ALTANA Pharma’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Recognized

Press release

, 19.04.2005

Receives Oakville Award for Business Excellence

OAKVILLE, ON – April 19, 2005 – ALTANA Pharma was named the top company in Oakville for business excellence in manufacturing and distribution by the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence (OABE).

“I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of our company and our employees,” said John Suk, ALTANA Pharma President and CEO. "This award recognizes ALTANA’s entrepreneurial spirit, our culture, as well as our commitment to giving back to our communities, which includes Oakville – a great community to be part of.”

Since 1995, the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence (OABE) have celebrated business excellence and service while fundraising for charity. In 2004, the OABE received over 100 nominations from companies who demonstrate excellence in entrepreneurial spirit, service, manufacturing/distribution, retail, and hospitality. Competing against ALTANA Pharma was The Ford Motor Company of Canada, Xerox and others.

“ALTANA Pharma is a great Oakville success story. After founding the company in the basement of my home in 1997, in the eight years since, we have grown to over 200 employees and are now considered one of Canada’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies,” Suk said. “More importantly, we are proud that our success has enabled us to give back to the local community in Oakville, and to work in partnership with the health-care community.”

ALTANA Pharma contributes both time and money to the United Way of Oakville, the YMCA of Oakville, the Gairdner Foundation and Into The Warmth. ALTANA Pharma is also a major contributor to various academic health science centres and is the leading sponsor of the Ontario Family Medicine Scholarship, helping to address the family physician shortage issue by giving select medical students at five Ontario medical schools $5,000 a year if they pursue family medicine as their specialty.

ALTANA Pharma Inc. – Added Value is our Active Ingredient
ALTANA Pharma adds value by improving the health of Canadians through people, innovative products and Canadian-based research. ALTANA Pharma annually re-invests over 14% of its sales into research in Canada in respirology, critical care, and gastroenterology. Its lead product is PANTOLOC used in the treatment of acid-related gastrointestinal disorders. Designated as A Caring Company by Imagine Canada, ALTANA Pharma is recognized as being one of Canada's Top 100 employers by Maclean’s.

For more information contact:

Natasha Bond
ALTANA Pharma Inc.
(905) 465-4171
natasha.bond@altanapharma.ca

Jennifer Casey
Environics Communications Inc.
416-969-2724
jcasey@environicspr.com