Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
15 August 2002


                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 14 August 2002, it purchased for cancellation
300,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2304 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,728,535,996.


G H R Musker

Company Secretary

15 August 2002

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