Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
8 May 2001


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 4 May 2001, it purchased for cancellation
400,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3167 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,761,751,058.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary