1st Quarter Results (2 of 2)

AstraZeneca PLC
28 April 2005



Consolidated Income Statement


                                                                                           2005              2004

For the quarter ended 31 March                                                               $m                $m

Sales                                                                                    5,743             5,074

Cost of sales                                                                           (1,410)           (1,158)

Distribution costs                                                                         (50)              (42)

Research and development                                                                  (865)             (857)

Selling, general and administrative expenses                                            (2,007)           (2,003)

Other operating income                                                                      42                38

Operating profit                                                                         1,453             1,052

Net finance income                                                                          33                30

Income from dividends                                                                        -                 2

Profit before tax                                                                        1,486             1,084

Taxation                                                                                  (443)             (285)

Profit for the period                                                                    1,043               799




Attributable to:

Equity holders of the Company                                                            1,040               797

Minority interest                                                                            3                 2

                                                                                         1,043               799



Basic earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share                                                  $0.63             $0.47

Diluted earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share                                                $0.63             $0.47

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)                           1,640             1,688

Diluted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)                            1,640             1,690



Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                                                                           2005              2004

As at 31 March                                                                               $m                $m

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment                                                            7,800             7,556
Goodwill and intangible assets                                                           2,901             2,910
Other investments                                                                          221                58
Deferred tax assets                                                                      1,229             1,407
                                                                                        12,151            11,931

Current assets

Inventories                                                                              2,903             3,099
Trade and other receivables                                                              4,932             4,555
Short term investments                                                                     958             3,386
Cash and cash equivalents                                                                3,905               814
                                                                                        12,698            11,854
Total assets                                                                            24,849            23,785

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities

Short term borrowings and overdrafts                                                       (66)              (72)
Other creditors                                                                         (6,770)           (7,675)
                                                                                        (6,836)           (7,747)
Non-current liabilities

Loans                                                                                   (1,070)             (305)
Deferred tax liabilities                                                                (1,171)           (1,423)
Retirement benefit obligations and provisions                                           (1,995)           (1,811)
Other liabilities                                                                          (91)              (84)

                                                                                        (4,327)           (3,623)
Total liabilities                                                                      (11,163)          (11,370)
Net assets                                                                               13,686
                                                                                                          12,415

EQUITY

Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders

Share capital                                                                              408               420

Share premium account                                                                      555               477

Other reserves                                                                           1,850             1,866

Retained earnings                                                                       10,780             9,556

                                                                                        13,593            12,319

Minority equity interests                                                                   93                96

Total equity and reserves                                                               13,686            12,415



Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
                                                                                           2005              2004

For the quarter ended 31 March
                                                                                             $m                $m
Cash flows from operating activities

Operating profit before taxation                                                         1,453             1,052
Depreciation and amortisation                                                              309               302
Increase in working capital                                                               (111)             (163)
Other non-cash movements                                                                   170                91
Cash from operating activities                                                           1,821             1,282

Interest paid                                                                               (6)               (5)

Tax paid                                                                                  (306)             (266)

Net cash inflow from operating activities                                                1,509             1,011

Cash flows from investing activities

Movement in short term investments and fixed deposits                                      158              (265)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment                                                (213)             (290)
Disposals of property, plant and equipment                                                   8                 6
Purchase of intangible assets                                                              (19)              (10)
Purchase of fixed asset investments                                                         (2)               (5)
Interest received                                                                           43                12
Dividends paid by subsidiaries to minority interests                                        (4)               (5)
Dividends received                                                                           -                 2
Net cash outflow from investing activities                                                 (29)             (555)
Net cash inflow before financing activities                                              1,480               456
Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from issue of share capital                                                         4                28
Repurchase of shares                                                                      (481)             (608)
Dividends paid                                                                          (1,079)                -
Repayment of short term borrowings                                                          (2)                -
Net cash outflow from financing activities                                              (1,558)             (580)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents in the period                                    (78)             (124)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period                                     3,927               872
Exchange rate effects                                                                      (10)               (6)
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period                                       3,839               742
Cash and cash equivalents consists of:
Cash and cash equivalents                                                                3,905               814
Overdrafts                                                                                 (66)              (72)
                                                                                         3,839               742


Reconciliation of Net Funds
                                                                                           2005              2004

For the quarter ended 31 March
                                                                                             $m                $m
Net funds at the beginning of the period                                                 3,994             3,696

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents                                                      (78)             (124)
Cash (inflow)/outflow from (decrease)/increase in short term
investments and fixed deposits                                                            (158)              265
Cash outflow from decrease in short term borrowings                                          2                 -
Exchange movements                                                                         (10)               (2)
Fair value adjustments                                                                     (23)              (12)

Net funds at the end of the period                                                       3,727             3,823



Statement of Recognised Income and Expense


                                                                                           2005              2004

For the quarter ended 31 March                                                               $m                $m

Net profit for the period (excluding minority interests)                                 1,040               797

Foreign exchange adjustments on consolidation                                             (381)              (97)

Tax on foreign exchange adjustments                                                        (14)              (33)

Valuation (losses)/gains taken to equity, net of tax                                       (15)                3

Actuarial gains/(losses), net of tax                                                        20                (3)

Recognised income and expense for the period                                               650               667



Notes to the Interim Financial Statements



1         BASIS OF PREPARATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The unaudited financial statements for the quarter ended 31 March 2005 have been
prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standards and International
Financial Reporting Standards (collectively 'IFRS') expected to be endorsed by
the European Union (EU) and available for use by European companies at 31
December 2005.  These IFRSs are subject to ongoing review and possible amendment
or interpretive guidance and are therefore still subject to change.  Details of
the accounting policies applied are set out in the IFRS Restatement information
in AstraZeneca PLC's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2004.  The policies
assume that the amendments to IAS 19 'Employee Benefits' published in December
2004 by the International Accounting Standards Board, allowing actuarial gains
and losses to be recognised in full through reserves, will be endorsed by the
EU.

The new information contained in Note 2 below updates the disclosures concerning
legal proceedings in the Company's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2004.

These interim financial statements do not constitute statutory accounts of the
Group within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.  Statutory
accounts for the year ended 31 December 2004 will be filed with the Registrar of
Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting.  The auditor's report
on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statement under
Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985.



2         LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

CrestorTM (rosuvastatin)

Of the two individual lawsuits served on AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and/or
AstraZeneca LP in the US during 2004, involving alleged injury in association
with the use of CrestorTM, one has now been dismissed.  AstraZeneca has recently
been served with a complaint filed in the Federal District Court in Puerto Rico
and a complaint filed in Ohio making similar allegations.  AstraZeneca is
vigorously defending the pending CrestorTM litigation.



ExantaTM (ximelagatran)

As previously disclosed, on or about 27 January 2005, a putative class action
was filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on behalf
of purchasers of AstraZeneca publicly traded securities during the period 2
April 2003 to 11 October 2004 against AstraZeneca PLC, Percy Barnevik, Hakan
Mogren, Sir Tom McKillop and Jonathan Symonds.  The lawsuit asserted claims
under sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC
Rule 10b-5, alleging that the defendants made false and misleading statements
regarding ExantaTM clinical trials and the status of the New Drug Application
for ExantaTM in the US.

Since then, three additional, but essentially similar, lawsuits have been filed
in US District Courts in Delaware and the Southern District of New York.  The
litigation may ultimately be consolidated in one forum.  The defendants  deny
the allegations made in the lawsuits and are vigorously defending the actions.



SeroquelTM (quetiapine fumarate)

The putative class action suit filed in August 2003 in the US District Court for
the Middle District of Florida naming AstraZeneca PLC and AstraZeneca
Pharmaceuticals LP as defendants and seeking damages and injunctive relief on
behalf of a purported class 'consisting of all persons in the United States who
purchased and/or used SeroquelTM' has been dismissed with prejudice.




3         TERRITORIAL SALES ANALYSIS
                                                                                          % Growth
                                                1st Quarter      1st Quarter
                                                       2005             2004                     Constant
                                                         $m               $m          Actual     Currency

       US                                             2,500            2,279             10              10

       Canada                                           248              218             14               6
       North America                                  2,748            2,497             10               9
       France                                           451              442              2              (4)
       UK                                               188              132             42              32
       Germany                                          315              226             39              31
       Italy                                            285              255             12               5
       Sweden                                            80               79              1              (5)
       Europe others                                    846              741             14               7
       Total Europe                                   2,165            1,875             15               8
       Japan                                            337              290             16              12
       Rest of World                                    493              412             20              14
Total                                                 5,743            5,074             13               9

4        PRODUCT SALES ANALYSIS

                                                          World                                    US
                                           1st          1st                 Constant            1st
                                       Quarter      Quarter    Actual        Currency       Quarter      Actual
                                          2005         2004    Growth          Growth          2005      Growth
                                            $m           $m    %                    %            $m           %
Gastrointestinal:

Losec/Prilosec                            427           540         (21)         (25)           60         (34)
Nexium                                  1,055           935          13           11           691           3
Others                                     17            21         (19)         (24)            3         (57)
Total Gastrointestinal                  1,499         1,496           -           (3)          754          (2)
Cardiovascular:

Zestril                                    87           105         (17)         (22)            2         (83)
Seloken/Toprol-XL                         408           333          23           21           293          24
Atacand                                   235           209          12            7            56         (18)
Plendil                                    93           111         (16)         (19)           22         (33)
Tenormin                                   83            85          (2)          (7)            3         (73)
Crestor                                   273           129         112          106           154         114
Others                                     78            83          (6)         (12)            2           -
Total Cardiovascular                    1,257         1,055          19           15           532          22
Respiratory & Inflammation:
Pulmicort                                 314           282          11            8           174          11
Rhinocort                                  92            81          14           13            67          20
Symbicort                                 247           188          31           23             -           -
Accolate                                   28            30          (7)          (7)           21          (5)
Oxis                                       23            25          (8)         (16)            -           -
Others                                     42            42           -           (5)            -           -
Total Respiratory & Inflammation          746           648          15           11           262          11
Oncology:
Zoladex                                   231           213           8            3            32         (32)
Casodex                                   277           229          21           16            62          11
Nolvadex                                   28            31         (10)         (13)            -        (100)
Arimidex                                  256           166          54           49           101          63
Iressa                                     81            93         (13)         (15)           30         (41)
Faslodex                                   29            26          12            8            20         (17)
Others                                      3             4         (25)         (25)            -           -
Total Oncology                            905           762          19           14           245           2
Neuroscience:
Seroquel                                  633           448          41           39           456          35
Zomig                                      68            95         (28)         (32)            9         (80)
Diprivan                                  107           122         (12)         (14)           45         (29)
Local anaesthetics                        127           130          (2)          (7)           17         (43)
Others                                     17            17           -           (6)            5          67
Total Neuroscience                        952           812          17           14           532          11
Infection and Other:
Merrem                                    131            97          35           29            29            61
Other Products                             97            72          35           29            57           111
Total Infection and Other                 228           169          35           29            86            91
Salick Health Care                         83            71          17           17            83            17
Astra Tech                                 73            61          20           13             6            50
Total                                    5,743        5,074          13            9          2,500           10



Shareholder Information


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEETINGS



Annual General Meeting                                    28 April 2005

Announcement of second quarter and half year 2005 results 28 July 2005

Announcement of third quarter and nine months 2005        27 October 2005
results


DIVIDENDS


The record date for the second interim dividend for 2004 paid on 21 March 2005
(in the UK, Sweden and the US) was 11 February 2005.  Ordinary shares traded
ex-dividend on the London and Stockholm Stock Exchanges from 9 February 2005.
ADRs traded ex-dividend on the New York Stock Exchange from the same date.



Future dividends will normally be paid as follows:

First interim                                           Announced in July and paid in September

Second interim                                          Announced in January and paid in March



TRADEMARKS



The following brand names used in these interim financial statements are
trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies:


Accolate  Arimidex  Astra Tech  Atacand  Casodex  Crestor  Diprivan  Exanta
Faslodex  Iressa  Losec  Merrem  Nexium  Nolvadex  Oxis  Plendil  Prilosec
Pulmicort  Pulmicort Respules  Rhinocort  Rhinocort Aqua  Seloken  Seroquel
Symbicort  Tenormin  Toprol-XL  Zestril  Zoladex  Zomig



ADDRESSES FOR CORRESPONDENCE




Registrar and                       Depositary                Registered Office          Swedish Securities
Transfer Office                     for ADRs                                             Registration Centre
                                                                                         VPC AB

The AstraZeneca Registrar           JPMorgan Chase Bank       15 Stanhope Gate           PO Box 7822
Lloyds TSB Registrars               PO Box 43013              London                     SE-103 97 
The Causeway                        Providence                W1K 1LN                    Stockholm
Worthing                            RI 02940-3013             UK                         Sweden
West Sussex                         US
BN99 6DA
UK                                  Tel (toll free in US):    Tel: [phone]   Tel: [phone]
Tel (in UK): 0870 600 3956          888 697 8018
Tel (outside UK): [phone]    Tel: [phone]
7033



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


In order to utilise the 'Safe Harbor' provisions of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, AstraZeneca is providing the following
cautionary statement.  These interim financial statements contain
forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of
operations and businesses of AstraZeneca.  By their nature, forward-looking
statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to
events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future.  There are a
number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ
materially from that expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
These factors include, among other things, the loss or expiration of patents,
marketing exclusivity or trade marks; exchange rate fluctuations; the risk that
R&D will not yield new products that achieve commercial success; the impact of
competition, price controls and price reductions; taxation risks; the risk of
substantial product liability claims; the impact of any failure by third parties
to supply materials or services; the risk of delay to new product launches; the
difficulties of obtaining and maintaining governmental approvals for products;
and the risk of environmental liabilities.


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