RECORDATI : Autorisation de l'Allemagne pour Zanitek(R), un nouveau produit ? base de lercanidipine

Milan, le 27 juillet 2006 – Recordati a annoncé que son nouveau produit, Zanitek®, un mélange fixe de lercanidipine et d'enalapril, a reçu l'autorisation de l'agence allemande du médicament, BfArM. L'Allemagne agira en tant qu'État membre de référence dans le cadre de la procédure de reconnaissance mutuelle pour le reste de l'Europe, censée se finaliser courant 2007.

La plupart des patients hypertendus, en particulier ceux présentant des facteurs de risque associés, nécessitent désormais de multiples thérapies qu'utilisent plus d'un médicament pour maintenir la tension artérielle aux niveaux souhaités. Fixed combinations of more than one antihypertensive agent will therefore play a significant and increasing role in the future hypertension market. The advantages of fixed combinations as opposed to the administration of separate treatments are significant. The combined dosages of the drugs are those broadly used by the physician and their efficacy and tolerability have been proven in clinical trials. The reduction of the number of pills a patient must take, especially in the elderly, increases patient compliance – which is extremely important in chronic treatments aimed at reducing and preventing cardiovascular risk.

"This is a very important achievement for our Group and confirms the effectiveness of our research activities and our regulatory capabilities in Europe", stated Giovanni Recordati, Chairman and CEO. "Sales of lercanidipine already account for 30% of our pharmaceutical revenues. Even after a number of years from its launch our product continues to improve its performance in the main international markets. Sales of lercanidipine in the first half 2006 increased by more than 25% over the same period of the preceding year. The importance for our group of Zanitek®, a modern drug which meets the needs of both patients and medical practitioners, cannot be underestimated and we expect a sequence of launches in the main European markets."

Recordati, established in 1926, is a European pharmaceutical group, listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (Reuters RECI.MI, Bloomberg REC IM, ISIN IT 0003828271), dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, with headquarters in Milan, Italy, operations in the main European countries, and a total staff of over 2,000. A European field force of over 1,000 medical representatives promotes a wide range of innovative pharmaceuticals, both proprietary and under license, in a number of therapeutic areas. Recordati's current and growing coverage of the European pharmaceutical market makes it a partner of choice for new product licenses from companies which do not have European marketing organizations. Recordati is committed to the research of new drug entities within the cardiovascular and urogenital therapeutic areas in which its research team has proven scientific competence and a track record of discovery and development of original drugs, the most recent of which, lercanidipine, a latest generation calcium channel blocker for the treatment of hypertension, is the company's leading product. Consolidated revenue for 2005 was € 576.1 million, operating income was € 111.1 million and net income was € 64.5 million.

For further information:

Recordati website: www.recordati.com

Investor Relations
Marianne Tatschke
(39)0248787393
e-mail: [email protected]

Claudio Rossetti (Echo Comunicazione d'Impresa)
(39)02 62694736
e-mail: [email protected]

Statements contained in this release, other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements are based on currently available information, on current best estimates, and on assumptions believed to be reasonable. This information, these estimates and assumptions may prove to be incomplete or erroneous, and involve numerous risks and uncertainties, beyond the Company's control. Hence, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

All mentions and descriptions of Recordati products are intended solely as information on the general nature of the company's activities and are not intended to indicate the advisability of administering any product in any particular instance.