Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
13 December 1999


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 10 December 1999, it purchased for
cancellation 235,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2666.98
pence per share.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
13 December 1999