ALTANA CEO SAYS CAN DEVELOP DAXAS ALONE

Altana AG still sees its respiratory drug Daxas having blockbuster potential and said the company is financially capable of developing the drug on its own, said chief executive Nikolaus Schweickart. Blockbuster means the drug has annual peak sales potential of at least 1 billion eur. Altana and U.S. drug giant Pfizer have agreed to terminate collaboration on Daxas, and Altana will now assume sole responsibility for the further development of Daxas and ongoing clinical studies.

Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/07/01/afx2120242.html)