Directors' Notification of Dealing in Shares

AstraZeneca PLC
18 May 2000

DEALING BY DIRECTORS
COMPANIES ACT 1985 SECTIONS 324/329

WE HEREBY INFORM YOU THAT ON 17 MAY 2000 SIR DAVID BARNES, A
DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY, EXERCISED AN OPTION OVER ASTRAZENECA
PLC USD0.25 ORDINARY SHARES UNDER THE COMPANY'S 1993 SENIOR
STAFF SHARE OPTION SCHEME.  THE DETAILS OF THE EXERCISE ARE AS
FOLLOWS:-

               NUMBER OF                            TOTAL
               SHARES      EXERCISE                 NUMBER OF
               OVER WHICH  PRICE                    SHARES NOW
NAME OF        OPTION      PER       PERIOD WHEN    UNDER
DIRECTOR       EXERCISED   SHARE     EXERCISABLE    OPTION
                                                    
                                                    
SIR DAVID      3,000       630p      24.6.96-       141,031
BARNES                               23.6.03


SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACQUISITION OF 3,000 SHARES FOLLOWING THIS
EXERCISE, WE ALSO INFORM YOU THAT ON 17 MAY 2000, SIR DAVID
BARNES SOLD ASTRAZENECA PLC USD0.25 ORDINARY SHARES AS FOLLOWS:-

               NUMBER OF   PRICE     TOTAL NUMBER   PERCENTAGE
NAME OF        SHARES      PER       OF SHARES NOW  OF ISSUED
DIRECTOR       SOLD        SHARE     HELD           SHARES
                                                    
SIR DAVID      704         2700p     216,851        0.012
BARNES

G H R MUSKER
COMPANY SECRETARY