Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited - Aspen awarded lion"s share of ARV tender

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited - Aspen awarded lion"s share of ARV tender    
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited                                               
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1985/002935/06)                                            
Share code:  APN   ISIN: ZAE000023586                                           
Press Release                                                                   
Friday, March 4, 2005                                                           
Aspen awarded lion"s share of ARV tender                                        
JSE Securities Exchange listed Aspen Pharmacare, Africa"s largest pharmaceutical
manufacturer, has been awarded the lion"s share of the SA Government"s multi-   
million rand anti-retroviral (ARV) tender for the treatment of HIV/Aids.        
Stephen Saad, Aspen Group CEO said "we are really pleased with the announcement 
and specifically as Aspen, a local pharmaceutical manufacturer of world-class   
generic ARVs, has been selected to produce the bulk of the medicines needed to  
treat millions of South Africans inflicted with HIV/Aids. Our R200 million Oral 
Solid Dosage (OSD) facility based in Port Elizabeth was specifically established
to provide additional capacity for the increased demand for generic medicines   
and ARVs in South Africa as well as other offshore regulated markets."          
The percentage of the tender awarded to Aspen for products tendered is as       
follows:                                                                        
Aspen                                                                           
Department of Health                                                            
ARV Tender Awarded March 3, 2005                                                
Product & Dosage                    % Awarded to                                
                                    Aspen                                       
Didanosine 25mg, 50mg and 60mg      100%                                        
Nevirapine 200mg - 60"s             100%                                        
Zidovudine 300mg - 60"s             100%                                        
Zidovudine Syrup 50mg/5ml 200ml     100%                                        
Lamivudine 10mg/ml 240ml            100%                                        
Lamivudine 150mg - 60"s             80%                                         
Stavudine 20mg - 60"s               100%                                        
Stavudine 30mg - 60"s               70%                                         
Stavudine 40mg - 60"s               60%                                         
The ARV tablets and capsules will be produced at Aspen"s OSD facility, which was
recently acknowledged by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as being the 
world"s first generics manufacturing facility to receive FDA tentative approval 
for the supply of generic triple combination ARV therapy to the US$15 billion   
President"s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme. The approval is  
classified as "tentative" as there are still patents over the originator        
products in the USA.                                                            
In 2004 Aspen was selected as one of only three ARV manufacturers worldwide to  
be initially recognised by the Clinton Foundation initiative for combating      
HIV/AIDS.  This international recognition endorses Aspen"s world class          
development and production capabilities.                                        
Aspen pioneered the formulation and development of generic ARVs under voluntary 
licences from the originators and subsequently launched Aspen-Stavudine -       
Africa"s first generic ARV is August 2003. Aspen"s ARV basket is presently      
comprised of Aspen Stavudine, Aspen Didanosine, Aspen Nevirapine, Aspen         
Lamivudine (Tablets and Solution), Aspen Zidovudine (Tablets and Solution) and  
Aspen Lamzid (combination Lamivudine/Zidovudine).                               
Aspen is Africa"s largest generics manufacturer and a major supplier of branded 
pharmaceutical and healthcare products to African and selected international    
markets. Aspen"s extensive basket of quality, effective and affordable products 
is comprised of original, generic, over-the-counter (OTC), personal care, fast  
moving consumer goods (FMCG), nutriceutical and nutritional brands.             
ends                                                                            
Issued by:          Shauneen Beukes, Shauneen Beukes Communications             
                    Tel: (012) 661-8467                                         
Fax: (088) (012) 6618467                                    

                    Cell: 082 389 8900                                          
On Behalf Of:       Stephen Saad, Aspen Pharmacare Group Chief Executive        
                    Tel: (031) 580-8603                                         
Fax: (031) 580-8640                                         

                    Cell:  083 303 4833                                         
Date: 04/03/2005 12:16:03 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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