Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
31 March 2003


                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 28 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2203 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,714,135,544.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
31 March 2003


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