Director Shareholding

AstraZeneca PLC
29 March 2005


Dealing by Directors

Companies Act 1985 Sections 324/329


We hereby inform you that on 24 March 2005 the following Directors of
AstraZeneca PLC were granted options under the AstraZeneca Share Option Plan
over the Company's USD0.25 Ordinary Shares.


                    Number of shares over
                    which option is       Exercise price per  Period when          Total number of shares
Name of Director    granted               share               exercisable          under option


Sir Tom McKillop    131,707               2132p               24.3.08-23.3.15      679,058

J R Symonds         60,196                2132p               24.3.08-23.3.15      313,051

J S Patterson       52,908                2132p               24.3.08-23.3.15      197,082


The options will become exercisable on 24 March 2008 subject to certain
performance conditions.  The conditions, which will not be subject to any
retesting, are that the earnings per share of the Company must increase by the
increase in the UK Retail Prices Index plus 5% per annum on average over three
years, and that no significant unforeseen event has taken place which, in the
reasonable opinion of the Remuneration Committee, has resulted in major
reputational damage to AstraZeneca, and the circumstances of which are
exceptional enough to justify the option not vesting and becoming exercisable.
Failure to satisfy either or both of these conditions will result in the lapse
of the option in its entirety.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
29 March 2005


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