Director Shareholding

AstraZeneca PLC
6 February 2001


DEALING BY DIRECTORS
COMPANIES ACT 1985 SECTION 324/329

WE HEREBY INFORM YOU THAT ON 5 FEBRUARY 2001 THE FOLLOWING DIRECTORS OF THE
COMPANY ACQUIRED AN INTEREST IN ASTRAZENECA PLC ORDINARY SHARES OF USD0.25
EACH. THE INTERESTS ARISE AS A RESULT OF AN AUTOMATIC RELEASE OF SHARES OUT OF
RETENTION UNDER THE ASTRA GLOBAL PROFIT SHARING SCHEME. UNDER THE RULES OF THE
SCHEME, SHARES ARE PLACED IN TRUST AND ARE NOT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY THE
PARTICIPANT WHILE THEY REMAIN HELD IN THE TRUST.  THE PARTICIPANT CAN MAKE AN
ANNUAL ELECTION TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES OUT OF TRUST AT WHICH TIME THE
PARTICIPANT BECOMES THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE SHARES.  THE RELEASE DATE IS
USUALLY IN THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY OR THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY EVERY YEAR,
THE ELECTION HAVING BEEN MADE IN AUGUST OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR. 

NAME OF              NUMBER OF      TOTAL        PERCENTAGE OF
DIRECTOR             SHARES         INTEREST     ISSUED SHARES
                  
A B T STAVLING       351             8,929       0.001

C E WILHELMSSON      339            27,462       0.002


THE SHARES ARE REGISTERED IN THE DIRECTORS' VPC ACCOUNTS IN SWEDEN. THE PRICE
OF ORDINARY SHARES OF ASTRAZENECA PLC AT CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON 5 FEBRUARY 2001
WAS 3096P.

G H R MUSKER
COMPANY SECRETARY