Director Shareholding

AstraZeneca PLC
31 March 2005

Dealing by Directors

Companies Act 1985 Sections 324/329



We hereby inform you that the interest of David R. Brennan, a Director of the
Company, in the American Depositary Shares (ADSs) of AstraZeneca PLC has changed
as detailed below.  One ADS equals one Ordinary Share.



On 24 March 2005, Mr Brennan was granted a target award of 27,877 ADSs under the
terms of the AstraZeneca US Executive Performance Share Plan (established in
2000) at an award price of US$40.35 per ADS.  The vesting date for this target
award is 24 March 2008.  The number of ADSs to which Mr Brennan may become
unconditionally entitled on the vesting date will be determined by reference to
AstraZeneca's Total Shareholder Return compared to that of other companies in
the Pharmaceutical Human Resources Association (PHRA) over the three year
performance period.



On 28 March 2005, Mr Brennan became unconditionally entitled to a final award of
18,925 ADSs on the partial vesting of an original target award of 25,233 ADSs,
which were awarded to him in March 2002 under the terms of the AstraZeneca US
Executive Performance Share Plan.  Mr Brennan has ceased to have an interest in
the 6,308 ADSs of the original target award that did not vest.  The closing
price of AstraZeneca ADSs on 28 March 2005 was US$39.62.



On 28 March 2005, Mr Brennan purchased, on his own account, a notional interest
in a further 11,358 ADSs to be held in the AstraZeneca US Executive Deferral
Plan, a unitised stock fund established in 2000, in which Mr Brennan, in common
with other participating US executives, is deemed to have a notional interest in
ADSs calculated by reference to the fund value and the closing price of
AstraZeneca ADSs.  Following this purchase, Mr Brennan has a notional interest
in 57,511 ADSs in the AstraZeneca US Executive Deferral Plan as at 28 March 2005
based on that day's closing price of US$39.62.



In total, Mr Brennan now has an interest in 172,364 AstraZeneca ADSs, including
the notional interest in ADSs in the AstraZeneca US Executive Deferral Plan
referred to above.





G H R Musker

Company Secretary

31 March 2005




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