IVAX Responds to U.S. District Court Ruling on Clarithromycin ER

Business Wire, June 6, 2005

MIAMI -- IVAX Corporation (AMEX:IVX) (LSE:IVX.L) (WSE:IVX), commenting upon the U.S. District Court for the District of Northern Illinois decision to grant Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s motion for a preliminary injunction against sales by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. of its generic version of extended release antibiotic Biaxin(R), states that this decision in no way affects IVAX' recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application for clarithromycin tablets USP, 250 mg and 500 mg, a form of Biaxin that is not extended release and has a separate patent. This decision will have no affect on IVAX' distribution of this product nor IVAX' earnings guidance for 2005. IVAX also does not believe, as a noted security analyst stated, that this decision "sets a bad precedent for generics" as these sorts of cases are fact specific and may differ substantially in their merits.

IVAX Corporation, headquartered in Miami, Florida, discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets branded and brand equivalent (generic) pharmaceuticals and veterinary products in the U.S. and internationally.

Copies of this and other news releases may be obtained free of charge from IVAX' website at http://www.ivax.com.

Except for the historical matters contained herein, statements in this press release are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements, including the statements regarding IVAX' status and approval for clarithromycin, involve risks and uncertainties which may affect the company's business and prospects, including the general risks and uncertainties inherent generally in litigation; the impact of the FDA's or other administrative or judicial agency's decisions; changing market conditions; the availability and cost of raw materials and other third party products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; and other risks and uncertainties based on economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Biaxin(R) is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories.