Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
30 August 2001


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 29 August 2001, it purchased for
cancellation 100,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3300
pence per share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares
in issue will be 1,755,975,718.


G H R Musker

Company Secretary

30 August 2001