Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
08 May 2003


                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 7 May 2003, it purchased for cancellation
670,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2535 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,713,672,544.


G H R Musker
Company Secretary
8 May 2003


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