Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP Announces Class Action Suit against Forest Laboratories, Inc

Business Wire, March 11, 2005

SAN DIEGO -- Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP ("Lerach Coughlin") (http://www.lerachlaw.com/cases/forestlabs/) today announced that a class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of Forest Laboratories, Inc. ("Forest Labs") (NYSE:FRX) common stock during the period between August 15, 2002 and September 1, 2004 (the "Class Period").

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than 60 days from today. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiff's counsel, William Lerach or Darren Robbins of Lerach Coughlin at 800/449-4900 or 619/231-1058, or via e-mail at wsl@lerachlaw.com. If you are a member of this class, you can view a copy of the complaint as filed or join this class action online at http://www.lerachlaw.com/cases/forestlabs/. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member.

The complaint charges Forest Labs and certain of its officers and directors with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forest Labs develops, manufactures and sells prescription drug products, as well as non-prescription pharmaceutical products.

According to the complaint, during the Class Period, defendants caused Forest Labs' stock price to be overstated by concealing deficiencies with its Celexa/Lexapro drugs in treating adolescent depression. When Forest Labs ultimately disclosed an agreement with the New York State Attorney General to make available summaries of previously undisclosed studies on the drugs to the public, the price of Forest Labs stock dropped to as low as $36 per share.

Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all purchasers of Forest Labs common stock during the Class Period (the "Class"). The plaintiff is represented by Lerach Coughlin, which has expertise in prosecuting investor class actions and extensive experience in actions involving financial fraud.

Lerach Coughlin, a 140-lawyer firm with offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Boca Raton, Washington, D.C., Houston, Philadelphia and Seattle, is active in major litigations pending in federal and state courts throughout the United States and has taken a leading role in many important actions on behalf of defrauded investors, consumers, and companies, as well as victims of human rights violations. Lerach Coughlin lawyers have been responsible for more than $20 billion in aggregate recoveries. The Lerach Coughlin Web site (http://www.lerachlaw.com) has more information about the firm.