Directors' Notification of Dealing in Shares

AstraZeneca PLC
17 May 2000


DEALING BY DIRECTORS
COMPANIES ACT 1985 SECTION 324/329

WE HEREBY CONFIRM THAT ON 16 MAY 2000 THE FOLLOWING DIRECTORS OF ASTRAZENECA
PLC ACQUIRED AN INTEREST IN THE USD0.25 ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY.  THESE
INTERESTS, WHICH ARE REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ZENECA SHARE TRUST LIMITED,
ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE APPOINTMENT OF SHARES TO SUCH DIRECTORS UNDER THE
COMPANY'S EXECUTIVE SHARE RETENTION SCHEME.

NAME OF DIRECTOR       NUMBER OF       TOTAL            PERCENTAGE OF   
                       SHARES          INTEREST         ISSUED SHARES         
                                               
SIR DAVID BARNES        4,566          214,555              0.012
T F W McKILLOP         12,046           72,553              0.004
H L MOGREN              9,282           65,022              0.004
M P PRAGNELL            1,822           11,216              0.001
A B T STAVLING          7,624            8,161              0.001
J R SYMONDS             7,062           13,314              0.001
C E WILHELMSSON         8,316           26,665              0.002


THE PRICE OF ORDINARY SHARES OF ASTRAZENECA PLC AT CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON 16 MAY
2000 WAS 2874P.

G H R MUSKER
COMPANY SECRETARY
17 MAY 2000