to 40 percent of the adult population suffer from dyspepsia in any one year and yet only 10 percent of the population seek their general practitioners' advice for dyspeptic symptoms each year.
AstraZeneca UK Limited notes that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) made public today its Guidance to the NHS for Proton Pump Inhibitors. The Guidance endorses the use of this class of medicines in the treatment of dyspepsia. The Guidance comments that up to 40 percent of the adult population suffer from dyspepsia in any one year and yet only 10 percent of the population seek their general practitioners' advice for dyspeptic symptoms each year.

"We hope that it will encourage continued effective diagnosis and treatment of dyspepsia, a condition which has a significant impact on quality of life and which can be serious in some cases," commented Bev Salt, President of AstraZeneca's UK Sales and Marketing Company.

"As noted in the Guidance, every year three out of four adults who suffer from dyspeptic symptoms do not consult their doctor over their condition and some of these patients, especially those with persistent symptoms may be missing out on appropriate treatment."

In addition to the Guidance, however, effective treatment of a patient relies on the experience and judgement of the doctor to correctly diagnose a condition and to be able to choose the correct treatment to suit an individual. Patients have different responses to different treatments and it is the doctor's skill that will ensure that the patient is treated effectively.

Dyspepsia can have a significant impact on the sufferer's quality of life. In some cases, it can also be indicative of more severe conditions such as peptic ulcers and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease including reflux oesophagitis.

There is a wealth of clinical and cost effectiveness data to show the benefit of appropriate use of Proton Pump Inhibitors in the management of these disorders.

As the leading pharmaceutical company in the gastrointestinal field AstraZeneca has co-operated with NICE throughout the appraisal process to finalise the Guidance to the NHS. However, AstraZeneca does have concerns about NICE and its processes and these will be taken up with NICE.

AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading ethical pharmaceutical Companies, with a powerful range of products designed to fight disease in important areas of medical need. The Company is research and technology intensive with extensive marketing and development skills. It spends over £5 million globally each working day on the research and development of innovative, effective medicines.

AstraZeneca is the leading company in three therapeutic areas in the UK: Gastroenterology, Oncology and Anaesthesia and the second largest company in the UK Respiratory and Cardiovascular markets.

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Further enquiries to:

Anna Isaacs
AstraZeneca
Home Park
Kings Langley
01923 272443
faPRCommunicationsDept-GB-AstraPharmaceuticalsLtd@astrazeneca.com

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