Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
21 May 2003


                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC



AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 20 May 2003, it purchased for cancellation
750,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2503 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,711,971,026.







G H R Musker
Company Secretary
21 May 2003


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