Akorn Reports First Quarter 2007 Financial Results.

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. -- Akorn, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRX) a specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007.

Total revenue for the first quarter 2007 was $11.7 million as compared to $29.7 million in the first quarter 2006. In the first quarter of 2006, the Company recognized $22.0 million of Ca-DTPA and Zn-DTPA revenue through a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services. Gross profit for the first quarter 2007 was $2.5 million as compared to $11.7 million in the first quarter 2006. The decline in gross profit was primarily impacted by first quarter 2006 DTPA revenues, which contributed $9.7 million in gross profit.

First quarter 2007 revenue and gross profit were affected by customer backorders for IC-Green, which totaled $1.6 million as of March 31, 2007. Operating gross margins were also affected by higher manufacturing costs. In order to improve efficiencies, we have formed an Executive Task Force and appointed our Somerset Vice President of Operations to manage our manufacturing operations in Decatur.

Total operating expenses for the first quarter 2007 were $7.6 million, an increase of $711,000 over comparative prior year operating expenses of $6.9 million. This increase is due to non-cash expenses for restricted stock and stock options, which totaled $778,000. Research and product development (R&D) spending for the first quarter 2007 was $2.0 million, and is comparable to the first quarter 2006. Of that amount, milestone product development payments were $580,000. The Company ended the first quarter 2007 with $18.0 million in cash and cash equivalents.

The net loss available to common stockholders for the first quarter 2007 was $4.8 million or $0.06 per fully diluted share vs. net income available to common stockholders of $2.8 million in 2006 or $0.04 per fully diluted share.

Highlights for the First Quarter 2007:

-- Biologics and Vaccines Business Segment:
     -- March 27, 2007: Akorn announced the signing of a three-year
        exclusive distribution agreement for Tetanus diphtheria
        vaccine. This agreement begins on September 1, 2007 and
        effectively increases the annual revenue base of the company
        by 100%.

-- Ophthalmic Business Segment:
     -- January 23, 2007: Akorn announced positive Phase III Pivotal
        clinical trial results for Akten(R), the Company's first
        internally developed New Drug Application (NDA) indicated for
        ocular anesthesia. Recently, the Company had a pre-NDA filing
        meeting with the FDA and based on that meeting, we expect to
        file the NDA in the second quarter 2007.
     -- January 9, 2007: Akorn announced the signing of an exclusive
        definitive agreement with Azad Pharma for the development and
        supply of three ANDA prostaglandin ophthalmic drug products.

-- Hospital Drugs and Injectables Business Segment:
     -- January 30, 2007: Akorn announced an exclusive supply
        agreement for Hydase(TM), a preservative-free NDA injectable
        spreading agent.

-- On February 7, 2007 Akorn began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market
   under the new symbol, "AKRX".

Arthur S. Przybyl, President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "The first quarter for Akorn was one of the most important quarters in the history of the Company. We executed a number of significant strategic successes that will provide revenues and profits in 2007 and beyond in three of our business segments: biologics and vaccines, ophthalmics, and hospital drugs and injectables. Clearly, our announcement to exclusively market and distribute tetanus diphtheria vaccine is vital to our short and long-term financial success. Beginning in September 2007, this Agreement effectively doubles the annual revenue of the Company and contributes sustainable profits of approximately $0.10 in earnings per share. We feel confident in our ability to increase existing market share based on the launch of the unit dose preservative-free Tetanus diphtheria vaccine.

"Although business segment revenues increased for ophthalmic, hospital drugs and injectables (ex-DTPA), and contract manufacturing, we were disappointed by our operating gross margins. While the lack of IC-Green sales contributed to the shortfall in gross profit, we did not realize expected operational efficiencies from increased production volumes in our Decatur facility. To that end, we formed an Executive Task Force in early 2007 and appointed our Somerset Vice President of Operations to manage our manufacturing operations in Decatur. Based on our progress to date, we expect to realize our anticipated operating efficiencies in Decatur in the second half of 2007. Consolidated gross margin is anticipated to improve in the second quarter 2007."

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.

Any or all of our forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining our actual future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Our actual results may vary materially, and there are not guarantees about the performance of our stock.

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. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the resolution of the FDA compliance issues at our Decatur, Illinois manufacturing facility. Other factors besides those listed there could also adversely affect our results.

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Note 1: In March 2006, $7,298 in principal and interest related to convertible notes was retired by conversion to the common stock of Akorn, Inc.