Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
6 September 2001




                   REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 5 September 2001, it purchased for
cancellation 300,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3237
pence per share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares
in issue will be 1,754,500,533.


G H R Musker

Company Secretary

6 September 2001