CroFab™ Snakebite Antivenom Is Available for Shipment Immediately
Shipments should arrive in time for the first peak of snakebite season

Melville, NY – June 5, 2002 – Savage Laboratories®, the pharmaceutical division of Altana Inc., announced today that the Food and Drug Administration has released 3,628 vials of CroFab^TM; (Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab -- Ovine) for shipment immediately. The vials, which will be shipped to wholesalers this week, are the first vials of CroFab available this year. In March, Savage Laboratories announced that the outsourced process for the filling and freeze drying of CroFab^TM; was found to be out of specification, which resulted in a two-month delay in the release of CroFab^TM; to the market. Snakebite season generally runs from March through October, but varies geographically based on local climates. In most areas the peak activity occurs in late spring and early fall when snakes are most active.

“The availability of CroFab^TM couldn’t come any sooner. This has been a very busy year for snakebites and we haven’t even hit the first peak of the season,” said Dr. Sean Bush, Staff Emergency Physician & Envenomation Consultant, Loma Linda Medical University Center. “We’re down to our last few vials and I know the other hospitals in our area are out or running low too.”

CroFab^TM; is indicated for the management of patients with minimal or moderate North American crotalid envenomation. The term crotalid describes the Crotalidae family of venomous snakes, which includes rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths/water moccasins. CroFab^TM;, developed and manufactured by Protherics Inc., is one of two crotalid antivenoms available in the United States. Antivenin Crotalidae Polyvalent is produced by and marketed by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Inc.

About Savage Labs
Savage Laboratories® is a division of Altana, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Byk-Gulden, a multi-national pharmaceutical company based in Konstanz, Germany. Currently the strategic focus of Savage Laboratories is emergency/critical care and women’s health care. More information is available at www.savagelabs.com.

CONTACT: Russell LaMontagne of Corinth Group Communications, for Savage Laboratories(R), 212/255-5340