Transaction in Own Shares

AstraZeneca PLC
22 March 2004


               REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announced that on 19 March 2004, it purchased for cancellation
600,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2614 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,680,820,530.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
22 March 2004


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