Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
12 February 2001


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 9 February 2001, it purchased for
cancellation 325,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2989
pence per share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares
in issue will be 1,766,910,295.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
12 February 2001