Akorn Acquires Two Pharmaceutical Products From Johnson & Johnson Division

Business Wire, March 10, 1998

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1998--

Sufenta(R) and Alfenta(R) For Use in General Anesthesia

Akorn Inc. (NASDAQ: AKRN) announced today the completion of the acquisition of the branded products Alfenta(R) (Alfentanil Hydrochloride) and Sufenta(R) (Sufentanil Citrate) from Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson Inc.

The products for use in the maintenance of general anesthesia, were acquired by Akorn's injectable division, Taylor Pharmaceuticals Inc., which has manufactured the products for Janssen for several years.

The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Akorn's earnings. The agreement transfers the ownership of the New Drug Applications, the trade names and trademarks for both products and the patent for Alfenta(R) to Taylor Pharmaceuticals.

Floyd Benjamin, president of Taylor Pharmaceuticals Inc. stated, "This acquisition provides Taylor with two branded products that have strong name recognition in the hospital and alternate site markets. These products will enhance our anesthesia product line, which includes Sublimaze(R) and Inapsine(R), both previously acquired from Janssen."

Akorn Inc. manufactures, markets and distributes an extensive line of sterile injectable and opthalmic products. Akorn Inc.'s injectable division, Taylor Pharmaceuticals, has been known throughout the pharmaceutical industry for its contract manufacturing capabilities for over 40 years. In mid-1996, with the acquisition of Pasadena Research Laboratories, the company launched a niche injectable pharmaceutical product line under the "Taylor Pharmaceuticals" label. This product line is sold directly to the hospital, alternate site and physician office market segment. -0- The information contained in this news release, other than historical information, consists of forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Such statements regarding the timing of acquiring and developing new products, of bringing them on line and of deriving revenues and profits from them, as well as the effects of those revenues and profits on the company's margins and financial position, is uncertain because many of the factors affecting the timing of those items are beyond the company's control.

This press release is available on the KCSA Worldwide web site at www.kcsa.com.

CONTACT: Akorn, Inc.

Rita McConville

847/236-3851

or

KCSA Worldwide

Paul Holm/Joseph A. Mansi

212/682-6300, ext. 201/205