Capital Group

AstraZeneca PLC
24 December 2004









Companies Act 1985 Section 198

Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares in Public Companies



On 24 December 2004 we were informed by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., a
registered investment manager in the U.S., that on 22 December 2004 its interest
in the USD0.25 Ordinary Shares of AstraZeneca PLC had decreased to 233,153,407
shares (14.16 per cent of the current issued ordinary capital) from the
previously notified level of 244,411,808 shares (14.78 per cent).  Within the
said holding of 14.16 per cent of the issued ordinary capital of AstraZeneca
PLC, Capital Research and Management Company, an affiliate of The Capital Group
Companies, Inc., has decreased its interest in these shares to 80,171,807 shares
(4.87 per cent).





G H R Musker

Company Secretary

24 December 2004



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