Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
22 May 2003

                       REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 21 May 2003, it purchased for cancellation
400,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2461 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,711,575,209.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
22 May 2003


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