Almirall S.p.A. to be awarded the “Spanish Company of the year in Italy”

Turnover by Almirall S.p.A in 2006 will total around 50 million euros

The affiliate has a workforce of over 220 people, 50% more than in 2005

Barcelona, December 18th 2006. - Almirall S.p.A., the Italian affiliate of the pharmaceutical laboratories, has been presented with the award for the “Spanish Company of the year in Italy” given every year by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Italy.The award was presented during the Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas dinner and is a reward of Almirall’s expansion and results in Italy.

The award is an appreciation of employment creation by the Almirall affiliate during 2006. Staff numbers have increased by around 50% compared to the previous year.It currently has over 220 employees and has opened new offices in Milan. Results for 2006 will show around 50 million euros of turnover. According to Andrew Thompson, General Manager of Almirall in Italy, “rapid growth of the company in Italy is a clear sign of the huge investment and efforts made by Almirall in the Italian pharmaceutical sector, particularly bearing in mind the specific difficulties this market is experiencing at the moment”.

All members of the Chamber were invited to the event. The act was attended by the Finance and Commerce Counsellor for the Spanish Commerce Office in Milan –OFECOMES–, Mr Antonio Maudes Gutierrez; Finance and Commerce Counsellor for OFECOMES in Rome, Mr Agustín Mainar Alfonso; and the president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Italy, Ms Meritxell Roca Ortega, who was presenting the award to Luciano Conde, Chief Operating Officer of Almirall and Andrew Thompson, General Manager of Almirall in Italy.

This affiliate was set up in 2002 and started commercialising Almirall R&D drugs in Italy like the anti-inflammatory Airtal (aceclofenac), the anti-migraine drug Almogran (almotriptan), the gastroprocinetic drug Motilex (cleboprid) and the antihistamine drug Kestine (ebastine). In addition, it now has the proton pump inhibitor Pantopan (pantoprazole)and has just launched on the Italian market Kestine Lio (fast dissolving ebastine).Almirall S.p.A. performs clinical research in areas such as migraine, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and multiple sclerosis.

Almirall, a leading company committed to health

Almirall is a consolidated international pharmaceutical company that researches, develops and commercialises its own R&D and licensed drugs with the aim of improving people’s health and quality of life.

The therapeutic areas on which Almirall is focussing its research resources are related to the treatment of asthma, CPOD, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Investment in R&D for the next five years will total 750 million euros, the largest investment in this area by a Spanish pharmaceutical company.

Almirall, whose headquarters are in Barcelona, has a staff of over 3,200 people, of whom 500 work in R&D and 1,000 are working internationally. Almirall is currently present in over 100 countries with direct presence in Europe and Latin America through its affiliates in Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Mexico.

For more information:

Ketchum/SEIS

Carla Cudós / Victoria Hernández

carla.cudos@ketchum.com

victoria.hernandez@ketchum.com

Tel.: +34 91 788 32 00.- Fax: +34 91 788 32 99