Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. Slashes100 Jobs

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (NYSE:PRX) today announced a restructuring of its branded division, Strativa Pharmaceuticals, as part of a strategic assessment. As a result, there has been a workforce reduction of approximately 100. The Company believes this initiative will position Strativa to achieve profitability in the near term.

Patrick G. LePore, Chairman, CEO and President of Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc., stated, "To achieve our goal of optimizing Strativa's potential, we found it necessary to reduce the number of sales representatives and focus on Megace ES and Nascobal at this time." Mr. LePore continued, "We remain fully committed to the branded business and believe it is a valuable platform for future growth."

The Company will incur one-time non-cash charges in the second quarter in addition to severance costs. These actions will generate operating expense savings in the range of $8-12 million for the remainder of 2011.

About Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc.

Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. is a US-based specialty pharmaceutical company. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary's two operating divisions, Par Pharmaceutical and Strativa Pharmaceuticals, it develops, manufactures and markets higher-barrier-to-entry generic drugs and niche, innovative proprietary pharmaceuticals. For press release and other company information, visit www.parpharm.com.

About Strativa Pharmaceuticals

Strativa Pharmaceuticals, the proprietary products division of a wholly owned subsidiary of Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (NYSE:PRX), excels at finding, enhancing, and bringing to market drugs that make a meaningful difference to patients. For more information about Strativa, visit www.strativapharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. To the extent any statements made in this news release contain information that is not historical, these statements are essentially forward-looking and, as such, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those expressed herein. Risk factors that might affect such forward-looking statements include those set forth in Item 1A of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in other of the Company's filings with the SEC from time to time, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and on general industry and economic conditions. Any forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof only, based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and, subject to any applicable law to the contrary, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc.