Re Annual Report, etc.

AstraZeneca PLC
9 March 2001


ASTRAZENECA PLC ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF 2000 ANNUAL REPORT, ANNUAL REVIEW AND
AGM DOCUMENTS AND RETIREMENT OF SIR DAVID BARNES CBE

AstraZeneca PLC announces that today, 9 March 2001, it has published its 2000
Annual Report, Annual Review and Notice of Annual General Meeting.  The AGM is
to be held on 26 April 2001.

With effect from the date of the AGM, Sir David Barnes CBE - currently
Non-Executive Deputy Chairman - will retire from the Board of Directors of the
Company after more than 14 years' service as a Director of Imperial Chemical
Industries PLC, Zeneca Group PLC and AstraZeneca PLC.


G H R Musker
Company Secretary