FORM 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For April 30, 2004

Commission File Number: 001-11960

AstraZeneca PLC

15 Stanhope Gate, London W1K 1LN, England

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F   X     Form 40-F      

     Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ______

     Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

         Yes           No   X  

     If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-_____________

 





AstraZeneca PLC

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

1.  

Press Release entitled “AstraZeneca PLC First Quarter Results 2004”, dated 29 April 2004.

     



SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

    AstraZeneca PLC
     
Date: 30 April 2004   By: /s/ A C N Kemp
   
    Name:  A C N Kemp
    Title:    Authorised Signatory

Item 1

Item 1

AstraZeneca PLC
First Quarter Results 2004

“First quarter sales exceed $5 billion. Financial targets for the year on track.”

Financial Highlights

Group 1st Quarter
2004
$m
1st Quarter
2003
$m
Actual
%
CER
%
Sales 5,074 4,735 +7 -1
Operating Profit 1,079 1,272 -15 -20
Profit before Tax 1,108 1,293 -14 -20
Earnings per Share
$0.47

$0.54

-13

-19
      All narrative in this section refers to growth rates at constant exchange rates (CER)

Sir Tom McKillop, Chief Executive, said: “Our growth strategy is on track and we are set to achieve our financial targets for the year. Strong demand for Crestor™ , Nexium™ , Seroquel™ , Symbicort™ , Iressa™ and Arimidex™ contributed to a record sales performance in the quarter, with demand for key growth products up 34 percent. Operating profit, however, was down compared to a strong first quarter 2003, which benefited from wholesaler stocking, and following sustained investment in research and development and in the launch of new products.”

London, 29 April 2004

     
Media Enquiries: Steve Brown/Edel McCaffrey (London) (020) 7304 5033/5034
  Staffan Ternby (Södertälje) (8) 553 26107
  Rachel Bloom-Baglin (Wilmington) (302) 886 7858
     
Analyst/Investor Enquiries: Mina Blair-Robinson (London) (020) 7304 5084
  Jonathan Hunt (London) (020) 7304 5087
  Staffan Ternby (Södertälje) (8) 553 26107
  Ed Seage/Jörgen Winroth (US) (302) 886 4065/(212) 579 0506

AstraZeneca PLC

Business Highlights All narrative in this section refers to growth rates at constant exchange rates (CER) unless otherwise indicated

Sales in the first quarter increased by 7 percent on a reported basis, including a positive exchange benefit of 8 percent. Sales outside the US were up 6 percent. In the US sales were down 8 percent against the first quarter 2003, which had included $400 million of speculative purchases by wholesalers. Excluding inventory movements, total demand in the US was estimated to increase by 6 percent, and global sales of key growth products by around 34 percent.

Expenditures in R&D and SG&A were $2,849 million in the quarter, below the level reached in the fourth quarter 2003, but 13 percent ahead of first quarter 2003. Maintaining this level of investment in product launches and research, set against the 2003 quarterly sales phasing, resulted in a 20 percent decline in operating profit in the quarter (down 15 percent on a reported basis). Earnings per share in the first quarter were $0.47 versus $0.54 in 2003.

Nexium™ sales were $935 million in the first quarter, up 7 percent. Sales outside the US increased by 36 percent. Total prescriptions in the US increased by 19 percent in the quarter, well ahead of the PPI market growth.

Crestor™ sales were $129 million in the first quarter, including $72 million in the US. In the week ending 16 April Crestor™ share of new prescriptions in the US statin market was 6.2 percent. Recent Crestor™ launches include France on 8 March and Italy on 5 April.

Sales of oncology products increased 19 percent in the first quarter to $762 million. Arimidex™ sales were up 62 percent on continuing growth in the treatment of early breast cancer. Iressa™ sales were $93 million, with sales in Japan up 50 percent over first quarter 2003.

Respiratory product sales were $648 million. Symbicort™ sales were up 31 percent. Prescriptions for Pulmicort™ Respules™ in the US increased by 22 percent.

Seroquel™ sales were $448 million, down 2 percent in the quarter affected by wholesaler stock movements in the US in the first quarter 2003. Prescriptions in the US grew by 36 percent in the quarter. Seroquel™ now ranks second in the US antipsychotic market in new prescription share, having recently overtaken olanzapine. Seroquel™ sales outside the US increased by 14 percent.

In December, regulatory submissions were made for Exanta™ in Europe and the US for the first key chronic indications, including the prevention of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation, and are now being reviewed by regulatory authorities.

Future Prospects
The Company continues to anticipate earnings per share in the range of $2.00 to $2.15 per share. More than half of the year’s profits and nearly all of the growth in earnings per share versus 2003 should occur in the second half of the year, influenced by three factors. First, the remaining impact of patent expiries will diminish over the course of the year. Second, the implementation of inventory management agreements in the US should align reported sales more closely with prescription trends, although reported quarterly sales comparisons will continue to be influenced by 2003 patterns. Finally, the step up in investments in R&D and SG&A occurred in the second half of 2003, so the rate of growth in these expenses will attenuate as the year progresses. As previously communicated, this outcome is sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations and the sales performance attained for Nexium™ , Crestor™ and Seroquel™ .

Disclosure Notice: The preceding forward-looking statements relating to expectations for earnings and business prospects for AstraZeneca PLC are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to: the rate of growth in sales of generic omeprazole in the US, continued growth in currently marketed products (in particular Crestor™, Nexium™, Seroquel™, Symbicort™, Arimidex™and Iressa™), the successful registration and launch of Exanta™, the growth in costs and expenses, interest rate movements, exchange rate fluctuations and the tax rate. For further details on these and other risks and uncertainties, see AstraZeneca PLC’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the 2003 Annual Report on Form 20-F.

2


AstraZeneca PLC

Sales


All narrative in this section refers to growth rates at constant exchange rates (CER) unless otherwise indicated

Gastrointestinal

  First Quarter
CER %
  2004
2003
2003
Nexium™ 935   835    +7
Losec™ / Prilosec™ 540   692   -32
Total
1,496  

1,545  

-10

Cardiovascular

      First Quarter CER %
 
 
  2004 2003  
 


Seloken™ / Toprol-XL™ 333 368 -13
Atacand™ 209 206 -9
Plendil™ 111 110 -6
Zestril™ 105 108 -16
Crestor™ 129 3 n/m
 


Total 1,055 969 1

3


AstraZeneca PLC

Respiratory and Inflammation

  First Quarter CER %
 
 
  2004 2003  
 


Symbicort™ 188 122 +31
Pulmicort™ 282 251 +5
Rhinocort™ 81 90 -13
Accolate™ 30 31 -6
Oxis™ 25 31 -32
 


Total 648 563 +4
 


Oncology
       
 
First Quarter
CER %
 
 
  2004 2003  
 


Casodex™ 229 189 +9
Zoladex™ 213 193 -1
Arimidex™ 166 93 +62
Iressa™ 93 19 n/m
Faslodex™ 26 22 +18
Nolvadex™ 31 61 -56
 


Total 762 581 +19
4

AstraZeneca PLC

Neuroscience

  First Quarter CER %
 
 
  2004 2003  
 


Seroquel™ 448 444 -2
Zomig™ 95 108 -18
Diprivan™ 122 136 -15
Local anaesthetics 130 101 14
Others 17 18 -17
 


Total 812 807 -5

Geographic Sales

  First Quarter CER %
 
 
  2004 2003  
 


US 2,279 2,470 -8
Europe 1,875 1,555 +2
Japan 290 243 +6
RoW 630 467 +21

5


AstraZeneca PLC

Financial Review
All narrative in this section refers to growth rates at constant exchange rates (CER) unless otherwise indicated

Operating Results

Reported sales increased by 7 percent and operating profit fell by 15 percent. At constant exchange rates sales declined by 1 percent and operating profit by 20 percent.

As previously mentioned, sales in the US during the first quarter 2003 included significant speculative purchases by wholesalers, which lifted trade inventories to some $400 million higher than normal. During the first quarter 2004 the company began implementing inventory management agreements with three large wholesalers in the US who account for around three quarters of our US sales. Since the agreements were not in place for the entire period, some purchases above current demand did occur in the first quarter 2004, estimated to be around $100 million. At the end of the first quarter the Company estimates that, in aggregate, approximately $200 million of inventory above target levels is in the distribution chain, chiefly in Nexium™ , Toprol-XL™ and Atacand™ . This inventory should be worked down over the next two quarters.

The weakness of the US dollar continues to benefit our results. In comparison with quarter one last year the US dollar weakened against the euro (14 percent), benefiting sales, and also against the Swedish krona (14 percent) and sterling (13 percent), increasing costs. Overall, currency benefited EPS by around 3 cents in comparison with quarter one last year. Should the exchange rates stay at current levels for the remainder of the year, no further exchange benefits are expected to accrue.

Gross margin increased by 1.4 percent to 77.4 percent of sales in the quarter, as payments to Merck declined to 5.6 percent of sales (a reduction of 1.4 percent of sales), attributable to differences in product mix between the periods. A small adverse exchange impact (-0.3 percent) was offset by a slight improvement in underlying cost of sales of a similar magnitude.

Operating margin comparisons are coloured by the marked difference in quarterly phasing of sales. Operating margin in the first quarter 2003 was 26.9 percent of sales (the highest quarter last year) as the benefits of wholesaler stocking fell straight through to operating profit. Operating margin in the first quarter 2004 was 21.3 percent. Underlying increases in R&D and SG&A expenditures are estimated to have contributed around half of the margin difference between the periods, with most of the balance attributable to the sales phasing in 2003.

In aggregate, R&D and SG&A expenses were $2,849 million, as spending in support of product launches and the additional recruitment in Discovery and Development were broadly maintained at the levels reached in the second half of last year. The increase over first quarter last year was 13 percent in CER terms, but 23 percent on a reported basis, including 10 percent of exchange rate impact.

Interest and Dividend Income

Net interest and dividend income in the quarter was $29 million, compared with $21 million for the same period last year. The improvement is due mainly to lower interest payments in the first quarter 2004 following the repayment of $319 million of debt in mid-2003.

Taxation

The effective tax rate at 27.5 percent for the first quarter was at the same level as for quarter one last year.

Cash Flow

Cash inflow from operating activities before exceptional items was $1,276 million, $102 million better than in the first quarter of 2003 despite the lower operating profit. This is due to the lower working capital outflows this year as the trade debtor movement in 2003 was particularly high following the wholesaler inventory movements. Tax payments were broadly similar in both periods, whilst capital expenditure in the current quarter is $37 million lower than that in the first quarter of 2003. Before financing and the management of liquid resources, net cash inflow of $720 million was $149 million ahead of last year.

6


AstraZeneca PLC

Share Repurchase Programme

The Board has approved a new programme of share repurchases of $4 billion to be completed by the end of 2005, assuming continued market access and the absence of strategic uses for cash.

During the quarter 12.5 million shares were repurchased for cancellation at a total cost of $608 million.

The total number of shares that remain in issue at 31 March 2004 is 1,681 million.

Upcoming Milestones and Key Events


22 July Announcement of second quarter and half year results
  6 October Annual Business Review meeting
21 October Announcement of third quarter and nine months results

Sir Tom McKillop
Chief Executive

7


Consolidated Profit & Loss Account

For the quarter ended 31 March   2004
$m
  2003
$m
 

 
 
 
Sales   5,074   4,735  
Cost of sales   (1,145 ) (1,135 )
Distribution costs   (42 ) (35 )
Research and development   (943 ) (782 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses   (1,906 ) (1,526 )
Other operating income   41   15  

 
 
 
Operating profit   1,079   1,272  
Net interest and dividend income   29   21  

 
 
 
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation   1,108   1,293  
Taxation   (305 ) (356 )

 
 
 
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation   803   937  
Attributable to minorities   (2 ) (5 )

 
 
 
Net profit for the period   801   932  

 
 
 
           
Earnings per Ordinary Share   $0.47   $0.54  
Diluted earnings per Ordinary Share   $0.47   $0.54  

 
 
 
Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)   1,688   1,717  

 
 
 
Diluted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions)   1,690   1,718  

 
 
 

8


Consolidated Balance Sheet

At 31 March   2004
$m
  2003
$m
 

 
 
 
Fixed assets   10,525   9,566  
Current assets   13,378   12,929  

 
 
 
Total assets   23,903   22,495  

 
 
 
Creditors due within one year   (8,050 ) (8,146 )
Net current assets   5,328   4,783  

 
 
 
Total assets less current liabilities   15,853   14,349  

 
 
 
Creditors due after more than one year   (376 ) (363 )
Provisions for liabilities and charges   (2,095 ) (1,832 )

 
 
 
Net assets   13,382   12,154  

 
 
 
Capital and reserves          
Shareholders’ funds & minority interests   13,382   12,154  

 
 
 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

    2004   2003  
For the quarter ended 31 March   $m   $m  

 
 
 
Cash flow from operating activities          
Operating profit   1,079   1,272  
Depreciation and amortisation   310   272  
Increase in working capital   (161 ) (401 )
Other non-cash movements   48   31  

 
 
 
Net cash inflow from operating activities before exceptional          
items   1,276   1,174  
Outflow related to exceptional items   (1 ) (12 )

 
 
 
Net cash inflow from operating activities   1,275   1,162  
Returns on investments and servicing of finance   7   (9 )
Tax paid   (266 ) (252 )
Capital expenditure and financial investment   (296 ) (330 )

 
 
 
Net cash inflow before management of liquid resources and          
financing   720   571  
Net purchase of shares   (580 ) (129 )
Exchange and other movement   (2 ) 13  

 
 
 
Increase in net cash funds in the period   138   455  
Net cash funds at beginning of period   3,496   3,844  

 
 
 
Net cash funds at end of period   3,634   4,299  

 
 
 

9


Notes to the Interim Financial Statements

1    BASIS OF PREPARATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The unaudited financial statements for the quarter ended 31 March 2004 have been prepared in accordance with UK generally accepted accounting principles. The accounting policies applied are those set out in AstraZeneca PLC’s Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2003. The new information contained in Note 2 below updates the disclosures concerning legal proceedings in the Company’s Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2003.

These interim financial statements do not constitute statutory accounts of the Group within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2003 will be filed with the Registrar of Companies following the Company’s Annual General Meeting. The auditor's report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statement under Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985.

2    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Plendil™ (felodipine)

In April 2004, Zenith Goldline Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now known as Ivax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) filed a motion for summary judgment on the issue of non-infringement in the patent infringement action pending between AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and Zenith/Ivax in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. The patent infringement action against Zenith/Ivax, which AstraZeneca filed in July 2001, resulted from a May 2001 letter to AstraZeneca in which Zenith/Ivax declared its intention to market a generic version of Plendil™ extended release tablets (felodipine) prior to the expiration of AstraZeneca's patent covering the extended release formulation. Zenith/Ivax filed counterclaims in the litigation alleging non-infringement. The parties have completed the briefing on Zenith/Ivax's motion. No hearing date for the motion has been set.

Toprol-XL™ (metoprolol succinate)

In April 2004, AstraZeneca filed proceedings against Eon Labs Manufacturing Inc. in the US District Court for the District of Delaware following Eon's notification that it had filed an abbreviated new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to market generic forms of Toprol-XL™ in the 25mg, 50mg, 100mg and 200mg doses. AstraZeneca maintains that its patents are valid and infringed by Eon's products.

Additional government investigations into drug marketing practices

Since publication of the Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2003, AstraZeneca has received two subpoenas from the US Attorney's Office in Boston, Massachusetts. The first seeks documents relating to promotional programmes involving healthcare professionals at three regional healthcare entities in the Boston area. The second seeks documents relating to the marketing and sale of three products (Zestril™, Naropin™ and Cefotan™) to a leading provider of pharmacy services to long term care facilities. AstraZeneca is co-operating fully with the document requests.

3    TERRITORIAL SALES ANALYSIS

          % Growth  
         
 
  1st Quarter
2004
$m
  1stQuarter
2003
$m
  Actual   Constant
Currency
 
   
 
 
 
 
   US   2,279   2,470   (8 ) (8 )
   Canada   218   156   40   19  

 
 
 
 
 
   North America   2,497   2,626   (5 ) (6 )

 
 
 
 
 
   France   442   329   34   11  
   UK   132   144   (8 ) (17 )
   Germany   226   183   23   2  
   Italy   255   208   23   2  
   Sweden   79   79   -   (18 )
   Europe others   741   612   21   4  

 
 
 
 
 
   Total Europe   1,875   1,555   21   2  

 
 
 
 
 
   Japan   290   243   19   6  
   Rest of World   412   311   32   21  

 
 
 
 
 
Total   5,074   4,735   7   (1 )

 
 
 
 
 

10


4    PRODUCT SALES ANALYSIS

      World    US  
       
 
   
 
 
    1st   1st       Constant   1st      
    Quarter   Quarter   Actual   Currency   Quarter   Actual  
    2004   2003   Growth   Growth   2004   Growth  
    $m   $m   %   %   $m   %  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Gastrointestinal:                          
      Losec   540   692   (22 ) (32 ) 91   (68 )
      Nexium   935   835   12   7   671   -  
      Others   21   18   17   -   7   (13 )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Total Gastrointestinal   1,496   1,545   (3 ) (10 ) 769   (20 )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Cardiovascular:                          
      Zestril   105   108   (3 ) (16 ) 12   (40 )
      Seloken   333   368   (10 ) (13 ) 237   (17 )
      Atacand   209   206   1   (9 ) 68   (33 )
      Plendil   111   110   1   (6 ) 33   (15 )
      Tenormin   85   84   1   (10 ) 11   (15 )
      Crestor   129   3   n/m   n/m   72   -  
      Others   83   90   (8 ) (21 ) 2   (50 )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Total Cardiovascular   1,055   969   9   1   435   (6 )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Respiratory & Inflammation:                          
      Pulmicort   282   251   12   5   157   18  
      Rhinocort   81   90   (10 ) (13 ) 56   (18 )
      Symbicort   188   122   54   31   -   -  
      Accolate   30   31   (3 ) (6 ) 22   (4 )
      Oxis   25   31   (19 ) (32 ) -   -  
      Others   42   38   11   (5 ) -   -  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Total Respiratory & Inflammation   648   563   15   4   235   5  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Oncology:                          
      Zoladex   213   193   10   (1 ) 47   12  
      Casodex   229   189   21   9   56   (7 )
      Nolvadex   31   61   (49 ) (56 ) 1   (97 )
      Arimidex   166   93   78   62   62   88  
      Iressa   93   19   n/m   n/m   51   -  
      Faslodex   26   22   18   18   24   9  
      Others   4   4   -   (25 ) -   -  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Total Oncology   762   581   31   19   241   28  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Neuroscience:                          
      Seroquel   448   444   1   (2 ) 337   (6 )
      Zomig   95   108   (12 ) (18 ) 46   (33 )
      Diprivan   122   136   (10 ) (15 ) 63   (22 )
      Local anaesthetics   130   101   29   14   30   50  
      Others   17   18   (6 ) (17 ) 3   (50 )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Total Neuroscience   812   807   1   (5 ) 479   (11 )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Infection and Other:                          
      Merrem   97   74   31   19   18   38  
      Other Products   72   56   29   18   27   108  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Total Infection and Other   169   130   30   18   45   73  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Salick Health Care   71   65   9   9   71   9  
      Astra Tech   61   44   39   19   4   33  
      Marlow Foods   -   31   (100 ) (100 ) -   (100 )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Total   5,074   4,735   7   (1 ) 2,279   (8 )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           
n/m      not meaningful                          

11


Shareholder Information

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEETINGS

Annual General Meeting   29 April 2004  
       
Announcement of second quarter and half year 2004 results   22 July 2004  
       
Annual Business Review 2004   6 October 2004  
       
Announcement of third quarter and nine months 2004 results   21 October 2004  
       
DIVIDENDS      

The record date for the second interim dividend for 2003 payable on 6 April 2004 (in the UK, Sweden and the US) was 20 February 2004. Ordinary shares traded ex-dividend on the London and Stockholm Stock Exchanges from 18 February 2004. ADRs traded ex-dividend on the New York Stock Exchange from the same date.

Future dividends will normally be paid as follows:  
First interim Announced in July and paid in September
Second interim Announced in January and paid in March

 

TRADEMARKS

The following brand names used in these interim financial statements are trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies:

Accolate   Arimidex   Astra Tech   Atacand   Casodex   Cefotan   Crestor   Diprivan   Exanta   Faslodex   Iressa   Losec Naropin   Nexium   Nolvadex   Oxis   Plendil   Prilosec   Pulmicort   Pulmicort Respules   Rhinocort   Rhinocort Aqua Seloken   Seroquel    Symbicort   Toprol-XL   Zestril   Zoladex   Zomig

ADDRESSES FOR CORRESPONDENCE


Registrar and Depositary Registered Office Swedish Securities Register
Transfer Office for ADRs   Centre
The AstraZeneca Registrar JPMorgan Chase Bank 15 Stanhope Gate VPC AB
Lloyds TSB Registrars PO Box 43013 London PO Box 7822
The Causeway Providence W1K 1LN SE-103 97 Stockholm
Worthing RI 02940-3013 UK Sweden
West Sussex US    
UK      
BN99 6DA      
Tel: +44 (0)121 415 7033 Tel: +1 (781) 575 4328 Tel: +44 (0)20 7304 5000 Tel: +46 (0)8 402 9000


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In order to utilise the ‘Safe Harbor’ provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, AstraZeneca is providing the following cautionary statement. These interim financial statements contain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of AstraZeneca. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from that expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things, the loss or expiration of patents, marketing exclusivity or trade marks; exchange rate fluctuations; the risk that R&D will not yield new products that achieve commercial success; the impact of competition, price controls and price reductions; taxation risks; the risk of substantial product liability claims; the impact of any failure by third parties to supply materials or services; the risk of delay to new product launches; the difficulties of obtaining and maintaining governmental approvals for products; and the risk of environmental liabilities.

12