Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
9 December 1999


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 8 December 1999, it purchased for
cancellation 550,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2726.946
pence per share.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
9 December 1999