ASTRAZENECA - DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN VOTING SHARES IN PUBLIC COMPANIES

COMPANIES ACT 1985 SECTION 198 DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN VOTING SHARES IN PUBLIC COMPANIES ON 27 JULY 2004, WE WERE INFORMED BY WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLP, A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR IN THE US, THAT IT HAS A NOTIFIABLE INTEREST IN THE USD0.25 ORDINARY SHARES OF ASTRAZENECA PLC OF 53,510,141 SHARES WHICH REPRESENTS 3.20 PER CENT OF THE ISSUED ORDINARY CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY. G H R MUSKER COMPANY SECRETARY 28 JULY 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/07/28/20040728BIT00190/wkr0001.pdf