APP Pharmaceuticals Announces Plan to Respond to Potential Therapeutic Heparin Shortage in the United States.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPX) announced today that, in response to FDA and hospital concerns about a potential shortage of therapeutic heparin, it will immediately increase manufacturing of the critical therapeutic heparin multi-dose vials. Customers with inquiries may contact APP customer service at 888-386-1300 and will be directed to a "Heparin Hotline" specialist.

APP said that it acquires its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient, heparin USP, from multiple manufacturers, which have been inspected and approved by the FDA. The Company said that its supplier from China has been inspected and approved by both the FDA and China's SFDA, and the supplier is not associated with the Chinese raw material used in the therapeutic heparin under a current recall by another manufacturer.

APP said it has worked closely with the FDA to increase production capacity at its manufacturing facilities. APP is also actively working with suppliers to increase and expedite deliveries, which will enable the Company to produce enough product to meet the entire United States demand for therapeutic multi-dose vials of heparin.

APP has instituted processes to prevent an imbalance of supply of this critical product needed for life-saving and life-sustaining procedures. In addition, the Company has instituted a direct shipment program to control the distribution and expedite delivery of the products to physicians and patients in urgent need of therapeutic heparin.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, Chairman and CEO of APP Pharmaceuticals said, "The potential shortage of heparin is an important public health issue. Heparin is very much in demand and critical to patient-care in both hospitals and dialysis centers. Accordingly, we are marshalling our resources to provide patients with this product which plays such a crucial role in surgery and other life-sustaining procedures. Based on initial analysis of our current inventory of therapeutic heparin, and the plans we are implementing, we are confident we will be able to avert critical shortages."

Tom Silberg, President of APP, stated, "APP manufactures and markets 14 heparin product codes. Prior to this crisis we supplied approximately fifty percent of the U.S. needs for therapeutic heparin. We have actively worked to secure sufficient raw materials and have increased production to respond swiftly to those in need of the product for the entire country."

Heparin is indicated for anticoagulant therapy for patients undergoing surgery, blood transfusions, extracorporeal circulation, dialysis procedures and other settings that require a blood-clotting inhibitor.

About APP Pharmaceuticals

APP is a specialty drug company that develops, manufactures and markets injectable pharmaceutical products, focusing on oncology, anti-infective, anesthetic/analgesic and critical care markets. The company is one of the largest producers of injectables, with more than 100 generic products in more than 400 dosage formulations. APP, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, has offices in Canada and manufacturing operations in Illinois, New York and Puerto Rico and is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol APPX. For more information about APP and the products it provides, please visit www.APPpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statement 

The statements contained in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, goals, intentions, initiatives or strategies, including statements regarding the demand, supply and distribution of heparin. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the availability and pricing of ingredients used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products and the ability to successfully manufacture products in a time-sensitive and cost effective manner. Additional relevant information concerning risks can be found in APP Pharmaceuticals Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed under the company name Abraxis BioScience, Inc. and other documents it has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The information contained in this news release is as of the date of this release. APP assumes no obligations to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as the result of new information or future events or developments.