Akorn Inc. Joins New Russell Microcap Index.

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. -- Akorn, Inc. (AMEX:AKN) today announced it joined the Russell Microcap(TM) Index. The newly launched Russell Microcap Index, which debuted on July 1, is comprised of the smallest 1,000 securities in the small-cap Russell 2000(TM) Index along with the next smallest 1,000 companies, based on a ranking of all U.S. equities by market capitalization.

The index offers portfolio managers and other investors a comprehensive, unbiased barometer to compare their performance against the genuine microcap marketplace of stocks. Russell recently posted the complete index membership list at www.russell.com/US/Indexes.

Arthur S. Przybyl, president and chief executive officer, stated, "We are pleased with our inclusion in this new index. Our inclusion will help generate greater interest in our stock at an institutional level."

Russell indices are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies. Companies on the list represent more than $2.5 trillion in assets. Investment managers who oversee these funds purchase shares of member stocks according to that company's weighting in the particular index.

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.

Materials in this press release may contain information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future steps we may take, prospective products, future performance or results of current and anticipated products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, and financial results.

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Any forward-looking statements represent our expectations or forecasts only as of the date they were made and should not be relied upon as representing our expectations or forecasts as of any subsequent date. We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, even if our expectations or forecasts change. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports filed with the SEC. In particular, you should read the discussion in the section entitled "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as it may be updated in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. That discussion covers certain risks, uncertainties and possibly inaccurate assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. Other factors besides those listed there could also adversely affect our results.