AstraZeneca. Lesley Wheeler Global PR Manager Pain, Anaesthesia and Infection Tel: +44 (0) lesley.wheeler@astrazeneca.

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1 POUR INFORMATION NicOx vous informe: les premières données gastrointestinales sur l AZD3582, le premier composé d une nouvelle classe d analgésiques, ont été présentées Sophia Antipolis, le 21 mai NicOx S.A. (Nouveau Marché: NICOX) souhaite vous informer que les premiers résultats cliniques relatifs au composé AZD3582 ont été présentés durant la «Digestive Disease Week» qui s est tenue du 19 au 22 mai à San Francisco, en Californie. Vous trouverez le texte du communiqué distribué aujourd hui par AstraZeneca ci-joint. AZD3582 est le premier composé d une nouvelle classe d analgésiques et d antiinflammatoires, CINODs (COX-inhibiting nitric oxide donators), destinés au traitement de la douleur aiguë et chronique. NicOx a accordé à AstraZeneca une licence mondiale exclusive (semi-exclusive au Japon) pour le développement et la commercialisation de l AZD3582. NicOx est une société pharmaceutique émergente qui exploite les propriétés récemment découvertes de l oxyde nitrique afin de développer des médicaments plus sûrs et plus efficaces. NicOx cible plusieurs marchés thérapeutiques majeurs tels que la douleur et l inflammation, les maladies cardiovasculaires, les maladies respiratoires, les entéropathies inflammatoires chroniques, l incontinence urinaire, l ostéoporose, certains désordres dermatologiques, certains désordres hépatiques, la maladie d Alzheimer et le cancer du côlon. NicOx, dont le siège social se situe à Sophia-Antipolis - France, est cotée au Nouveau Marché d Euronext Paris (segment : Next Economy). CONTACTS NicOx Corinne Hoff Corporate Communications Manager Tel: +33 (0) hoff@nicox.com AstraZeneca Lesley Wheeler Global PR Manager Pain, Anaesthesia and Infection Tel: +44 (0) lesley.wheeler@astrazeneca.com Cicommunication Frédéric Bourdon Tel : +33 (0) Fax : +33 (0) bourdon@cicommunication.com - Ce document ne peut pas être distribué aux Etats-Unis d Amérique -

2 AstraZeneca News Release EMBARGOED 21 May :45 EST ASTRAZENECA S AZD3582 DEMONSTRATES GREATER GASTROINTESTINAL SAFETY THAN NAPROXEN -- AZD3582 first in new class of pain medications introduced as CINOD (COXinhibiting nitric oxide donators) -- London May 21, 2002 The first clinical data evaluating the gastrointestinal safety of AstraZeneca s AZD3582 shows a significant reduction in gastrointestinal tract toxicity compared to naproxen. 1 The findings presented today at Digestive Disease Week 2002 provide exciting new data with AZD3582, a COX-inhibiting nitric oxide donator (CINOD), the first in a new class of pain medications. These data may provide additional benefits for the millions of people worldwide living with pain. Many of the currently available treatment options for pain are associated with gastrointestinal side effects and other adverse events 2,3. Consequently, there is a need for newer treatment options demonstrating effective pain relief with gastrointestinal sparing effects, and overall organ protection. We saw significantly fewer erosions of the gastrointestinal tract in subjects taking AZD3582 than among those receiving naproxen, commented Chris Hawkey, DM, of University Hospital in Nottingham and principal investigator in the study presented today. AZD3582 warrants further evaluation, perhaps in comparison to COX-2 selective NSAIDs, as it appears to give gastrointestinal safety advantages to NSAIDs in the management of acute and chronic pain. Page 2 of 5

3 Clinical Trial Results In the phase I double-blind, crossover study, 31 subjects were randomised to receive either 500 mg of naproxen twice daily or 750 mg of AZD3582 twice daily. In the naproxen group, the number of gastroduodenal ulcers and erosions increased from 0.14 at baseline to after 12 days. By contrast, subjects receiving AZD3582 experienced significantly (p<0.001) fewer ulcers and erosions; the corresponding numbers were 0.1 at baseline and 4.1 after 12 days, or 7.4 fewer ulcers and erosions than observed with naproxen. These differences were seen for both stomach and duodenum separately. Additionally, whereas intestinal permeability increased with naproxen (lactulose:rhamnose ratio after treatment vs before treatment), it did not with AZD3582 (0.029 vs ) and placebo (0.028 vs ); the permeability index was significantly less affected by AZD3582 than naproxen (p<0.01). 1 AZD3582, a compound licensed by AstraZeneca from NicOx, is a new chemical entity with a novel multi-pathway mechanism of action of controlled nitric oxide donation and balanced inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. AZD3582 is designed to provide the efficacy of both COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition, with a donation of nitric oxide that exerts organ-sparing protection of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs. This is encouraging new data and supports the proof of principle of better gastrointestinal tolerability for this new class of compounds in pain management and warrants further evaluation in clinical studies. These results represent a significant step forward in the clinical development programme for AZD3582, which reflects our commitment to meeting the needs of people living with pain, concludes Agneta Heierson, Global Product Director from AstraZeneca. Page 3 of 5

4 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 top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of over $16.4 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, anaesthesia (including pain management), cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory products. For further information, please contact Leslie Wheeler at AstraZeneca on tel: , fax: or mobile or visit Notes to the editor: Findings of the study 31 subjects were enrolled into a double-blind, randomised, crossover study Those receiving naproxen 500mg bd (twice daily) experienced an increase in number of gastroduodenal ulcers and erosions from 0.14 at baseline to after 12 days. Subjects receiving AZD mg bd were associated with significantly (p<0.001) 7.4 fewer ulcers and erosions (0.1 to 4.1). The above differences were seen for both stomach and duodenum separately. Whereas intestinal permeability increased with naproxen, it did not with AZD3582 and placebo. About NicOx NicOx is an emerging pharmaceutical company using recently-discovered properties of nitric oxide to design and develop safer and more effective drugs. NicOx is targeting several major pharmaceutical markets including pain and inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, urinary incontinence, osteoporosis, certain dermatological disorders, certain liver diseases, Alzheimer's disease and colon cancer. Page 4 of 5

5 Headquartered in Sophia-Antipolis, France, NicOx is a Public Company listed on the Nouveau Marché of Euronext Paris (Segment: Next Economy). # # # 1 Hawkey CJ, Jones JI, Atherton CT, et al. Gastrointestinal safety of AZD3582: a new chemical entity with a novel multi-pathway mechanism of action. Presented at Digestive Disease Week, San Francisco USA, May (abstract). 2 Geba GP, Weaver AL, Polis AB, et al. Efficacy of Rofecoxib, Celecoxib, and Acetaminophen in Osteoarthritis of the Knee. JAMA. 2002; 287: Lichtenstein DR. Wolfe MM. COX-2 selective NSAIDs: New and improved? JAMA. 2000; 284: Page 5 of 5