Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
17 May 2001


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 16 May 2001, it purchased for cancellation
750,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3266 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,760,557,848.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary