Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
2 May 2002



                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 1 May 2002, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3194 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,737,526,900.



G H R Musker

Company Secretary

2 May 2002



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