RNS Number:0106F
Cambridge Antibody Tech Group PLC
22 June 2006




06/CAT/07


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11.30 BST 04.30 EST Thursday 22 June 2006

For Further Information Contact:                   Hogarth Partnership (Europe)
Cambridge Antibody Technology                      Tel: +44 (0) 20 7357 9477
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 471 471                          Chris Matthews
Hamish Cameron, Chief Executive                    Melanie Toyne-Sewell
Rowena Gardner, Director of Corporate              Andrew Jacques
Communications
                                                   BMC Communications (US)
                                                   Tel: 001 212 477 9007
                                                   Brad Miles, ext 17 (media)





CAMBRIDGE ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Cambridge, UK - As announced this morning by AstraZeneca, its recommended offer
to acquire Cambridge Antibody Technology (LSE: CAT, NASDAQ: CATG) has been
declared unconditional. The CAT Group of Companies will now form part of the
AstraZeneca group of companies and CAT is pleased to announce that Dr Hamish
Cameron has been appointed as a Director and Chief Executive of CAT Limited,
with immediate effect.


Dr Cameron, a physician by training, joins CAT following a number of senior R&D
appointments in AstraZeneca, including Head of the Cardiovascular Therapy Area
and Head of Medical Research, in the 20 years he has been with the company.  He
is a Fellow and past Board member of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine.


Dr John Patterson, Executive Director of Development at AstraZeneca and
Chairman of the new CAT Limited Board, commented  We are delighted that the
acquisition of CAT has been completed and are pleased to have appointed Hamish
Cameron to the post of Chief Executive. The acquisition of CAT indicates our
intention of growing a leading biopharmaceuticals capability in AstraZeneca, led
from CAT in Cambridge, which combines the biologics discovery and early
development of CAT with AstraZenecas global discovery, development and marketing
expertise. The biopharmaceuticals capability will be distinct from, but
complementary to, AstraZenecas small molecule franchise.



Hamish Cameron, CATs new Chief Executive, commented I am excited by the
opportunity at CAT and am very much looking forward to leading the company as it
sets out on the next part of its journey as a member of the AstraZeneca group.
CAT is a distinctive and successful biopharmaceuticals company and, now
supported by AstraZeneca, it will be able to utilise its expertise across all
AstraZenecas Therapy Areas as well as to develop its technology platform beyond
its current capabilities.  In this way AstraZeneca, with CAT, aims to deliver
valuable new medicines to improve patient care in a number of significant
disease areas.  AstraZenecas acquisition of CAT is a great endorsement of the
achievements of CAT and its staff, and a significant boost to the Cambridge area
and the UK biotechnology industry.



-ENDS-



Notes to Editors:



Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT)

Business:

CAT is a biopharmaceutical company using its proprietary technologies in human
monoclonal antibodies for drug discovery and drug development; it is a
subsidiary of the AstraZeneca group of companies.



Based near Cambridge, UK and it Palo Alto, USA, CAT currently employs around 300
people.



CAT is currently listed on the London Stock Exchange and on NASDAQ but will be
de-listed over the next few weeks.



Products:

HUMIRA, licensed to Abbott, is the first CAT-derived antibody to be approved for
marketing. It was isolated and optimised in collaboration with Abbott and has
been approved for marketing as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 57
countries, for psoriatic arthritis and early RA in some European countries and
the US, and for ankylosing spondylitis in some European countries.



There are six further CAT-derived antibodies licensed to partners at various
stages of clinical development: ABT-874 (Abbott), LymphoStat-B(TM), HGS-ETR1,
HGS-ETR2, ABthrax(TM) (all Human Genome Sciences (HGSI)) and MYO-029 (Wyeth).
CAT has also licensed its proprietary technologies and patents to several
companies. CATs licensees include Amgen, Chugai, Dyax, Genzyme, HGSI, Merck &
Co, Micromet, Pfizer and Wyeth, and three antibody drug candidates are in
clinical development at patent licensees.



There are three further human therapeutic product candidates in clinical
development: CAT-354 and CAT-3888, proprietary CAT products, and GC-1008, in
collaboration with Genzyme.



Science:

CAT has an advanced proprietary technology for rapidly isolating human
monoclonal antibodies using Phage Display and Ribosome Display systems. CAT has
extensive phage antibody libraries, currently incorporating more than 100
billion distinct antibodies, which form the basis for the Companys strategy to
develop a portfolio of antibody-based drugs.



More information can be found at www.cambridgeantibody.com



Application of the Safe Harbor of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995: This press release contains statements about Cambridge Antibody
Technology Group plc (OCATO) that are forward looking statements. All
statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press
release may be forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

These forward looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding
CATs present and future business strategies and the environment in which CAT
will operate in the future. Certain factors that could cause CATs actual
results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the
forward looking statements include: market conditions, CATs ability to enter
into and maintain collaborative arrangements, success of product candidates in
clinical trials, regulatory developments and competition.

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 worlds leading
pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $23.95 billion and leading
positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience,
respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.



More information can be found www.astrazeneca.com




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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