Director/PDMR Shareholding

AstraZeneca PLC
28 March 2006

Dealing by Directors
Companies Act 1985 Sections 324/329

We hereby inform you that on 24 March 2006 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   Exercise   Period when      Total number 
                    over which option  price per  exercisable      of shares 
Name of Director    is granted         share                       under option

D R Brennan         87,731             2975p      24.3.09-23.3.16  See below

J R Symonds         50,862             2975p      24.3.09-23.3.16  363,420

J S Patterson       41,552             2975p      24.3.09-23.3.16  238,187

The options will become exercisable on 24 March 2009 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.

David R Brennan, a Director of the Company, has previously received grants of
options over the Company's American Depositary Shares (ADSs).  One ADS equals
one Ordinary Share.  Following the grant of options referred to above, David
Brennan has options over 87,731 Ordinary Shares and 440,643 ADSs.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
28 March 2006

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