Leerink Swann & Company Initiates Coverage of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BRL) Mylan Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: MYL)

Market Wire, December, 2005

This morning, Senior Generic Pharmaceutical Analyst, William F. Sawyer, initiated coverage of Barr Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: BRL) with an Outperform rating and Mylan Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: MYL) with a Market Perform rating. He bases his investment rating for Barr on his view that solid operating performance from Barr's generic and branded businesses position the company for significant earnings growth in 2006 and beyond. His investment rating for Mylan is formed from his out-of-consensus view that its operating performance may be disappointing over the next few quarters.

About Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BRL)

Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets generic and proprietary prescription pharmaceuticals. The company currently manufactures and distributes more than 100 pharmaceutical products in core therapeutic categories including oncology, female healthcare (including hormone replacement and oral contraceptives), cardiovascular, anti-infectives and psychotherapeutics. The company is headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

About Mylan Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: MYL)

Mylan Laboratories Inc. is one of the world's leading manufacturers of prescription medicines specializing in developing, manufacturing and marketing generic pharmaceuticals. Mylan manufactures and markets over 140 generic products in approximately 360 product strengths, covering over 40 therapeutic categories. The company is headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

About Leerink Swann & Company

Leerink Swann & Company is an investment banking firm that provides healthcare equity research, corporate finance, and asset management services for institutional and high-net-worth clients. Leerink Swann & Company was voted the Best Firm in Biotechnology, Medical Supplies and Devices, Pharmaceuticals/Major and Pharmaceuticals/Specialty in the December 2004 Institutional Investor poll ranking the best boutique and regional firms by sector. Through its consulting affiliate, MEDACorp, Leerink Swann & Company provides biomedical-consulting services to Life Sciences companies and to the institutional investment community. MEDACorp includes thousands of biomedical professionals and practicing physicians. Leerink Swann & Company is a member NASD/SIPC.

Contact: John I. Fitzgerald Leerink Swann & Company (617) 918-4564 www.leerink.com