AstraZeneca receives Secretary of Defense Award for supporting employees serving in National Guard and Reserve

July 22, 2009 – Wilmington, DE – The Department of Defense has announced that AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) will receive the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.  

AstraZeneca was nominated by an employee from New Jersey, a current U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq. The company employs more than 100 men and women serving in the National Guard or Reserve, and was one of 15 employers chosen for this award from among more than 3,200 total nominations.

”As a former Army Reservist, this award is particularly special to me. AstraZeneca’s workplace policies reflect our appreciation for every man and woman who has served our country and the freedoms we cherish,” said Rich Fante, President, AstraZeneca US.  

AstraZeneca makes a significant investment in flexible policies and benefits designed to ease burdens on employees serving in the National Guard or Reserve.  They include:

• Providing the difference between a service member’s regular pay and military pay for military service up to 24 months, after which time each employee’s situation is reviewed on a case by case basis
• Offering continuation of health and dental insurance for periods of military service greater than 12 months. Additionally, company provided life insurance continues for one year after the start of the military leave and can be converted to a private plan after one year.
• Fostering a Military Support Employee Network Group, which is made up of 200 members, including National Guard members and Reservists, employees who are veterans, employees whose family members are either veterans or who are currently in the service, plus employees who want to show their support of troops. This group has instituted programs to support our service men and women, and also tends to employees’ needs upon pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment
• Maintaining contact with the families of Guard and Reserve employees during periods of military service.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.

AstraZeneca has received numerous Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve state awards for their support for National Guard and Reserve employees including several Patriot Awards, the Above and Beyond Award and the Pro Patria Award.

The award recipients will participate in the 14th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony September 17, 2009 in Washington, DC.

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription medicines and in the supply of healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with global healthcare sales of $ 31.6 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines.  In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $13.5 billion dollar healthcare business.  

For more information about AstraZeneca in the US or our AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com.  

Media Contacts: 

• Laura Woodin, AstraZeneca: 302-885-1087