B?©atrice Cazala, Bristol-Myers Squibb ™s president, Europe, and president, global commercialization, said: The European Commission decision marks an important milestone in the alliance between Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca. Our legacy in treating type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, together with our knowledge and expertise, enables us to deliver to patients a medicine that will offer further choice for the treatment of this serious condition.

Ulf Sather, AstraZeneca ™s regional vice president for Europe, said: Diabetes is a growing epidemic currently affecting some 53 million people in Europe with the number of cases expected to increase. Today ™s announcement is good news for those affected by type 2 diabetes and further demonstrates the commitment of AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb to bring much needed options for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

ONGLYZA belongs to the class of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. These are designed to enhance the body's ability to decrease blood sugar (glucose) when it is elevated by acting on the natural hormones, incretins, thereby increasing insulin production, and by reducing the liver's production of glucose.

The launch of ONGLYZA is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Source: Bristol-Myers Squibb