Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
15 December 1999


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 14 December 1999, it purchased for
cancellation 1,391,444 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2584
pence per share.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary