Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
12 September 2001


                   REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 11 September 2001, it purchased for
cancellation 850,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3082
pence per share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares
in issue will be 1,753,100,533.


G H R Musker

Company Secretary

12 September 2001