Purchase of Own Securities

AstraZeneca PLC
08 August 2002


                    REPURCHASE OF SHARES IN ASTRAZENECA PLC


AstraZeneca PLC announces that on 7 August 2002, it purchased for cancellation
150,000 ordinary shares of AstraZeneca PLC at a price of 2192 pence per share.
Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be
1,729,265,996.


G H R Musker

Company Secretary

8 August 2002


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