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<P align="center">
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on May 6, 2005 </FONT></B></P>

<div align="right"><B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Registration No. 333-_____
  </FONT></B>
</div>
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  <div align="center"><FONT size=5 face="serif">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</FONT>
  </div>

  <div align="center"><FONT face="serif">Washington, D.C. 20549</FONT><BR>
    <br>
    <hr align=center width=15% size=1 noshade color="#000000">
  </div>

  <div align="center"><FONT size=5 face="serif">FORM S-8</FONT><br>
      <FONT size=2 face="serif">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</FONT><BR>
      <FONT size=2 face="serif">UNDER</FONT><BR>
      <FONT size=2 face="serif">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</FONT><br>
  </div>
  <hr align=center width=15% size=1 noshade color="#000000">

  <P align="center">    <BR>
  </P>
  <P align="center">
<B><FONT size=5 face="serif">ASTRAZENECA PLC</FONT></B><BR>
<FONT size=1 face="serif">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</FONT><BR>
</P>
<TABLE width="85%" border=0 align="center" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=1>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=52% align=center>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">ENGLAND</FONT></B>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=48% align=center>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">NONE</FONT></B>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=52% align=center>
<FONT size=1 face="serif">(State or Other Jurisdiction of</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=48% align=center>
<FONT size=1 face="serif">(I.R.S. Employer</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=52% align=center>
<FONT size=1 face="serif">Incorporation or Organization)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=48% align=center>
<FONT size=1 face="serif">Identification Number)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<div align="center"><BR>
  <B><FONT size=2 face="serif">15 Stanhope Gate</FONT></B><BR>
    <B><FONT size=2 face="serif">London W1K 1LN</FONT></B><BR>
    <B><FONT size=2 face="serif">ENGLAND<br>
    </FONT><FONT size=1 face="serif">(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone
  Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant&#146;s Principal Executive Offices)</FONT><FONT size=2 face="serif">    </FONT></B>
    <hr align=center width=15% size=1 noshade color="#000000">
</div>
<P align="center">
<B><FONT face="serif">ASTRAZENECA PLC EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN</FONT></B><BR>
<FONT size=1 face="serif">(Full title of the plan)</FONT></P>
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<P align="center"><B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Ann Booth-Barbarin, Esq.</FONT></B><BR>
  <B><FONT face="serif">AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP</FONT></B><BR>
  <B><FONT size=2 face="serif">1800 Concord Pike, P.O. Box 15437</FONT></B><BR>
  <B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Wilmington, Delaware 19850-5437</FONT></B><BR>
  <B><FONT size=2 face="serif">(302) 886-3000</FONT></B><BR>
  <FONT size=1 face="serif">(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</FONT></P>
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<P align="center"> <B><FONT size=2 face="serif">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</FONT></B>&nbsp; </P>
<TABLE border=1 width=100% cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=25% align=center>
<B><FONT size=1 face="serif">Title Of Each Class<br>
Of Securities To Be Registered</FONT></B></TD>
	<TD width=25% align=center>
<B><FONT size=1 face="serif">Amount To Be Registered</FONT></B>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=17% align=center>
<B><FONT size=1 face="serif">Proposed Maximum<br>
Offering Price Per Unit</FONT></B>&nbsp;	</TD>
	<TD width=17% align=center>
<B><FONT size=1 face="serif">Proposed Maximum<br>
Aggregate Offering Price</FONT></B></TD>
	<TD width=16% align=center>
<B><FONT size=1 face="serif">Amount Of<br>
Registration Fee</FONT></B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=25% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Deferred Compensation Obligations(1)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=25% align=center>
 <FONT size=2 face="serif">$100,000,000</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=17% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">100%(2)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=17% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">100%</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=16% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">&#36;11,770</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0>
<TR>
	<TD nowrap valign=top>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">(1)</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width=100%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">The Deferred Compensation Obligations are unsecured obligations of AstraZeneca PLC to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the AstraZeneca PLC Executive Deferred Compensation
Plan.</FONT>	</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan=2>&nbsp;</TD></TR><TR>
	<TD nowrap valign=top>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">(2)</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width=100%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee.</FONT>	</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan=2>&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<P align="center">
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">PART II</FONT></B><BR>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</FONT></B><BR>
</P>
<P>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</FONT></B></P>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 of the registrant, filed pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#147;Exchange
 Act&#148;).</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) All reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since December 31, 2004, the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company contained
in the Form 20-F Annual Report referred to in (a), above.</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(c) The description of the Company&#146;s Ordinary Shares of &#36;0.25 each, and American Depositary Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares, each American Depositary Share representing
one Ordinary Share of the Company from Item 1 of the Form 8A/A registration statement of the Company filed under the Exchange Act (File No. 1-11960) (incorporated herein by reference).</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company, and all documents subsequently filed by the Plan, pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.</FONT></P>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Item 4. Description of Securities.</FONT></B><BR>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">The securities being registered under this registration statement consist of obligations (the &#147;Obligations&#148;) of the Company to pay compensation deferred by eligible employees under
the terms of the AstraZeneca PLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, an eligible employee may enter into an agreement with the Company providing for the deferral of the payment of a
specified portion or amount of compensation payable by the Company to the eligible employee. The amount ultimately payable to the eligible employee in respect of such a deferral election will be adjusted to reflect the investment experience of one
or more of the benchmarks designated under the Plan and selected by the eligible employee. An employee&#146;s rights to and under the Obligations cannot be assigned, alienated, sold, garnished, transferred, pledged or encumbered, except by way of
transfer to the employee&#146;s beneficiaries or estate upon the employee&#146;s death, pursuant to the terms of the Plan.</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">The Obligations are unsecured general obligations of the Company which rank </FONT><I><FONT size=2 face="serif">pari passu</FONT></I><FONT size=2 face="serif"> with other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company that may be outstanding from time to time. No sinking fund has or will be established with respect to the Obligations. The Obligations are not subject to redemption, in whole or in part, prior to the
payment dates applicable under the Plan and the Obligations are not convertible into another security of the Company. The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time.</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">Except as stated above, the Obligations do not enjoy the benefit of any affirmative or negative pledges or covenants by the Company. Although the Company may at its discretion establish a
grantor trust to fund the payment of the Obligations, the Company retains discretion to determine the amount and timing of its contributions to any such trust and the assets of the trust will be subject to the claims of the Company&#146;s creditors.
The trustee of any such trust will be required to administer the trust in accordance with its terms, but the trustee&#146;s obligations and authority will be limited to the amounts which may be held in the trust from time to time and the trustee
will be subject to the direction of the Company with respect to the payment Obligations. Accordingly, the trustee will not have any independent obligation or authority to act on behalf of any employee and each employee will be responsible for acting
on his or her own behalf with respect to, among other things, the giving of notices, responding to requests for consents, waivers or amendments, enforcing covenants and taking action upon default.</FONT></P>

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<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</FONT></B><BR>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">Ann Booth-Barbarin, Esq. has given her legal opinion about certain legal matters affecting the Deferred Compensation Obligations registered under this Registration Statement. Ms. Booth-Barbarin
does not own Deferred Compensation Obligations under the AstraZeneca PLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.</FONT></P>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</FONT></B><BR>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Article 134 of the Articles of Association of the Company provides:</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts but without prejudice to any indemnity to which a director may otherwise be entitled, every director or other officer of the Company shall
be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding
or admission of any material breach of duty on his part) or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application in which relief is granted to him by the court from liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in
relation to the affairs of the Company.&#148;</FONT></P>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Article 88.2 of the Articles of Association of the Company provides:</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 134, the board may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any person who is or
was:</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) a director, officer, employee or auditor of the Company, or any body which is or was the holding company or subsidiary undertaking of the Company, or in which the Company or such holding
company or subsidiary undertaking has or had any interest (whether direct or indirect) or with which the Company or such holding company or subsidiary undertaking is or was in any way allied or associated; or</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) a trustee of any pension fund in which employees of the Company or any other body referred to in Article 88.2(a) is or has been interested,</FONT></P>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">including without limitation insurance against any liability incurred by such person in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution or discharge of his duties or in the exercise or purported exercise
of his powers or otherwise in relation to his duties, powers, or offices in relation to the relevant body or fund.&#148;</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">The following sections are excerpted from the United Kingdom Statute, Companies Act 1985, as amended:</FONT></P>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#147;Part IX, &sect; 309A: Provisions protecting directors from liability. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(1) This section applies in relation to any liability attaching to a director of a company in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him in relation to
the company. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(2) Any provision which purports to exempt (to any extent) a director of a company from any liability within subsection (1) is void. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(3) Any provision by which a company directly or indirectly provides (to any extent) an indemnity for a director of &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) the company, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) an associated company,</FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P><FONT size=2 face="serif">against any liability within subsection (1) is void</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">This is subject to subsections (4) and (5). </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to a qualifying third party indemnity provision (see section 309B(1)). </FONT></P>
<P align="center">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif"><br>
 2
</FONT></P>
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<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(5) Subsection (3) does not prevent a company from
    purchasing and maintaining for a director of &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) the company, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) an associated company, </FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">insurance against any liability within subsection (1).</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(6) In this section &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <blockquote>
    <p>
      <FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;associated company&#148;, in relation to a company (&#147;C&#148;), means a company which is C&#146;s subsidiary, or C&#146;s holding company or a subsidiary of C&#146;s holding company; </FONT></p>
    <p>
      <FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;provision&#148; means a provision of any nature, whether or not it is contained in a company&#146;s articles or in any contract with a company.&#148; </FONT></p>
  </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;Part IX, &sect; 309B: Qualifying third party indemnity provisions. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(1) For the purposes of section 309A(4) a provision is a qualifying third party indemnity provision if it is a provision such as is mentioned in section 309A(3) in relation to which conditions
A to C below are satisfied. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(2) Condition A is that the provision does not provide any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) to the company, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) to any associated company.</FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(3) Condition B is that the provision does not provide any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director to pay &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) a fine imposed in criminal proceedings, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of noncompliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature (however arising). </FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(4) Condition C is that the provision does not provide any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) in defending any criminal proceedings in which he is convicted, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) in defending any civil proceedings brought by the company, or an associated company, in which judgment is given against him, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(c) in connection with any application under any of the following provisions in which the court refuses to grant him relief, namely &#150;</FONT></p>
  <blockquote>
    <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(i) section 144(3) or (4) (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee), or </FONT></p>
    <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(ii) section 727 (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct). </FONT></p>
  </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(5) In paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (4) the reference to any such conviction, judgment or refusal of relief is a reference to one that has become final. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) a conviction, judgment or refusal of relief becomes final &#150;</FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) if not appealed against, at the end of the period for bringing an appeal, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) if appealed
      against, at the time when the appeal (or any further appeal) is disposed
      of.</FONT></p>
</blockquote>
  <p align="center"><font size="2">3<br>
  </font></p>
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<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(7) An appeal is disposed of &#150; </FONT></p>
<blockquote>
  <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) if it
              is determined and the period for bringing any further appeal has
      ended, or</FONT></p>
  <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) if it is abandoned or otherwise ceases to have
      effect. </FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(8) In this section &#147;associated company&#148; and &#147;provision&#148; have the same meaning as in section 309A.&#148; </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;Part IX, &sect;
309C: Disclosure of qualifying third party indemnity provisions. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(1) Subsections (2) and (3) impose disclosure requirements in relation to a directors&#146; report under section 234 in respect of a financial year. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(2) If &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) at the time when the report is approved under section 234A, any qualifying third party indemnity provision (whether made by the company or otherwise) is in force for the benefit of one or
    more directors of the company, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) at any time during the financial year, any such provision was in force for the benefit of one or more persons who were then directors of the company,</FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">the report must state that any such provision is or (as the case may be) was so in force. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(3) If the company has made a qualifying third party indemnity provision and &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) at the time when the report is approved under section 234A, any qualifying third party indemnity provision made by the company is in force for the benefit of one or more directors of an
    associated company, or </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) at any time during the financial year, any such provision was in force for the benefit of one or more persons who were then directors of an associated company, </FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">the report must state that any such provision is or (as the case may be) was so in force. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(4) Subsection (5) applies where a company has made a qualifying third party indemnity provision for the benefit of a director of the company or of an associated company. </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(5) Section 318 shall apply to &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a) the company, and </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) if the director is a director of an associated company, the associated company, </FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">as if a copy of the provision, or (if it is not in writing) a memorandum setting out its terms, were included in the list of documents in section 318(1). </FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(6) In this section &#150; </FONT></P>
<blockquote>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;associated company&#148; and &#147;provision&#148; have the same meaning as in section 309A; and </FONT></p>
  <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;qualifying third party indemnity provision&#148; has the meaning given by section 309B(1).&#148; </FONT></p>
</blockquote>
<P align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">&#147;Part XXV, &sect; 727: Power
of court to grant relief in certain cases.</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(1) If in any proceedings
    for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against an officer
    of a company or a person employed by a company as auditor (whether he is
    or is not an officer of the company) it appears to the court hearing the
    case that that officer or person is or may be liable in respect of the negligence,
    default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly
    and reasonably, and that having regard to all </FONT></P>
<P align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">4</font></P>
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<P>
  <FONT size=2 face="serif">the circumstances of the case (including those connected with his appointment) he ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, that court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from his
liability on such terms as it thinks fit.</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(2) If any such officer or person as above-mentioned has reason to apprehend that any claim will or might be made against him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of
trust, he may apply to the court for relief; and the court on the application has the same power to relieve him under this section as it would have had if it had been a court before which proceedings against that person for negligence, default,
breach of duty or breach of trust had been brought.</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(3) Where a case to which subsection (1) applies is being tried by a judge with a jury, the judge, after hearing the evidence, may, if he is satisfied that the defendant or defender ought in
pursuance of that subsection to be relieved either in whole or in part from the liability sought to be enforced against him, withdraw the case in whole or in part from the jury and forthwith direct judgment to be entered for the defendant or
defender on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the judge may think proper.&#148;</FONT></P>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.<br>
</FONT></B><BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">Not applicable.</FONT><br>
<BR>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Item 8. Exhibits.</FONT></B><br>
<BR>
<TABLE width="95%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=8% align=left><B><FONT size=1 face="serif">Exhibit<br>
<u>Number</u></FONT><u></U></B>
	</TD>
	<TD width=92% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=8% align=left valign="top">
<FONT size=2 face="serif">4(a)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=92% align=left><FONT size=2 face="serif">Form of Deposit
	    Agreement dated as of June 1, 1993, among the Company, Morgan</FONT>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as depositary,
and the holders from time to time of </FONT><FONT size=2 face="serif">American
Depositary Receipts (&#147;ADRs&#148;), including
the form of ADR attached hereto as</FONT>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Exhibit A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4
(as incorporated therein by reference to </FONT>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">1933 Act File No. 33-61406) to the Form 8-A/A registration
statement of the Company filed</FONT>&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">under the
Exchange Act; see File No. 1-11960.)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD width="8%">&nbsp;

	</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=8% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">4(b)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=92% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Highlights</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
  <TD width="8%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width=92%>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD width="8%" valign=top nowrap>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">5</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width=92%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Opinion re Legality</FONT>	</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
	<TD width="8%" valign=top nowrap>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">23</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width=92%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm, KPMG Audit Plc</FONT>	</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
	<TD width="8%" valign=top nowrap>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">24</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width=92%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereof)</FONT>	</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan=2>&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">Item 9. Undertakings.</FONT></B><BR>
<TABLE width="95%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
<TR>
  <TD width="8%" valign=top>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width=5%>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width=5%>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width=67%>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
  <TD width="8%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">(a)</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD colspan=3>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</FONT>	</TD>
  </TR>
<TR>
  <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="67%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR><TR>
<TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>	<TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">(1)</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD colspan=2>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</FONT>	</TD>
    </TR>
<TR>
  <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="67%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR><TR>
<TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD><TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>	<TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">(i)</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width=67%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#147;1933 Act&#148;);</FONT>	</TD>
    </TR>
<TR><TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="67%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
  <TD valign=top nowrap> &nbsp; &nbsp; </TD>
  <TD valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign=top nowrap><FONT size=2 face="serif">(ii)</FONT>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD> <FONT size=2 face="serif">To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
      arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the
      most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
      the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
      in the registration statement;</FONT> </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<div align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">5</font><BR>

  <br>
  <br>
</div>
<hr size=3 color=GRAY noshade>
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<!-- MARKER PAGE -->
<br>
<br>

<TABLE border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0>
<TR><TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="67%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
	<TD width="8%" valign=top nowrap> &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap><FONT size=2 face="serif">(iii)</FONT>&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width=67%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;</FONT>	</TD>
</TR></TABLE>
<br>
<TABLE border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0>
<TR>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD colspan="2" valign=top> <I><FONT size=2 face="serif">provided, however</FONT></I><FONT size=2 face="serif">,
      that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information
      required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs
      is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section
      13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the
    registration statement.</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
<TR>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="85%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">(2)</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width=85%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial </FONT><I><FONT size=2 face="serif">bona fide </FONT></I><FONT size=2 face="serif">offering thereof.</FONT>	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="85%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%" valign=top nowrap>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">(3)</FONT>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 	</TD>
	<TD width=85%>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.</FONT>	</TD>
</TR></TABLE>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial </FONT><I><FONT size=2 face="serif">bona fide</FONT></I><FONT size=2 face="serif"> offering
thereof.</FONT></P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">(c) Insofar as indemnification
for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,
 or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
 indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted  by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.</FONT></P>
<div align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">6</font><BR>

  <br>
  <br>
</div>
<hr size=3 color=GRAY noshade>
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<br>
<br>

<P align="center">
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">SIGNATURES</FONT></B><BR>
</P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">The Registrant. Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant, AstraZeneca
PLC, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized representative,
in the City of Wilmington, State of Delaware, on this 6th day of May,
 2005.</FONT></P>
<div align="right">
  <TABLE width="45%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD colspan="2" align=left>
    <FONT size=2 face="serif">ASTRAZENECA PLC</FONT>&nbsp;
      </TD>
    </TR>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD colspan="2" align=left>
    <FONT size=2 face="serif">(Registrant)</FONT>&nbsp;
      </TD>
    </TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%" align="left">&nbsp;

	</TD>
      <TD width="95%" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    </TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%" align="left">&nbsp;

	</TD>
      <TD width="95%" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    </TR>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width=5% align=left>
    <FONT size=2 face="serif">By:</FONT>&nbsp;
      </TD>
      <TD width=95% align=left><font size=2 face="serif">/s/ Ann Booth-Barbarin</font></TD>
    </TR>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left><hr align="left" width=65% size=1 noshade color="#000000">    </TD>
    </TR>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width=5% align=left>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width=95% align=left><font size=2 face="serif">Ann Booth-Barbarin, Esq.</font>&nbsp; </TD>
    </TR>
  </TABLE>
  <BR>
</div>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">Pursuant to the requirements
of the 1933 Act, the trustees (or other persons who administer the AstraZeneca
PLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan) have duly caused this Registration
 Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
in the City of Wilmington, State of Delaware, on this 6 day of May,
2005.</FONT></P>
<div align="right">
  <TABLE width="45%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD colspan="2" align=left>
    <FONT size=2 face="serif">ASTRAZENECA PLC</FONT><br>
    <FONT size=2 face="serif">EXECUTIVE
    DEFERRED COMPENSATION<br>
    </FONT><FONT size=2 face="serif">PLAN</FONT>&nbsp;
      </TD>
    </TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;

	</TD>
      <TD width="95%">&nbsp;</TD>
    </TR>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width=5% align=left>
    <FONT size=2 face="serif">By:</FONT>&nbsp;
      </TD>
      <TD width=95% align=left><font size=2 face="serif">/s/ George Murphy</font></TD>
    </TR>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width=5% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width=95% align=left><hr align="left" width=65% size=1 noshade color="#000000">      </TD>
    </TR>
    <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width=5% align=left>
      </TD>
      <TD width=95% align=left><font size=2 face="serif">George Murphy</font><br>
        <font size=2 face="serif">Executive Director
        of Compensation<br>
        and Benefits</font>&nbsp;<br>
      <font size=2 face="serif">Plan Administrator </font></TD>
    </TR>
  </TABLE>
  <BR>
</div>
<P align="center">
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">POWER OF ATTORNEY</FONT></B><BR>
</P>
<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below, constitutes and appoints Graeme Harold Rankine Musker, Glenn M. Engelmann and Ann Booth-Barbarin and each of
them, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any all acts and things and execute, in the name of the undersigned, any and all instruments which said attorneys-in-fact and agents
may deem necessary or advisable in order to enable AstraZeneca PLC to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;1933 Act&#148;), and any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) in
respect thereof, in connection with the filing with the Commission of this Registration Statement under the 1933 Act, including specifically but without limitation, power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned to such Registration
Statement, and any amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, to sign any and all applications,
registration statements, notices or other documents necessary or advisable to comply with applicable state securities laws, and to file the same, together with other documents in connection therewith with the appropriate state securities
authorities, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</FONT></P>
<div align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">7</font><BR>

  <br>
  <br>
</div>
<hr size=3 color=GRAY noshade>
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<!-- MARKER PAGE -->
<br>
<br>

<P>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="serif">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the following capacities on the date
indicated.</FONT></P>
<TABLE width="95%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<B><U><FONT size=1 face="serif">Signature</FONT></U></B></TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<B><U><FONT size=1 face="serif">Title</FONT></U></B></TD>
	<TD width=20% align=center>
<B><U><FONT size=1 face="serif">Date</FONT></U></B></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Louis Schweitzer</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Chairman</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">&nbsp; </FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Louis Schweitzer</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ H&aring;kan Mogren</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Deputy Chairman</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">H&aring;kan Mogren</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Sir Tom McKillop</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Executive Director &#150; Chief Executive</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Sir Tom McKillop</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Executive Director &#150; Chief Financial</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Jonathan Symonds</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Officer</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;	</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Jonathan Symonds</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Sir Peter Bonfield</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Senior Non-Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Sir Peter Bonfield</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ John Patterson</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">John Patterson</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ David R Brennan</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">David R Brennan</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Tim Watts</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Group Financial Controller</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Tim Watts</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Jane Henney</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Dame Bridget Ogilvie</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Dame Bridget Ogilvie</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Marcus Wallenberg</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Marcus Wallenberg</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">John Buchanan</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Erna M&ouml;ller</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><FONT size=2 face="serif">April 25,</FONT> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD>
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Erna M&ouml;ller</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<div align="center"><BR>
    <font size="2" face="serif">8</font><BR>

  <br>
  <br>
</div>
<hr size=3 color=GRAY noshade>
<!-- *************************************************************************** -->
<!-- MARKER PAGE -->
<br>
<br>

<TABLE width="95%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<B><U><FONT size=1 face="serif">Signature</FONT></U></B></TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<B><U><FONT size=1 face="serif">Title</FONT></U></B></TD>
	<TD width=20% align=center>
<B><U><FONT size=1 face="serif">Date</FONT></U></B></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Michele Hooper</FONT>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD width="28%" align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD width="51%">
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Michele Hooper</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=4 align="center">&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Joe Jimenez</FONT>

	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Non-Executive Director</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left><font size="2">May 6<FONT face="serif">,</FONT></font> <FONT size=2 face="serif">2005</FONT></TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD width="28%" align="center">
<HR noshade size=1>	</TD>
	<TD width="51%">
	</TD>
	<TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
	<TD width="2%">
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=28% align=center>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Joe Jimenez</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=51% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=20% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
	<TD width=2% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<P align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">9</font><BR>
</P>

<br>
<br>
<hr size=3 color=GRAY noshade>
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<br>
<br>

<TABLE border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=99% align=left>
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE</FONT></B>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD><FONT size=2 face="serif">/s/ Glenn M. Engelmann</FONT>
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD><HR noshade size=1>

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=99% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Glenn M. Engelmann, as the duly<br>
</FONT><FONT size=2 face="serif">authorized representative of</FONT>&nbsp;<br>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">AstraZeneca PLC in the United States</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Date:&nbsp;May 6</FONT><FONT size=2 face="serif">,
2005</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
  </TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<P align="center">
<font size="2" face="serif">10</font><BR>
</P>

<br>
<br>
<hr size=3 color=GRAY noshade>
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<br>
<br>

<P align="center">
<B><FONT size=2 face="serif">EXHIBIT INDEX</FONT></B></P>
<TABLE width="95%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=9% align=left>
<B><U><FONT size=1 face="serif">Exhibit</FONT></U></B>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=91% align=left>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=9% align=left valign="top">
<FONT size=2 face="serif">4(a)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=91% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Form of Deposit Agreement dated as of June 1, 1993,
among the Company, Morgan Guaranty Trust</FONT>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Company of New York, as depositary, and the holders
from time to time of American Depositary </FONT>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Receipts (&#147;ADRs&#148;), including the form of
ADR attached hereto as Exhibit A. (Incorporated by </FONT>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">reference to Exhibit 2.4 (as incorporated therein by
reference to 1933 Act File No. 33-61406) to the </FONT>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Form 8-A/A registration statement of the Company filed
under the Exchange Act; see File No. 1-</FONT><FONT size=2 face="serif">11960.)</FONT>&nbsp;	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=2>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=9% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">4(b)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=91% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Highlights</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=2>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=9% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">5</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=91% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Opinion re Legality</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=2>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=9% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">23</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=91% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm, KPMG Audit Plc</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
	<TD colspan=2>&nbsp;

	</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
	<TD width=9% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">24</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
	<TD width=91% align=left>
<FONT size=2 face="serif">Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereof)</FONT>&nbsp;
	</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<div align="center"><BR>
    <font size="2" face="serif">11</font><BR>
</div>
<br>
<br>
<hr size=3 color=GRAY noshade>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "may0305_s8.htm", "secsgml_size_bytes": 60058}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ASTRAZENECA PLC", "cik": "0000901832", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "000000000", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-124689", "film-number": "05808013"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ZENECA GROUP PLC", "street2": "15 STANHOPE GATE - LEGAL DEPARTMENT", "city": "LONDON W1Y 6LN ENGLA", "state": "X0", "zip": "00000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ZENECA GROUP PLC", "street2": "15 STANHOPE GATE - LEGAL DEPARTMENT", "city": "LONDON W1Y 6LN ENGLA", "state": "X0", "zip": "00000"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "ZENECA GROUP PLC", "date-changed": "19930422"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on May 6, 2005
Registration No. 333-_____
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ASTRAZENECA PLC
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
ENGLAND
NONE
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)
Identification Number)
15 Stanhope Gate
London W1K 1LN
ENGLAND
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone
  Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
ASTRAZENECA PLC EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
Ann Booth-Barbarin, Esq.
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
1800 Concord Pike, P.O. Box 15437
Wilmington, Delaware 19850-5437
(302) 886-3000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title Of Each Class
Of Securities To Be Registered
Amount To Be Registered
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per Unit
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price
Amount Of
Registration Fee
Deferred Compensation Obligations(1)
$100,000,000
100%(2)
100%
$11,770
(1)
The Deferred Compensation Obligations are unsecured obligations of AstraZeneca PLC to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the AstraZeneca PLC Executive Deferred Compensation
Plan.
(2)
Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 of the registrant, filed pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange
 Act").
(b) All reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since December 31, 2004, the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company contained
in the Form 20-F Annual Report referred to in (a), above.
(c) The description of the Company's Ordinary Shares of $0.25 each, and American Depositary Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares, each American Depositary Share representing
one Ordinary Share of the Company from Item 1 of the Form 8A/A registration statement of the Company filed under the Exchange Act (File No. 1-11960) (incorporated herein by reference).
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company, and all documents subsequently filed by the Plan, pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
The securities being registered under this registration statement consist of obligations (the "Obligations") of the Company to pay compensation deferred by eligible employees under
the terms of the AstraZeneca PLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, an eligible employee may enter into an agreement with the Company providing for the deferral of the payment of a
specified portion or amount of compensation payable by the Company to the eligible employee. The amount ultimately payable to the eligible employee in respect of such a deferral election will be adjusted to reflect the investment experience of one
or more of the benchmarks designated under the Plan and selected by the eligible employee. An employee's rights to and under the Obligations cannot be assigned, alienated, sold, garnished, transferred, pledged or encumbered, except by way of
transfer to the employee's beneficiaries or estate upon the employee's death, pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
The Obligations are unsecured general obligations of the Company which rank
pari passu
with other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company that may be outstanding from time to time. No sinking fund has or will be established with respect to the Obligations. The Obligations are not subject to redemption, in whole or in part, prior to the
payment dates applicable under the Plan and the Obligations are not convertible into another security of the Company. The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time.
Except as stated above, the Obligations do not enjoy the benefit of any affirmative or negative pledges or covenants by the Company. Although the Company may at its discretion establish a
grantor trust to fund the payment of the Obligations, the Company retains discretion to determine the amount and timing of its contributions to any such trust and the assets of the trust will be subject to the claims of the Company's creditors.
The trustee of any such trust will be required to administer the trust in accordance with its terms, but the trustee's obligations and authority will be limited to the amounts which may be held in the trust from time to time and the trustee
will be subject to the direction of the Company with respect to the payment Obligations. Accordingly, the trustee will not have any independent obligation or authority to act on behalf of any employee and each employee will be responsible for acting
on his or her own behalf with respect to, among other things, the giving of notices, responding to requests for consents, waivers or amendments, enforcing covenants and taking action upon default.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Ann Booth-Barbarin, Esq. has given her legal opinion about certain legal matters affecting the Deferred Compensation Obligations registered under this Registration Statement. Ms. Booth-Barbarin
does not own Deferred Compensation Obligations under the AstraZeneca PLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article 134 of the Articles of Association of the Company provides:
"Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts but without prejudice to any indemnity to which a director may otherwise be entitled, every director or other officer of the Company shall
be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding
or admission of any material breach of duty on his part) or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application in which relief is granted to him by the court from liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in
relation to the affairs of the Company."
Article 88.2 of the Articles of Association of the Company provides:
"Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 134, the board may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any person who is or
was:
(a) a director, officer, employee or auditor of the Company, or any body which is or was the holding company or subsidiary undertaking of the Company, or in which the Company or such holding
company or subsidiary undertaking has or had any interest (whether direct or indirect) or with which the Company or such holding company or subsidiary undertaking is or was in any way allied or associated; or
(b) a trustee of any pension fund in which employees of the Company or any other body referred to in Article 88.2(a) is or has been interested,
including without limitation insurance against any liability incurred by such person in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution or discharge of his duties or in the exercise or purported exercise
of his powers or otherwise in relation to his duties, powers, or offices in relation to the relevant body or fund."
The following sections are excerpted from the United Kingdom Statute, Companies Act 1985, as amended:
"Part IX, § 309A: Provisions protecting directors from liability.
(1) This section applies in relation to any liability attaching to a director of a company in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him in relation to
the company.
(2) Any provision which purports to exempt (to any extent) a director of a company from any liability within subsection (1) is void.
(3) Any provision by which a company directly or indirectly provides (to any extent) an indemnity for a director of –
(a) the company, or
(b) an associated company,
against any liability within subsection (1) is void
This is subject to subsections (4) and (5).
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to a qualifying third party indemnity provision (see section 309B(1)).
2
(5) Subsection (3) does not prevent a company from
    purchasing and maintaining for a director of –
(a) the company, or
(b) an associated company,
insurance against any liability within subsection (1).
(6) In this section –
"associated company", in relation to a company ("C"), means a company which is C's subsidiary, or C's holding company or a subsidiary of C's holding company;
"provision" means a provision of any nature, whether or not it is contained in a company's articles or in any contract with a company."
"Part IX, § 309B: Qualifying third party indemnity provisions.
(1) For the purposes of section 309A(4) a provision is a qualifying third party indemnity provision if it is a provision such as is mentioned in section 309A(3) in relation to which conditions
A to C below are satisfied.
(2) Condition A is that the provision does not provide any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director –
(a) to the company, or
(b) to any associated company.
(3) Condition B is that the provision does not provide any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director to pay –
(a) a fine imposed in criminal proceedings, or
(b) a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of noncompliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature (however arising).
(4) Condition C is that the provision does not provide any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director –
(a) in defending any criminal proceedings in which he is convicted, or
(b) in defending any civil proceedings brought by the company, or an associated company, in which judgment is given against him, or
(c) in connection with any application under any of the following provisions in which the court refuses to grant him relief, namely –
(i) section 144(3) or (4) (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee), or
(ii) section 727 (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct).
(5) In paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (4) the reference to any such conviction, judgment or refusal of relief is a reference to one that has become final.
(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) a conviction, judgment or refusal of relief becomes final –
(a) if not appealed against, at the end of the period for bringing an appeal, or
(b) if appealed
      against, at the time when the appeal (or any further appeal) is disposed
      of.
3
(7) An appeal is disposed of –
(a) if it
              is determined and the period for bringing any further appeal has
      ended, or
(b) if it is abandoned or otherwise ceases to have
      effect.
(8) In this section "associated company" and "provision" have the same meaning as in section 309A."
"Part IX, §
309C: Disclosure of qualifying third party indemnity provisions.
(1) Subsections (2) and (3) impose disclosure requirements in relation to a directors' report under section 234 in respect of a financial year.
(2) If –
(a) at the time when the report is approved under section 234A, any qualifying third party indemnity provision (whether made by the company or otherwise) is in force for the benefit of one or
    more directors of the company, or
(b) at any time during the financial year, any such provision was in force for the benefit of one or more persons who were then directors of the company,
the report must state that any such provision is or (as the case may be) was so in force.
(3) If the company has made a qualifying third party indemnity provision and –
(a) at the time when the report is approved under section 234A, any qualifying third party indemnity provision made by the company is in force for the benefit of one or more directors of an
    associated company, or
(b) at any time during the financial year, any such provision was in force for the benefit of one or more persons who were then directors of an associated company,
the report must state that any such provision is or (as the case may be) was so in force.
(4) Subsection (5) applies where a company has made a qualifying third party indemnity provision for the benefit of a director of the company or of an associated company.
(5) Section 318 shall apply to –
(a) the company, and
(b) if the director is a director of an associated company, the associated company,
as if a copy of the provision, or (if it is not in writing) a memorandum setting out its terms, were included in the list of documents in section 318(1).
(6) In this section –
"associated company" and "provision" have the same meaning as in section 309A; and
"qualifying third party indemnity provision" has the meaning given by section 309B(1)."
"Part XXV, § 727: Power
of court to grant relief in certain cases.
(1) If in any proceedings
    for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against an officer
    of a company or a person employed by a company as auditor (whether he is
    or is not an officer of the company) it appears to the court hearing the
    case that that officer or person is or may be liable in respect of the negligence,
    default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly
    and reasonably, and that having regard to all
4
the circumstances of the case (including those connected with his appointment) he ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, that court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from his
liability on such terms as it thinks fit.
(2) If any such officer or person as above-mentioned has reason to apprehend that any claim will or might be made against him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of
trust, he may apply to the court for relief; and the court on the application has the same power to relieve him under this section as it would have had if it had been a court before which proceedings against that person for negligence, default,
breach of duty or breach of trust had been brought.
(3) Where a case to which subsection (1) applies is being tried by a judge with a jury, the judge, after hearing the evidence, may, if he is satisfied that the defendant or defender ought in
pursuance of that subsection to be relieved either in whole or in part from the liability sought to be enforced against him, withdraw the case in whole or in part from the jury and forthwith direct judgment to be entered for the defendant or
defender on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the judge may think proper."
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
4(a)
Form of Deposit
	    Agreement dated as of June 1, 1993, among the Company, Morgan
Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as depositary,
and the holders from time to time of
American
Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), including
the form of ADR attached hereto as
Exhibit A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4
(as incorporated therein by reference to
1933 Act File No. 33-61406) to the Form 8-A/A registration
statement of the Company filed
under the
Exchange Act; see File No. 1-11960.)
4(b)
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Highlights
5
Opinion re Legality
23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm, KPMG Audit Plc
24
Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereof)
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act");
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
      arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the
      most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
      the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
      in the registration statement;
5
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however
,
      that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information
      required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs
      is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section
      13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the
    registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering
thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification
for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,
 or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
 indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted  by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
6
SIGNATURES
The Registrant. Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant, AstraZeneca
PLC, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized representative,
in the City of Wilmington, State of Delaware, on this 6th day of May,
 2005.
ASTRAZENECA PLC
(Registrant)
By:
/s/ Ann Booth-Barbarin
Ann Booth-Barbarin, Esq.
Pursuant to the requirements
of the 1933 Act, the trustees (or other persons who administer the AstraZeneca
PLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan) have duly caused this Registration
 Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
in the City of Wilmington, State of Delaware, on this 6 day of May,
2005.
ASTRAZENECA PLC
EXECUTIVE
    DEFERRED COMPENSATION
PLAN
By:
/s/ George Murphy
George Murphy
Executive Director
        of Compensation
and Benefits
Plan Administrator
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below, constitutes and appoints Graeme Harold Rankine Musker, Glenn M. Engelmann and Ann Booth-Barbarin and each of
them, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any all acts and things and execute, in the name of the undersigned, any and all instruments which said attorneys-in-fact and agents
may deem necessary or advisable in order to enable AstraZeneca PLC to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in
respect thereof, in connection with the filing with the Commission of this Registration Statement under the 1933 Act, including specifically but without limitation, power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned to such Registration
Statement, and any amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, to sign any and all applications,
registration statements, notices or other documents necessary or advisable to comply with applicable state securities laws, and to file the same, together with other documents in connection therewith with the appropriate state securities
authorities, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
7
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the following capacities on the date
indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Louis Schweitzer
Non-Executive Chairman
May 6
,
2005
Louis Schweitzer
/s/ Håkan Mogren
Non-Executive Deputy Chairman
May 6
,
2005
Håkan Mogren
/s/ Sir Tom McKillop
Executive Director – Chief Executive
May 6
,
2005
Sir Tom McKillop
Executive Director – Chief Financial
May 6
,
2005
/s/ Jonathan Symonds
Officer
Jonathan Symonds
/s/ Sir Peter Bonfield
Senior Non-Executive Director
May 6
,
2005
Sir Peter Bonfield
/s/ John Patterson
Executive Director
May 6
,
2005
John Patterson
/s/ David R Brennan
Executive Director
May 6
,
2005
David R Brennan
/s/ Tim Watts
Group Financial Controller
May 6
,
2005
Tim Watts
Non-Executive Director
Jane Henney
/s/ Dame Bridget Ogilvie
Non-Executive Director
May 6
,
2005
Dame Bridget Ogilvie
/s/ Marcus Wallenberg
Non-Executive Director
May 6
,
2005
Marcus Wallenberg
Non-Executive Director
John Buchanan
/s/ Erna Möller
Non-Executive Director
April 25,
2005
Erna Möller
8
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Michele Hooper
Non-Executive Director
May 6
,
2005
Michele Hooper
/s/ Joe Jimenez
Non-Executive Director
May 6
,
2005
Joe Jimenez
9
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
/s/ Glenn M. Engelmann
Glenn M. Engelmann, as the duly
authorized representative of
AstraZeneca PLC in the United States
Date: May 6
,
2005
10
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
4(a)
Form of Deposit Agreement dated as of June 1, 1993,
among the Company, Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York, as depositary, and the holders
from time to time of American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs"), including the form of
ADR attached hereto as Exhibit A. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 2.4 (as incorporated therein by
reference to 1933 Act File No. 33-61406) to the
Form 8-A/A registration statement of the Company filed
under the Exchange Act; see File No. 1-
11960.)
4(b)
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Highlights
5
Opinion re Legality
23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm, KPMG Audit Plc
24
Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereof)
11