Transaction in Own Shares

AstraZeneca PLC
24 May 2004

                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announced that on 21 May 2004, it purchased for cancellation
600,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2586 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,679,716,461.



G H R Musker
Company Secretary
24 May 2004


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