Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited - Aspen And Lupin Sign TB Deal

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited - Aspen And Lupin Sign TB Deal                
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited                                               
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1985/002935/06)                                            
Share code:  APN   ISIN: ZAE000066692                                           
Press Release                                                                   
September 26, 2005                                                              
ASPEN AND LUPIN SIGN TB DEAL                                                    
JSE listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited and Lupin Limited of India have    
entered into an agreement to collaborate in the tuberculosis (TB) related       
products market in South Africa.  The agreement involves cooperation in the     
areas of technology, manufacture and marketing.                                 
Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, "the agreement enhances South   
Africa and Aspen"s ability to respond to the growing TB pandemic that continues 
to affect all sectors of society.  HIV and AIDS have substantially raised TB    
infection rates in South Africa, thereby placing immense pressure on the        
country"s healthcare resources. Aspen also previously received licenses for     
multi-drug resistant TB drugs from Eli Lilly. These combined deals complement   
Aspen"s strength in the TB environment. Consequently Aspen is the only          
pharmaceutical manufacturer in the country to offer both first and second line  
TB treatments and Aspen is the continent"s leader in providing pharmaceutical   
solutions for poverty-related diseases."                                        
Dr K K Sharma, Managing Director, Lupin Limited said, "this is a great          
opportunity for Lupin and Aspen to bring cost effective TB medication to the    
growing South African market.  We are enthusiastic about our relationship with  
Aspen and we would like to see the scope of this expand over time."             
The arrangement will leverage the Lupin"s technological expertise relating to   
cures for TB, as well as Aspen"s extensive marketing and technical capabilities.
The current market size for TB medication in South Africa is estimated at       
approximately USD 15 million per annum.                                         
The agreement makes provision for milestone payments of up to USD 2 million from
Aspen to Lupin based on achievement of key deliverables and a profit sharing    
arrangement.   The agreement remains subject to the fulfilment of certain       
conditions precedent.                                                           
ends                                                                            
Issued by:     Shauneen Beukes, Shauneen Beukes Communications                  
               Tel: (012) 661-8467  :  Fax: (088) (012) 6618467                 
               Cell: 082 389 8900                                               
On Behalf Of:  Gus Attridge, Aspen Holdings Deputy Group CEO                    
Tel: (031) 580-8604 : Fax: (031) 580-8640                        

               Cell: 083 628 8813                                               
About Lupin                                                                     
Headquartered in Mumbai, Lupin (http://www.lupinworld.com) develops,            
manufactures and markets generic intermediates, active pharmaceutical           
ingredients and finished dosages.  Its FY 2004-05 revenues were USD 280 million.
Eleven of Lupin"s plants have been approved by the US FDA and two facilities    
have been approved by the UK MHRA.                                              
About Aspen                                                                     
Aspen is the southern hemisphere"s largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer  
and a global leader in generic ARVs. Aspen is also acknowledged as Africa"s     
largest pharmaceutical manufacturer and as a major supplier of branded          
pharmaceutical and healthcare products to southern African and selected         
international markets.                                                          
Aspen has an extensive basket of quality, effective and affordable products in  
the branded, generic, over-the-counter, personal care, fast moving consumer     
goods, nutriceutical and infant milk formula categories.                        
Aspen became the world"s first pharmaceutical manufacturer to be granted US Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to manufacture combination therapy       
generic anti-retrovirals (ARVs) in a co-packed form. This was enabled through   
voluntary licences from GlaxoSmithKline and Boehringer Ingleheim and underscores
Aspen"s scientific and technical capabilities, its manufacturing and quality    
standards, and GMP compliances.                                                 
Aspen"s off shore subsidiaries contribute toward the Group"s strategy of        
establishing a presence in selected geographic areas. Co-Pharma operates in the 
UK market, while UK based Aspen Resources is an intellectual property owning    
subsidiary of Aspen Holdings. Aspen Pharmacare Australia continues to complement
the Aspen Group"s off shore strategy of increased growth in selected off-shore  
territories and it is an extension of the Group"s worldwide network of strategic
alliances offering a range of products in niche market areas.                   
For more information about Aspen, click on www.aspenpharma.com                  
Date: 26/09/2005 12:00:08 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department