Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
10 August 2001


                   REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 9 August 2001, it purchased for cancellation
200,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3429 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,759,173,872.


G H R Musker

Company Secretary

10 August 2001