Paladin Labs Inc. Reports Fourteenth Consecutive Year of Record Revenues

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - February 25, 2010) - Paladin Labs Inc. (TSX: PLB), a leading Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. The Company achieved record revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 and has achieved its 14th consecutive year of record revenues.

2009 Highlights

-   Revenues for 2009 totaled a record $109.7 million, a 33% increase
    compared to 2008.
-   Sales of key promoted brands including: Tridural®, Twinject®, Plan
    B®, Metadol®, Testim® and Trelstar® grew 20% in 2009 compared
    to 2008.
-   EBITDA(1) in 2009 increased 35% to a record $39.2 million compared to
    $28.9 million in 2008.
-   Closed a $58.7 million financing to help fund future growth.
-   Acquired from Wyeth a portfolio of OTC products, including Anacin®
    (acetylsalicylic acid) and Anbesol® (benzocaine).
-   Restructured the Canadian Estring® agreement with Pfizer.
-   Announced a partnership with Isotechnika Pharma Inc. for the
    commercialization of voclosporin.
-   Announced Health Canada approval of GlucaGen®.

Subsequent to Fourth Quarter
-   Received priority review status from Health Canada for Abstral®
    sublingual fentanyl, a well-established opioid used by cancer patients
    in the management of breakthrough pain.
-   Announced amendments to existing agreement with Isotechnika Pharma Inc.

"We have just closed our 14th consecutive year of record revenues and have built a diversified specialty pharma business that is dynamic and high performing. We have over $100 million of cash, no debt and a business that generated $39 million of EBITDA last year. We are well positioned for growth and fully expect 2010 to mark our 15th consecutive year of record revenues," said Jonathan Ross Goodman, President and CEO of Paladin Labs.

Financial Results

Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased 27% to a record $29.3 million compared to $23.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Revenues from the Company's key promoted brands including: Tridural®, Twinject®, Plan B®, Metadol®, Testim® and Trelstar® increased by 28% in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the same period a year ago. For the year ended December 31, 2009, revenues increased 33% to a record $109.7 million compared to $82.7 million in 2008.

EBITDA(1) for the fourth quarter in 2009 increased 29% to $9.7 million compared to EBITDA(1) of $7.5 million in the fourth quarter 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, EBITDA(1) increased 36% to a record $39.2 million compared to $29.0 million in 2008.

Net income before extraordinary gain for the fourth quarter 2009 was $934 thousand or $0.05 per fully diluted share compared to the same period in 2008 of $2.0 million or $0.14 per fully diluted share. Net income for the fourth quarter was $4.4 million or $0.23 per fully diluted share compared to net income of $6.1 million or $0.41 per fully diluted share in 2008. Net income before extraordinary gain for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $8.3 million or $0.48 per fully diluted share compared to $9.7 million or $0.65 per fully diluted share in 2008. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2009 was a record $37.7 million or $2.16 per fully diluted share, compared to net income of $13.8 million or $0.92 per fully diluted share in 2008.

Selling and marketing expense for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased to $7.2 million compared to $5.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Selling and marketing expense for the year ended December 31, 2009 increased to $26 million compared to $22 million in 2008. Selling and marketing expense, as percentage of revenues, decreased to 24% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 27% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues is primarily the result of the growth in non-promoted product revenue, including the acquisition of Dexedrine®.

Amortization expense for the fourth quarter 2009 increased to $6.6 million from $3.4 million in the corresponding period a year ago. For the year ended December 31, 2009, amortization expense increased to $25.1 million from $12.6 million in 2008. The increase in amortization expense is the result of the amortization related to the Company's recently acquired pharmaceutical product licenses and rights, principally: Dexedrine®, Antizol®, Impavido®, Anacin®, Anbesol® and Auralgan®.

As previously disclosed in August 2008, Paladin had received notices of re-assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA") relating to the use of certain non-capital losses. Paladin filed a Notice of Objection through the CRA appeals process on October 23, 2008. Subsequent to year end, Paladin received notices of re-assessment from the CRA reversing its original position. Paladin has not received a notice from the Ontario Minister of Finance ("OMF"), however, the OMF has agreed to be bound by the decision of the CRA appeals process. As a result of Paladin's success in the appeal process, an amount of $3.9 million was received from the CRA on January 20, 2010 representing a refund for the full amount of the deposit along with accrued interest.

As at December 31 2009, Paladin's cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities totaled a record $105 million. From this strong cash position, Paladin continues to pursue acquisition opportunities.

Product Developments

Subsequent to Fourth Quarter

In February 2010, Paladin received priority review status from Health Canada for Abstral® sublingual fentanyl, which provides for a 180 day review cycle. Abstral® is a novel, rapidly-disintegrating, sublingual (under the tongue) formulation of fentanyl, a well-established opioid used for the management of episodes of breakthrough pain experienced by cancer patients who are already receiving opioid analgesics for chronic pain. Abstral® complements Paladin's growing pain portfolio (Tridural®, Metadol® and Pennsaid®), and is poised to fulfill an unmet need in the cancer care market.

Also in February 2010, Paladin announced that it had agreed to amend its existing agreements with Isotechnika Pharma Inc. (TSX: ISA) that would give Paladin the full share of future net profits of the Isodiagnostika line of diagnostic products.

Financial Outlook

In 2010, Paladin expects to generate at least $120 million in revenue. This forecast excludes the impact of acquisitions that may be made by the Company between now and the end of 2010.

(1) EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) does not have any standardized meaning under Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, taxes, amortization, foreign exchange gains (losses), and unusual items; such as write-downs and gains (losses) on intellectual property and investments. EBITDA is calculated and presented consistently from period to period and agrees, on a consolidated basis, with the amount disclosed as "Earnings before under noted items" on the consolidated statement of income. The Company believes EBITDA to be an important measurement that allows it to assess the operating performance of its ongoing business on a consistent basis without the impact of amortization expenses. The Company excludes amortization expenses because their level depends substantially on non-operating factors such as the historical cost of intangible and capital assets. The Company's method for calculating EBITDA may differ from that used by other issuers and, accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to EBITDA used by other issuers.

Conference Call Notice

Paladin will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter results today at 10:00 a.m. EST. The dial-in number for the conference call is 1-800-734-4208 or 416-981-9000. The call will be audio-cast live and archived for 31 days at www.paladinlabs.com.

About Paladin Labs Inc.

Paladin Labs Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring or in-licensing innovative pharmaceutical products. With this strategy, a focused Canadian national sales team and proven marketing expertise, Paladin has evolved into one of Canada's leading specialty pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit the Company's web site at www.paladinlabs.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements and predictions. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The Company considers the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable at the time they were prepared, but cautions that these assumptions regarding the future events, many of which are beyond the control of the Company and its subsidiaries, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. Factors and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, are discussed in the annual report as well as in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events and except as required by law. For additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements, investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly fillings, annual report and Annual Information Form and other fillings found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As at December 31
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)
                                                   2009        2008
                                                      $           $
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             (unaudited) (audited(1))
ASSETS
Current
Cash and cash equivalents                        31,227       4,646
Marketable securities                            73,274      14,753
Accounts receivable                              14,167      17,889
Inventories                                      12,361       8,643
Other current assets                              2,668       2,567
Income taxes receivable                           4,630       4,209
Investment tax credits recoverable                  776          43
Future income tax assets                          6,196       9,120
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets                            145,299      61,870

Long-term marketable securities                     868       1,943
Property, plant and equipment                       691         594
Pharmaceutical product licenses and rights       42,543      58,152
Investments                                          62       4,792
Investment tax credits recoverable               14,903           -
Future income tax assets                         31,029       4,789
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                                    235,395     132,140
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities         22,934      16,464
Accounts payable to related parties               1,122       1,384
Deferred revenues                                 1,776       1,693
Income taxes payable                              7,109       6,391
Balance of sale payable                           1,650      10,429
Future income tax liabilities                       252          90
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities                        34,843      36,451

Balance of sale payable                           1,743           -
Future income tax liabilities                     4,007         341
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities                                40,593      36,792
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Shareholders' equity
Capital stock                                   119,652      60,664
Other paid-in capital                             4,408       3,155
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)        98      (1,420)
Retained earnings                                70,644      32,949
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total shareholders' equity                      194,802      95,348
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity      235,395     132,140
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Derived from the audited annual financial statements filed on
    SEDAR at www.sedar.com



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands of Canadian dollars except for share and per share amounts)

                          Three-month period          Twelve-month period
                           ended December 31            ended December 31
                         2009           2008           2009          2008
                            $              $              $             $
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (unaudited)    (unaudited)    (unaudited)   (audited(1))

Revenues               29,279         23,051        109,693        82,744
Cost of sales           8,294          5,311         29,693        20,150
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit           20,985         17,740         80,000        62,594
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Expenses (income)
Selling and marketing   7,150          5,472         26,001        22,017
General and
 administrative         2,184          2,649          8,419         7,829
Research and
 development            2,360          2,578          7,229         5,527
Interest income          (370)          (410)          (832)       (1,720)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before
 under-noted items      9,661          7,451         39,183        28,941
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amortization of
 pharmaceutical
 product licenses,
 rights and deferred
 charges                6,610          3,367         25,063        12,598
Unrealized net
 loss on derivative
 financial instruments      -            536              -           531
Net loss (gain)
 on investments           416              -            (88)          185
Foreign exchange
 loss (gain)              134             36            266           (80)
Other income                -              -           (666)         (330)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income
 taxes and
 extraordinary gain     2,501          3,512         14,608        16,037
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Provision for
 income taxes
Current                 1,269          1,234            807         4,977
Future                    298            234          5,480         1,334
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        1,567          1,468          6,287         6,311
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income before
 extraordinary gain       934          2,044          8,321         9,726
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extraordinary gain
 (net of $nil taxes)    3,458          4,072         29,417         4,072
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income for the
 period                 4,392          6,116         37,738        13,798
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Earnings per share
 before extraordinary
 gain
Basic                    0.05           0.14           0.49          0.66
Diluted                  0.05           0.14           0.48          0.65

Earnings per share
Basic                    0.24           0.41           2.23          0.93
Diluted                  0.23           0.41           2.16          0.92

Weighted average
 number of shares
 outstanding
Basic              18,538,147     14,867,535     16,933,229    14,846,306
Diluted            19,100,064     15,066,475     17,432,898    15,071,283
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

                    Three-month period ended    Twelve-month period ended
                                 December 31                  December 31
                         2009           2008           2009          2008
                            $              $              $             $
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (unaudited)    (unaudited)    (unaudited)   (audited(1))

Operating activities
Net income for
 the period             4,392          6,116         37,738        13,798
Add items not
 affecting cash
  Extraordinary gain   (3,458)        (4,072)       (29,417)       (4,072)
  Amortization          6,892          3,447         25,555        12,814
  Future income taxes     298            234          5,480         1,334
  Stock-based
   compensation
   expense                450            351          2,022         1,400
  Unrealized net
   loss on
   derivative
   financial
   instruments              -            536              -           531
  Net accreted
   interest expense
   (income)                30           (154)           127          (273)
  Net loss (gain) on
   investments            416              -            (88)          185
  Gain on disposal
   of pharmaceutical
   product licenses
   and rights               -              -           (666)         (200)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        9,020          6,458         40,751        25,517
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in
 non-cash balances
 relating to
 operations            12,024          3,976          5,807          (365)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from
 operating activities  21,044         10,434         46,558        25,152
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Investing activities
Repayment of balance
 of sale payable      (11,021)             -        (11,021)         (531)
Additions to
 pharmaceutical
 product licenses
 and rights            (2,797)       (15,227)        (8,273)      (34,562)
Business acquisitions       -         (1,446)        (7,594)       (1,446)
Acquisition of
 property, plant
 and equipment           (205)          (113)          (429)         (510)
Investment in
 portfolio companies        -              -           (130)       (3,000)
Purchases of
 short-term
 marketable securities (9,499)        (8,059)       (81,473)      (37,082)
Maturities of
 marketable securities 12,768         16,859         37,847        52,576
Purchases of
 long-term marketable
 securities                 -            (78)       (13,771)       (1,973)
Proceeds from
 disposal of
 investments                -              -          6,979           500
Proceeds from
 disposal of
 pharmaceutical
 licenses                   -              -            551           200
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows used
 in investing
 activities           (10,754)        (8,064)       (77,314)      (25,828)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financing activities
Common shares issued
 for cash, net of
 issue costs              412            563         57,409         1,517
Repurchase of shares        -              -            (72)       (2,269)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from
 (used in) financing
 activities               412            563         57,337          (752)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Net change in cash
 and cash equivalents
 during the period     10,702          2,933         26,581        (1,428)
Cash and cash
 equivalents,
 beginning of period   20,525          1,713          4,646         6,074
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash
 equivalents, end
 of period             31,227          4,646         31,227         4,646
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash and cash
 equivalents           31,227          4,646
Short-term
 marketable
 securities            73,274         14,753
Long-term
 marketable securities    868          1,943
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      105,369         21,342
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Contacts:
Paladin Labs Inc.
Samira Sakhia
Chief Financial Officer
514-669-5367
514-344-4675 (FAX)
info@paladinlabs.com
www.paladinlabs.com

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