Under this agreement, IBM will provide a range of IT services to AstraZeneca throughout its global organisation. These cover PC Management, network and communications services, including E-Mail, and computer operations support. AstraZeneca will retain control of its IT technical strategy and the development and support of its application systems.

Paul Burfitt, Chief Information Officer of AstraZeneca, said, "Our partnership with IBM will enable AstraZeneca to concentrate the effort of its Information Services (IS) capabilities on such strategic opportunities as e-business and informatics in R&D, and to further encourage added value from IS activities. This partnership will give AstraZeneca access to greater expertise and resource world-wide and will enhance competitive edge. It will also provide additional career and personal development opportunities for IT professionals joining IBM."

Frank Kern, General Manager, Professional Services, IBM Global Services, said, "This alliance joins two world class players. Our combined strengths, global reach and culture will enable AstraZeneca to optimise its global IT infrastructure and create business value. IBM will contribute its proven skills and expertise in leveraging technology. This will ensure a robust IT infrastructure to support AstraZeneca's fast moving business, allowing the organisation to focus on strategic IS opportunities."

Up to 1200 AstraZeneca staff currently involved in the provision of IT services, principally from the US, UK and Sweden, will transfer to IBM. No redundancies are anticipated.

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of ethical (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 $15 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, anaesthesia including pain management, cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory products.

ABOUT IBM

IBM Global Services is the world's largest information technology services provider, with 2000 revenues of more than $33 billion. Services is the fastest growing part of IBM, with more than 148,000 professionals serving customers in 160 countries. IBM Global Services integrates IBM's broad range of capabilities - services, hardware, software and research - to help companies of all sizes realise the full value of information technology.

IBM Life Sciences brings together IBM resources, from research and e-business expertise to data and storage management and high-performance computing, to offer new solutions for the life sciences market, including biotechnology, genomic, e-health, pharmaceutical, and agri-science industries.

For more information on IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com/