Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
4 May 2001


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 3 May 2001, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3221 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,762,151,058.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary