Transaction in Own Shares

AstraZeneca PLC
17 May 2005


                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announced that on 16 May 2005, it purchased for cancellation
650,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2314 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,630,021,552.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
17 May 2005


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