Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
24 May 2000


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 23 May 2000, it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2740 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,769,436,243.

G H R Musker
Company Secretary
24 May 2000