Transaction in Own Shares

AstraZeneca PLC
03 December 2004

                       REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announced that on 2 December 2004, it purchased for cancellation
650,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2092 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,651,699,596.



G H R Musker
Company Secretary
3 December 2004


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