<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001654954-21-001002.txt : 20210201
<SEC-HEADER>0001654954-21-001002.hdr.sgml : 20210201
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210201084806
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001654954-21-001002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210201
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210201

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASTRAZENECA PLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000901832
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			X0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		6-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11960
		FILM NUMBER:		21574832

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 FRANCIS CRICK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		CAMBRIDGE BIOMEDICAL CAMPUS
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			CB2 0AA
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011 44 20 7304 5000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 FRANCIS CRICK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		CAMBRIDGE BIOMEDICAL CAMPUS
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			CB2 0AA

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ZENECA GROUP PLC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930422
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>6-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a5672n.htm
<DESCRIPTION>ASTRAZENECA AGREES TO DIVEST VIELA SHAREHOLDING
<TEXT>
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FORM 6-K</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">SECURITIES
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Washington,
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Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">For the
month of February 2021</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Commission
File Number: 001-11960</font></div>
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AstraZeneca PLC</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">1
Francis Crick Avenue</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Cambridge
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Cambridge
CB2 0AA</font></div>
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Kingdom</font></div>
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&#x201C;Yes&#x201D; is marked, indicate below the file number
assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82-_____________</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
AstraZeneca PLC</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">INDEX
TO EXHIBITS</font></div>
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<font style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Times New Roman">1.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell"><font style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
AstraZeneca agrees to divest Viela shareholding</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
1 February 2021 12:15 GMT</font></div>
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&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
AstraZeneca agrees to divest Viela shareholding</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
AstraZeneca has agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, to
divest its 26.7% ownership in Viela Bio, Inc. (Viela), as part of
the proposed acquisition of Viela by&#xA0;Horizon Therapeutics
plc&#xA0;(Nasdaq:&#xA0;HZNP).</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
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&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
AstraZeneca is anticipating to receive cash proceeds and profit of
c.$760-$780m upon closing for the sale of the holding, which will
be recorded in Reported and Core Other Operating Income and Expense
in the Company's financial statements. The divestment is expected
to complete by the end of the first quarter of 2021.</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The divestment does not impact the Company's financial guidance for
2020. Guidance for 2021 is anticipated to be issued with full-year
2020 results on 11 February 2021.</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Viela</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Viela (Nasdaq: VIE), headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a
biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and
commercialisation of novel treatments for autoimmune and severe
inflammatory diseases. Viela was founded in 2018 as a spinout from
AstraZeneca, with clinical and pre-clinical projects from
AstraZeneca's inflammation and autoimmunity pipeline.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
AstraZeneca</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="color: #000000">
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led
biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery,
development and commercialisation of prescription medicines,
primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas -
Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal &amp; Metabolism, and Respiratory
&amp; Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in
over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by
millions of patients worldwide. Please
visit&#xA0;</font><font style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000FF">astrazeneca.com</font><font style="color: #000000">&#xA0;and
follow the Company on Twitter&#xA0;</font><font style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000FF">@AstraZeneca.</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
AstraZeneca contacts</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="color: #000000">
For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please
click&#xA0;</font><font style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000FF">here</font><font style="color: #000000">.
For Media contacts, click&#xA0;</font><font style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000FF">here</font><font style="color: #000000">.</font></font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
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&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Adrian Kemp</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Company Secretary</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
AstraZeneca PLC</font></div>
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<font style="text-decoration: underline; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
SIGNATURES</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">AstraZeneca
PLC</font></div>
</td>
</tr></table>
</div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Date:
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px">01 February
2021</font></font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">By: /s/
Adrian Kemp</font></div>
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</tr><tr>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Name:
Adrian Kemp</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 71%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Title:
Company Secretary</font></div>
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