Andrx to Present Controlled-Release Metformin Data at Two International Meetings.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2002

ANDRX CORPORATION (Nasdaq:ADRX) today announced that it will make presentations on its extended-release Metformin formulation (Metformin XT) at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association to be held June 14-18, 2002, in San Francisco, California, and at the 6th International Symposium on Global Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke to be held June 12-15, 2002, in Florence, Italy.

Andrx will make its American Diabetes Association presentations on Saturday, June 15, 2002 on the following four topics: Safety and Efficacy of Metformin XT and Immediate Release Metformin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Abstract 532-P); Dose-Exposure Relationship of Metformin XT (Abstract 517-P); Pharmacokinetics of Metformin XT versus Immediate-Release Metformin (Abstract 528-P); and Effects of Food on the Pharmacokinetics of Metformin XT (Abstract 531-P). For those unable to attend the ADA meeting, additional details of these presentations can be obtained from Andrx, starting on June 15.

Andrx will make its presentation to the International Symposium on Global Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke on Thursday, June 13, during the afternoon workshop "Insulin Resistance, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease." The presentation is entitled "Effect of Controlled-Release Metformin on the Blood Lipids of Type II Diabetic Patients."

The lipid-modifying effects of Metformin XT administered once-a-day in 46 patients with Type II diabetes mellitus were found to be comparable to those of immediate-release Metformin (Metformin IR) administered twice-a-day in 52 diabetic patients in this six-month, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled study. After six months of treatment, both Metformin XT and Metformin IR decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (-10.8% and -7.1%, respectively), while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (+13.0% and +10.3%, respectively). Total cholesterol (TC) remained relatively stable (-0.5% and -1.3%, respectively), and trigylcerides (TG) increased (+9.6% and +11.4%, respectively). Effects on hemoglobin A1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body weight (BW), and body mass index (BMI) were generally similar between Metformin XT and Metformin IR, with no statistically significant treatment differences observed at the six-month endpoint. Both formulations were generally well tolerated and exhibited similar safety profiles. The results of this study are relevant in view of the new National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines for cholesterol management, since diabetes is designated as a Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) risk equivalent in the new NCEP guidelines. The recommended goal of LDL-C therapy for most patients with diabetes is to reduce LDL-C to below 100 mg/dL.

Metformin is an oral anti-hyperglycemic agent currently used in the management of Type II diabetes mellitus, which is also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM.

Andrx Corporation is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the formulation and commercialization of oral controlled-release generic and brand pharmaceuticals utilizing its proprietary drug delivery technologies.

This release and additional information about Andrx Corporation are also available on the Internet at: http://www.andrx.com

Forward-looking statements (statements which are not historical facts) in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained in this report that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "to," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," or "continue" or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.