Press Releases

Nycomed and ALTANA AG have announced the closing of the transaction from the New Year transferring ALTANA Pharma AG to Nycomed. At a closing ceremony in Frankfurt today, the formal transfer of shares from ALTANA AG to Nycomed was signed by representatives of both sides. The transfer will take effect as of 1 January 2007.

Today, the shareholders of ALTANA AG approved the sale of ALTANA Pharma to Nycomed at an Extraordinary General Meeting. On 21 September 2006, Nycomed announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire ALTANA Pharma AG, the pharmaceutical business of German-based international pharmaceuticals and chemicals group, ALTANA AG, for a total value of € 4.215 billion.

Nycomed today announced that it has received the necessary merger approvals from competition authorities in the EU and the US, allowing the Company, in coordination with ALTANA AG, to continue the transaction process according to plan.

Anders Ullman has been appointed to lead Nycomed’s research and development function upon approval and completion of the deal to purchase ALTANA Pharma. Anders Ullman has a 16 year track record of medical research and development, most recently as Senior Vice President, Research & Development, at the European biopharma company Biovitrum.

Nycomed and DURECT Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX), a US-based emerging specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced the signing of a license agreement for POSIDUR™ (SABER™-bupivacaine), a long-acting and local pain relief depot for the treatment of post-surgical pain, currently in Phase II clinical development As part of the agreement, Nycomed and DURECT will establish and co-fund a joint development program designed to bring POSIDUR through Phase III clinical development, and aim to achieve European and US regulatory approval of POSIDUR. DURECT and Nycomed anticipate initiating Phase III trials in 2007. The license agreement grants Nycomed the exclusive rights to market POSIDUR...

Nycomed today announced an offer to purchase and consent solicitation for any and all of its 11.50% Senior Notes due 2013 and any and all of its 11.75% PIK Notes due 2013. The consent deadline for the offer to purchase is 30 November 2006 and the offer to purchase expires on 21 December 2006, unless extended or terminated. The offer to purchase is conditional upon, among other things, the completion of the ALTANA Pharma acquisition and the related financing.

The financial results reported in this press release are related to Nycomed A/S, which, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, comprises all of the Nycomed Group’s operations. A full report is available under www.nycomed.com/investors/financials.

Plans for Nycomed’s proposed purchase of ALTANA Pharma AG moved forward today with the announcement of the Executive Committee that will lead the new company upon approval and completion of the deal.

Nycomed today commences the syndication of its new € 5.7 billion senior credit facilities, the proceeds of which will be used to finance its previously announced acquisition of ALTANA Pharma and to refinance existing debt.

Today Nycomed announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire ALTANA Pharma AG, the pharmaceutical business of German-based international pharmaceuticals and chemicals group, ALTANA AG.

The financial results reported in this press release are related to Nycomed A/S, which, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, comprises all of the Nycomed Group’s operations. A full report is available under www.nycomed.com | investors | financials. Conference call today at 4:00 PM (CET). See more details below.

Today, Nycomed announced the acquisition of Romanian pharmaceutical company, Ruby De Tacos, thereby further strengthening its European presence.