Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
21 May 2002



                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 20 May 2002, it purchased for cancellation
200,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3227 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,734,435,920.



G H R Musker

Company Secretary

21 May 2002



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