Global Bond Offer

AstraZeneca PLC
20 May 2004



                   ASTRAZENECA MAKES GLOBAL BOND MARKET DEBUT


AstraZeneca PLC today announced a successful global bond market debut issuing a
total of $750 million.  The proceeds of the issue will be used for general
corporate purposes.


The global bond is rated Aa2 (stable) by Moody's and AA+ (stable) by Standard &
Poor's credit rating agencies.  The transaction is a 10-year benchmark SEC
registered global offering and represents AstraZeneca's first offer in the bond
markets.


'This transaction is the first opportunity for bond investors to participate in
AstraZeneca's credit and enables us to enhance our financial flexibility by
diversifying our sources of funding,' said Jonathan Symonds, Chief Financial
Officer of AstraZeneca.


Formed in 1998 by the merger between Sweden's Astra and UK's Zeneca, AstraZeneca
is currently listed on the London, New York and Stockholm stock exchanges.  It
is one of the world's  leading pharmaceutical companies and employs over 60,000
employees worldwide.  Global sales for 2003 were over $18.8 billion.


The joint bookrunners for the transaction were Citigroup; Goldman, Sachs & Co,
and J P Morgan


20 May 2004


Media Enquiries:
Steve Brown, [phone]
Edel McCaffrey, [phone]



Investor Enquiries:
Mina Blair-Robinson, [phone]
Jonathan Hunt, [phone]



This press release contains forward-looking statements in the first and third
paragraphs. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer
you to AstraZeneca's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and
uncertainties. AstraZeneca assumes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This
release does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or
issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any
ordinary shares in, or securities of,  AstraZeneca PLC nor shall it form the
basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefore.



-Ends-


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