Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
6 December 2001


 
                  REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC



AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 5 December 2001, it purchased for
cancellation 200,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3190
pence per share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares
in issue will be 1,748,965,488.


G H R Musker

Company Secretary

6 December 2001