Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
10 March 2003

                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 7 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2000 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,715,881,329.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
10 March 2003


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