Director Shareholding

AstraZeneca PLC
17 November 2000


DEALING BY DIRECTORS
COMPANIES ACT 1985 SECTION 324/329

WE HEREBY CONFIRM THAT ON 16 NOVEMBER 2000 SIR DAVID BARNES, A DIRECTOR OF
ASTRAZENECA PLC, ACQUIRED AN INTEREST IN THE USD0.25 ORDINARY SHARES OF THE
COMPANY.  THIS INTEREST, WHICH IS REGISTERED IN SIR DAVID'S OWN NAME, ARISES
AS A RESULT OF AN ALLOCATION OF ASTRAZENECA SHARES TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE
COMPANY'S EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION SCHEMES. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE
ACQUISITION SOME OF THE SHARES WERE SOLD BY THE COMPANY ON BEHALF OF SIR DAVID
IN ORDER TO MEET AN IMMEDIATE INCOME TAX LIABILITY ARISING ON THE ALLOCATION
OF THE SHARES.

NAME OF DIRECTOR     NUMBER OF    NUMBER OF       TOTAL        PERCENTAGE OF 
                     SHARES       SHARES SOLD     INTEREST     ISSUED SHARES  
                       ACQUIRED
                            
SIR DAVID BARNES     1,007        224             217,634      0.012
                            

THE PRICE AT WHICH THE SHARES WERE ACQUIRED AND SOLD WAS 3236P.

G H R MUSKER
COMPANY SECRETARY