Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
2 November 2001


                   REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 1 November 2001, it purchased for
cancellation 150,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3137
pence per share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares
in issue will be 1,751,183,274.



G H R Musker

Company Secretary

2 November 2001