Akorn, Inc. Expands its Definitive Purchase and Supply Agreement With Natco Pharma Limited to Include One Additional Oral Drug Product.

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. -- Akorn, Inc. (AMEX:AKN) today announced that it has expanded its Purchase and Supply Agreement with Natco Pharma Limited (NSI:NATCOPHARM)(MUMBAI:524816), located in Hyderabad, India, to commercialize a third oral drug product for the treatment of cancer.

The drug product is indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in post menopausal women as a first-line therapeutic agent. The current market size for this drug product is approximately $490 million. Natco will be responsible for the development and manufacturing of the drug product, while Akorn will be responsible for marketing and distribution in the hospital, clinic, and home healthcare markets in the United States and Canada.

Arthur S. Przybyl, Akorn's President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are pleased to continue to expand our partnership with Natco Pharma. This oral anti-cancer product fits well with Akorn's overall strategy in the oncology arena. These select oral products are complementary to our generic injectable anti-cancer pipeline being developed with the Serum Institute of India."

Rajeev Nannapaneni, Natco Pharma's Chief Operating Officer stated, "We are pleased that the association with Akorn has been extended to cover a new product indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer as well. We are sure, NATCO and Akorn together, in course of time, will become significant market players in the Oncology segment."

About Akorn, Inc.

Akorn, Inc. manufactures and markets sterile specialty pharmaceuticals. Akorn has manufacturing facilities located in Decatur, Illinois and Somerset, New Jersey and markets and distributes an extensive line of hospital and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Additional information is available at the Company's website at www.akorn.com.

About Natco Pharma Limited

Natco Pharma Limited is an integrated pharmaceutical company based out of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Natco has four manufacturing facilities in and around Hyderabad. Among these, a large API facility and a finished dosage pharmaceutical formulations facility are approved by the U.S. FDA. Natco also has an independent Research Centre located at Hyderabad which supports its manufacturing facilities. Additional information is available at the Company's website at www.natcopharma.co.in.

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