Transaction in Own Shares

AstraZeneca PLC
20 May 2005


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announced that on 19 May 2005, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2347 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,629,531,259.


G H R Musker
Company Secretary
20 May 2005


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