Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
9 March 2001


REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC

AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 8 March 2001, it purchased for cancellation
450,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 3061 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,764,853,570.


G H R Musker
Company Secretary
9 March 2001