Second Quarter Net Revenues Increased 24 Percent, Income from Operations Grew 31 Percent

APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPX), a leading manufacturer of multi-source and branded injectable pharmaceutical products, today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2008. As a result of the separation of Abraxis BioScience from APP Pharmaceuticals in the fourth quarter of 2007, APP’s business is reported, for all periods presented, on a continuing operations basis.

Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Net revenues increased 24 percent to $197.9 million, compared with $159.3 million in the second quarter of 2007. Gross profit increased to $94.1 million, compared with $80.2 million in the second quarter of 2007. Excluding $4.2 million for amortization of purchased products, gross profit was $98.3 million, or 50 percent of net revenues, compared with $84.3 million or 53 percent of net revenues, in the second quarter of 2007.

Total operating expenses were $40.9 million, compared with $39.6 million in the 2007 second quarter. Research and development expenses were $13.8 million compared with $12.7 million in last year’s second quarter, including costs associated with the technology transfer and start-up of the Puerto Rico manufacturing facility. SG&A expenses were $21.2 million, or 11 percent of net revenues, compared with $22.7 million, or 14 percent of net revenues, in the prior year second quarter.

Income from operations increased 31 percent to $53.3 million compared with $40.6 million in the 2007 second quarter. Net interest expense was $13.5 million compared with $4.4 million in the last year’s second quarter, primarily reflecting the increase in borrowing following the separation of Abraxis Bioscience, that was completed in November 2007.

Net income was $23.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with second quarter 2007 income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $22.8 million or $0.14 per diluted share on a continuing operations basis.

The company reported adjusted income from continuing operations of $38.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared with $36.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2007, which in each case excludes Puerto Rico facility pre-launch costs, amortization expense, non-cash stock compensation expense, separation, merger and other non-recurring costs (see table at the end of this release).

“In the second quarter, solid revenue growth across our product categories led to our strong financial performance,” said Tom Silberg, APP Pharmaceuticals’ president and chief executive officer. “We have revised upward our 2008 financial guidance to reflect strong second quarter results as well as positive trends in our Critical Care and Anesthetic/Analgesic products.”

First Six Months of 2008 Financial Results

Net revenues increased 15 percent to $346.0 million, compared with $299.6 million for the first six months of 2007. Gross profit was $164.2 million compared with $145.6 million, in the first six months of 2007. Excluding $8.3 million for amortization of purchased products, gross profit was $172.5 million, or 50 percent of net revenues, compared with $153.9 million or 51 percent of net revenues, in the first half of 2007.

Total operating expenses were $78.5 million, compared with $75.8 million in the comparable 2007 period. Research and development expenses were $26.2 million compared with $22.6 million in first six months of last year, including Puerto Rico technology transfer costs. SG&A expenses were $42.2 million or 12 percent of net revenues, compared with $44.7 million or 15 percent of net revenues, in the prior year six month period.

Income from operations increased 23 percent to $85.7 million compared with $69.8 million in the 2007 six month period. Net interest expense was $29.3 million compared with $8.0 million in the first six months of last year, primarily reflecting the increase in borrowing following the Abraxis Bioscience separation.

Net income, for the six months ending June 30, 2008, was $33.0 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, versus income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $36.4 million, or $0.23 per diluted share.

The company reported adjusted net income from continuing operations of $60.5 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared with $62.6 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, which in each case excludes Puerto Rico facility pre-launch costs, amortization expense, non-cash stock compensation expense, separation, merger and other non-recurring costs (see table at the end of this release).

APP currently has approximately 65 product candidates in various stages of development, including 25 ANDAs pending with the FDA, representing approximately $4 billion in 2007 annualized branded sales.

Recent Events

APP has received FDA final approval for Colistimethate for Injection. Shortly after the end of the quarter, the Company received final approvals and launched additional dosages of Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection.

2008 Financial Guidance

• Total net revenues are expected to be in the range of $800 to $820 million;
• Gross margin is anticipated to be approximately 51 to 52 percent relative to total net revenues. This excludes $16.4 million in acquired product portfolio amortization and $2.1 million stock compensation;
• R&D expense is expected to be approximately $25 to $30 million, excluding approximately $25 million associated with technology transfer and capacity optimization of the Puerto Rico manufacturing facility;
• SG&A expenses are anticipated to be in the range of $75 to $80 million, which excludes expected non-cash stock compensation expense of $6 million and approximately $20 million of merger and separation related expenses;
• Interest expense is expected to be approximately $60 million;
• Income tax rate is expected to be approximately 41 percent;
• Depreciation expense is expected to be approximately $20 to $24 million;
• Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $325 to $350 million. Adjustments, as noted above, reflect the exclusion of costs associated with the technical transfer and operational start-up of the Puerto Rico facility, expenses resulting from the separation of Abraxis Bioscience, costs associated with the ongoing Fresenius merger activities, non-cash compensation costs, and miscellaneous non-recurring costs;
• Adjusted EPS, reported on a consistent basis as Adjusted EBITDA above, is anticipated to be $0.85 to $0.95.

Conference Call Information

On Friday, August 1, 2008, the company will host a conference call with interested parties beginning at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET) to review the company’s financial results. The conference call will be available to interested parties through a live audio webcast at www.APPpharma.com and www.thomsonone.com. The call will also be archived and accessible at both sites for six months.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company believes that its presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted net income, adjusted income from continuing operations, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, provides useful supplementary information to investors in understanding the underlying operating performance of the company and facilitates additional analysis by investors. The company also uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for operating, budgeting and financial planning purposes. The non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, and not a substitute for or superior to, measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to adjusted net income for the three and six months ending June 30, 2008 is included with this news release.

About APP Pharmaceuticals

APP is a specialty drug company that develops, manufactures and markets injectable pharmaceutical products, focusing on oncology, anti-infective and critical care markets. The company is one of the largest producers of injectables, with more than 100 generic products in more than 400 dosage formulations. APP, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, has offices in Canada and manufacturing operations in Illinois, New York and Puerto Rico and is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol APPX. For more information about APP and the products it provides, please visit www.APPpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

The statements contained in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, goals, intentions, initiatives or strategies, including statements regarding financial guidance for 2008, trends in our product lines, and the development and approval of product candidates. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward- looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the continued market acceptance and demand of new and existing products; the difficulties or delays in developing, testing, obtaining regulatory approval of, and producing and marketing of the company’s products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the availability and pricing of ingredients used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products; and the ability to successfully manufacture products in a time-sensitive and cost effective manner. Additional relevant information concerning risks can be found in APP Pharmaceuticals Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and other documents it has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The information contained in this news release is as of the date of this release. APP assumes no obligations to update any forward-looking statements contained in this news release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

Investors and Media:
APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Maili Bergman, 310-405-7522
or
PondelWilkinson
Robert J. Jaffe/Rob Whetstone, 310-279-5969