Acquisition(s)

31 October 2002
                                                                               
                 PURCHASE OF US RIGHTS TO SUBUTEX®& SUBOXONE®                  

Reckitt Benckiser plc (RB.L) announced today the purchase of the licence to
distribute Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) and Subutex® (buprenorphine) in
the USA from Schering-Plough Corporation (SGP). Schering-Plough will retain the
rights to distribute the two products internationally (excluding Japan, Taiwan,
Korea, Australia and New Zealand).

Subutex and Suboxone recently received US FDA approval and will become useful
additions to the available range of pharmacotherapies that can help
opiate-dependent patients overcome their addiction. The major benefit of
Subutex/Suboxone is that qualified physicians in the US will now be able to
treat patients with these products in the privacy of the Doctor's office rather
than only from the limited number of existing drug treatment programs.

Subutex first received marketing approval in France and was launched in
February 1996 by Schering-Plough under a global distribution licence from
Reckitt Benckiser. Since then the product has been launched in 24countries.
Licence income from these sales formsa modest but growing contribution to
Reckitt Benckiser's core Health & Personal Care category.

For further information                                                        
                                                                               
Tom Corran                                                                     
                                                                               
SVP Investor Relations & Corporate Communications    [phone]       
                                                                               
www.reckittbenckiser.com                                                       
                                                                               
For further information on Suboxone                                            
                                                                               
www.suboxone.com                                                               
                                                                               
Call Centre at [phone]                                                 

Note For Editors

Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare's involvement in prescription drugs is a legacy of
Reckitt & Colman's involvement in basic new chemical entity research in the
1960's and 1970's. Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare now focuses mainly on
Over-the-Counter medicines such as Gaviscon, Lemsip, Disprin, Senokot and
Fybogel.

Reckitt Benckiser plc is the world's largest household cleaning product company
(excluding laundry detergent) with net revenues in 2001 of £3.4bn ($5.25bn) and
net income of £340m ($525m). The Company has many world leading positions
including in disinfecting cleaning (Lysol, Dettol), Automatic Dishwashing
(Finish, Electrasol, Jet Dry), Fabric Treatment (Vanish, Spray `nWash), Fine
Fabric (Woolite) and Depilatories (Veet) and is a major player in Air Care (Air
Wick, Wizard). Reckitt Benckiser operates in some 60 countries, has sales in
some 180 countries and is headquartered in the UK. Reckitt Benckiser plc is
listed on the London Stock Exchange.