Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
5 September 2001


                   REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 4 September 2001, it purchased for
cancellation 300,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3265
pence per share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares
in issue will be 1,754,775,718.


G H R Musker

Company Secretary

5 September 2001