Aspen Pharmacare & Merck Generics (RSA) - Enter Into Intellectual Property

Transfer Agreement
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited

Aspen Pharmacare, South Africa's largest listed pharmaceutical company, has
entered into an intellectual property transfer and mutual co-operation
agreement for Southern Africa with Generics (UK) Limited and Merck Generics
(RSA)subsidiaries of the international Merck Generics Group.

Reciprocal rights of access have been granted by Merck Generics and Aspen
Pharmacare to their respective intellectual property for the next five
years.

The intellectual property includes all existing registration dossiers, those
currently in development, and any of those which are developed or may be in
the process of development over the next five years.  A reciprocal royalty
arrangement has been structured between the parties.

Aspen Pharmacare Group CEO, Stephen Saad said: "This deal serves to bolster
our pipeline and give it depth and continuity for the future.  Merck are one
of the leading generic companies worldwide and have a pipeline of dossiers
to maintain this status.  As an important regional player, Aspen Pharmacare
has endeavoured to foster relations with leading multinational generic
companies in order to build on our strong South African platform.  As a
result of the co-operation we currently enjoy in the UK with Merck Generics
via our subsidiary Co-pharma, Merck Generics (RSA) was our logical choice of
partners for South Africa.  We hope in future to extend this relationship to
other areas of co-operation."

Deon Vos, Managing Director of Merck Generics (RSA) said:  "Aspen is the
dominant generic player in this country.  We believe that with our breadth
of intellectual property and Aspen's regional and field presence we have the
making of a win-win relationship for both companies.  This deal, because it
covers a generic product portfolio, will be of benefit to the South African
consumer."
27 September
Durban