Pharmaceutical Product Update

Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
09 February 2005

Issued by Citigate Dewe Rogerson Limited, Birmingham
Date: Wednesday, 9 February 2005
                                                               Embargoed: 7.00am

                           Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC

                  Dechra adds new licensed veterinary products
                   and marketing partnership to its portfolio

In line with the Board's strategic focus of developing the Group's own
pharmaceutical portfolio both in the UK and internationally, the Directors of
Dechra Pharmaceuticals ('Dechra' or 'the Group') are pleased to announce the
following achievements in their veterinary product development programme:

Group launches its first significant licensed branded generic product for dogs
Dechra has also secured marketing approval for its first licensed branded
generic veterinary product. This significant new product will be the first
generic entrant to be launched in a UK market worth approximately £1.9 million;
it will be marketed for the Group by Arnolds from April when further details
will be made available.

Ovuplant(R)
Dechra's regulatory team have been successfully granted a UK marketing
authorisation for Ovuplant(R) whose chemical entity is the intellectual property
of the Australian bio-technology company, Peptech Animal Health.

Arnolds Veterinary Products ('Arnolds'), the sales & marketing division of
Dechra is expected to commence marketing the product in the last quarter of the
current financial year.

Ovuplant(R), is a controlled-release, synthetic hormone that stimulates
ovulation in brood mares within 48 hours of implantation. The seasonal product
is used widely by horse breeders in a number of worldwide markets including New
Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, Canada and Australia. It is estimated by
Peptech that there are approximately 10,000 thoroughbred mares bred each year in
the United Kingdom, from a total population of 120,000 commercial horses.

The Mutual Recognition process has commenced to licence Ovuplant(R) in Europe
(EU), a primary market which accounts for approximately 45,000 thoroughbred
mares, of which around 25,000 are in France, Italy and Germany.

Canadian Marketing Partnership for Felimazole(R) and Vetoryl(R)
The Group has signed a marketing agreement with Vetoquinol, Canada. The
partnership, which will run for an initial period of 5 years, allows Vetoquinol,
Canada the marketing and distribution rights to Dechra's own developed products
Felimazole(R) and Vetoryl(R). Dechra will retain all intellectual property
rights to both products which will be manufactured for the Canadian market at
Dales Pharmaceuticals, Dechra's manufacturing division.

This agreement follows on from similar successful partnerships established by
the Group. It clearly underpins the Group's strategy to develop and license the
Group's own branded veterinary pharmaceutical portfolio in key international
territories.

continued...

                                      -2-

Preliminary FDA Meeting for Felimazole(R)
Dechra has been granted a meeting on the 2nd March with the United States Food
and Drug Administration ('FDA') to review the suitability of the Felimazole(R)
dossier for the US Market.

Range Extensions
As previously indicated, the Group has received authorisation in the UK from the
Veterinary Medicines Directorate ('VMD') for its Felimazole(R) and Vetoryl(R)
range extensions. A 30mg Vetoryl(R) capsule, targeted specifically at small dogs
and a 2.5mg Felimazole(R) tablet for cats have been added to our successful
portfolio. These important extensions offer greater flexibility and dosing
options to the veterinary practitioner.

Vetoryl(R), currently supplied in bulk packs of 100, will also be re-launched in
April in blister packs of 30 capsules.

Interim Results
The Group will announce Interim Results on Tuesday 1 March 2005.


Enquiries:
Ian Page, Chief Executive                         Fiona Tooley, Director
Simon Evans, Group Finance Director               Katie Dale, Account Manager
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC                        Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Today: [phone]                        Today: [phone]
Mobile: [phone] (IP) or 07775 642220 (SE)    Mobile: [phone] (FMT)
www.dechra.com


Editors Background Notes:

Peptech Limited
www.peptech.com
Peptech focuses on the research and development of peptides and proteins in the
areas of human pharmaceuticals and animal health. The company is positioned to
become a globally recognised leader in bio-pharmaceutical development. Peptech
Animal Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Peptech Limited.

Vetoquinol
www.vetoquinol.com
Vetoquinol is a family-owned, independent company exclusively and passionately
dedicated to all aspects of animal health: research, development, manufacturing,
marketing and sales. Since 1933, the Company has been providing its expertise to
veterinary surgeons in the fields of anti-infectives, anti-inflammatories,
anti-parasitics, vaccines and nutraceuticals. Vetoquinol supplies products in 5
Continents through a network of subsidiaries in 15 countries and distributors in
over 80.

About Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
www.dechra.com
Dechra Pharmaceuticals are specialists in the UK and international veterinary
and animal healthcare markets. Key to the Group's strategy is the development of
its veterinary pharmaceuticals portfolio. Quoted on the London Stock Exchange
(under pharmaceuticals and biotech: Reuters: DPH.L), the business is split into
two divisions: the pharmaceutical division which includes Arnolds Veterinary
Products ('Arnolds') and Dales Pharmaceuticals ('Dales') and the services
division which includes National Veterinary Services ('NVS'), NationWide
Laboratories ('NWL'), Cambridge Specialist Laboratory Services ('CSLS') and
Vetcom Practice Management Systems ('Vetcom').

Arnolds Veterinary Products
Arnolds is one of the most well respected and recognised brand names in the
veterinary markets and holds a leading position in several specialist veterinary
pharmaceutical sectors of the UK market such as endocrinology, local anaesthesia
and equine anti-inflammatory with strong positions in several other companion
animal sectors. Its pipeline in product development remains centred around:
cardiology, endocrinology, respiratory and oncology.

Ovuplant(R)
Ovuplant(R), is a controlled-release, synthetic hormone that stimulates
ovulation in brood mares within 48 hours of implantation. It is estimated by
Peptech that there are approximately 10,000 thoroughbred mares bred each year in
the United Kingdom, from a total population of 120,000 commercial horses. The
ability to pinpoint ovulation with a high degree of accuracy allows breeders to
schedule natural or artificial insemination, and maximise the chance of
conception. This greatly reduces the potential need for repeats visits by
stallions during one ovulation cycle. Stallion service fees, which are payable
upon confirmation of pregnancy, can be as high as £50,000 in the United Kingdom.

Vetoryl(R)
Vetoryl(R) developed and launched to the UK market in 2001 by Arnolds is
manufactured at Dechra's facility, Dales Pharmaceuticals and marketed and
distributed under the Arnolds brand. The chemical entity Trilostane has been
highly effective in the treatment of Cushing's syndrome, an endocrine disorder
in dogs, where it selectively blocks glucocorticoid synthesis, reducing serum
cortisol levels. Research has shown that, by controlling the clinical signs of
the disease, symptoms in over 90% of dogs with the condition have been relieved.

Felimazole(R)
Felimazole(R) was launched into the UK market in April 2002, its license being
extended for lifelong treatment of Feline Hyperthyroidism in December 2002.
Felimazole(R) is the only licensed product on the market and was developed
in-house by Arnolds Veterinary Products. Feline Hyperthyroidism is the most
commonly diagnosed endocrine disorder in cats, in over 70% of cases the thyroid
gland is enlarged. Clinical signs are hyperactivity, weight loss, increased
heart rate and anxiety. The disease affects cats mainly over the age of 10
years. Methimazole, the chemical active in Felimazole(R) is effective in
reducing the high serum thyroid hormone concentrations, thus enabling the cat to
stabilise its thyroid hormone production and alleviate the clinical symptoms of
the disease.



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