ALTANA Opens New Pharmaceutical Production Facility in Oranienburg; German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder Appreciates ALTANA's Commitment In Eastern Germany.

BAD HOMBURG/ORANIENBURG, Germany -- ALTANA AG (NYSE:AAA, FSE:ALT) today has opened a new pharmaceutical production facility in Oranienburg, in the presence of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Minister President of the state of Brandenburg Matthias Platzeck. The expansion at the Oranienburg site was necessary to allow a step up of the production capacities for existing and future products. ALTANA's commitment in Oranienburg is proof of its belief in Germany as a location for business.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Minister President Matthias Platzeck appreciated ALTANA's commitment in Oranienburg.

"Through its further investment of almost EUR 47 million, increasing the total to EUR 180 million, the company strengthens the location. The existing workforce of 310 employees will be further enhanced by 50 new colleagues and a further 50 trainees. All employees will undertake highly skilled work. Production capacity will double with the opening of the new building and its facilities," stated Minister President Matthias Platzeck. "These facts and figures count double and triple in times where our economy is dominated by phrases and catchwords such as downsizing, closing down and relocation. The creation of new employment and the provision of a constant high number of trainee positions are vital contributions to strengthen Germany as a location for business. We depend on every post and trainee position, we need qualified staff and life-long learning in order to make sure that the state of Brandenburg is a place worth living in and to make it prosperous for the future."

The newly launched production facility adjoins the existing modern pharmaceutical production unit of ALTANA Pharma Oranienburg GmbH, making the site one of the most important employers in the region. Since the beginning of the 1990s a total amount of around EUR 180 million has been invested in Oranienburg. At present ALTANA Pharma Oranienburg employs about 400 people, inclusive of 50 trainees. To date, EUR 30 million have been invested for the new building and its technical equipment. In the last extension phase, investments will be in the region of EUR 47 million. About 50 new jobs are created for qualified employees such as engineers, pharmacists and pharmaceutical production assistants.

"Our plant here in Oranienburg is characterized and considered by many as a "lighthouse" of the region. This is the result of a corporate philosophy that from its base in Germany counts on innovation and internationalization," commented Dr. Nikolaus Schweickart, President and CEO of ALTANA AG, at the opening ceremony.

"The internationalization strategy of the Pharmaceuticals group is based on innovations. Research-driven pharmaceutical companies such as ALTANA Pharma depend on a culture of innovations as a basis for society. In the long run, we can only do business in a country that supports and nurtures innovations," said Dr. Hans-Joachim Lohrisch, President and CEO of ALTANA Pharma AG.

ALTANA Pharma's central production of tablets, capsules, dragees and pellets for the world market takes place in Oranienburg. Almost 20 billion tablets and capsules have been produced at the site since its opening in 1995. This averages out to 11 million pieces per workday. ALTANA's product Pantoprazole accounts for almost half of the production.

Further information on Pantoprazole

Pantoprazole, a drug for the treatment of acid-induced gastrointestinal diseases, is the most important product being produced in Oranienburg. The medication is prescribed by doctors e.g. when patients suffer from reflux disease, i.e. a condition caused by the reflux (reverse flow) of stomach acid into the esophagus. There the acid attacks the mucous membrane and can cause not only redness and inflammation, but also cicatrization and ulcers. Pantoprazole is a so called "proton pump inhibitor" which inhibits the secretion of stomach acid.

Pantoprazole originates from ALTANA Pharma's own research and has been sold on the German market since 1994 under the trade name Pantozol(R). In the U.S. the product has been sold under the trade name Protonix(R) by Wyeth since 2000. The gastrointestinal drug has already been approved in over 90 countries worldwide. More than 230 million patients have been treated with Pantoprazole. By now, Pantoprazole is one of the most successful drugs the world over and indeed the best-selling product in the pharmaceutical market originating from German research. All sales partners included, ALTANA achieved worldwide market sales of about EUR 2.5 billion in 2004. ALTANA's own sales of Pantoprazole amounted to about EUR 1.2 billion.

Capacities for new products

One of the products which is still in the development phase at present and for which production is also planned to take place in Oranienburg, is Daxas(R) (Roflumilast) for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ("smoker's lung") and asthma. Daxas(R) has been submitted for European approval.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date they are made. ALTANA does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances or events that have occurred or changed after such statements have been made.