Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
01 April 2003


                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 31 March 2003, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2158 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,713,635,544.


G H R Musker
Company Secretary

1 April 2003


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