Charles River Laboratories And AstraZeneca PLC Renew Strategic Partnership Agreement

- Leading Global CRO and Global Biopharmaceutical Company Extend Relationship to Accelerate Drug Development -

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) today announced that it has extended its initial three-year partnership with AstraZeneca (AZN) for an additional five-year period. Under the agreement, which extends into 2020, Charles River retains its position as AstraZeneca’s preferred strategic partner for outsourced regulated safety assessment and development DMPK (drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics).

James C. Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River said, “We are extremely pleased that AstraZeneca has chosen to extend its relationship with Charles River. Our combined scientific expertise has been pivotal to enabling AstraZeneca to create a flexible research platform to deliver innovative health solutions. We are proud of the success of our collaboration and look forward to providing ongoing support for AstraZeneca’s early-stage research programs.”

Stefan Platz, Vice President, Global Safety Assessment, AstraZeneca said, “Based on the success of our partnership with Charles River in the first three years, we are very pleased to renew our agreement for an additional five-year period. As we expected, partnering with Charles River to utilize their scientific expertise enabled AstraZeneca to increase our resource flexibility while simplifying the way we work. Our partnership has provided substantial benefits in support of our efforts to deliver safe and effective new treatments to patients more efficiently, and we look forward to continuing to work productively with Charles River for many more years.”

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “estimate,” “plan,” “outlook,” and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements include statements in this press release regarding Charles River’s expectations with respect to the impact of the AstraZeneca agreement on the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on Charles River’s current expectations and beliefs, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A further description of these risks, uncertainties, and other matters can be found in the Risk Factors detailed in Charles River’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed on February 17, 2015, as well as other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by Charles River, and Charles River assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update information contained in this news release except as required by law.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com.

About Charles River

Charles River provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions around the globe accelerate their research and drug development efforts. Our dedicated employees are focused on providing clients with exactly what they need to improve and expedite the discovery, early-stage development and safe manufacture of new therapies for the patients who need them. To learn more about our unique portfolio and breadth of services, visit www.criver.com.

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• Health Care Industry
• AstraZeneca
• Charles River