Patent Protection for Pantoprazole Extended to 2010 in the U.S.

Business Editors

BAD HOMBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2003

ALTANA AG (NYSE: AAA; FWB:ALT) announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office extended the term of the Pantoprazole patent in the U.S. for the period of five years under the Hatch-Waxman Act. Patent protection now is extended until July 2010.

In the U.S., Pantoprazole is marketed by Wyeth under the name Protonix(R). In Europe, Pantoprazole is protected in most countries until 2009 under Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC).

"With our partner Wyeth we are now able to provide patients in the United States further five years exclusively with Protonix to help treat their disease", commented Dr. Hans-Joachim Lohrisch, member of the Management Board of ALTANA AG and CEO of ALTANA Pharma AG. "The unbroken demand for the innovative Protonix gives ALTANA Pharma an excellent basis for further growth."

Pantoprazole (e.g. Pantozol(R)/Protonix(R)), an proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for treating acid-induced gastrointestinal and esophageal diseases, is one of the best-selling drugs worldwide. Market sales - all distributors included - totaled around EUR 2 billion in the financial year 2002. Sales generated by ALTANA itself with this drug amounted to around EUR 1 billion in the past year. The market share of new PPI prescriptions in the U.S. stood at 17.7% end of June 2003, sales in the U.S. market rose by 62% in the second quarter 2003. There was further dynamic development in business with Pantoprazole products in Europe in 2002 as well, with growth of almost 30%.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, i.e., current estimates or expectations of future events or future results. The forward-looking statements appearing in this press release include the term of the exclusive marketing rights for Pantoprazole in Europe and the US. These statements are based on information currently available to ALTANA. Many factors that ALTANA is unable to predict with accuracy could cause ALTANA's performance to be materially different from those that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include ALTANA's ability to defend its patents successfully, if challenged.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. ALTANA does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances or events that have occurred or changed after such statements have been made.

This press release is also available at www.altana.com.