Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
13 May 2003

                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 12 May 2003, it purchased for cancellation
450,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2500 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,713,222,544.


G H R Musker
Company Secretary
13 May 2003


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