direct/ UCB Full-Year 2005 Financial Results

Profit from continuing operations of 270 million euro up 37%,
and on a like-for-like basis up 16%

- Revenue increased by 24% to 2 341 million euro and on a like-for-like basis up 10%

- Growth driven by Keppra® with sales up 34% strengthening market leadership in the U.S.A.

- Allergy sales up 6% with Zyrtec® continuing to grow in the U.S.A. and Japan, and Xyzal® growing strongly in Europe

- Sale of the non-core Surface Specialties business resulted in a capital gain of 475 million euro, as UCB focuses on becoming a global biopharmaceutical leader

- Successful completion of phase III trials for CimziaTM in Crohn´s disease; submission (on 28 February 2006) of Biologics Licence Application acknowledged by the FDA

- Considerable progress in R&D pipeline with R&D investment reaching 25% of net sales

- UCB and Celltech fully integrated and synergies realised above initial 100 million euro target

- Proposed gross dividend of 0.88 euro per share (net dividend of 0.66 euro per share) compared to the gross dividend of 0.86 euro per share payable in 2005 (net dividend of 0.645 euro per share)

Brussels (Belgium), 14 March 2006, 7:00 AM CET - UCB today announced its audited financial results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2005.

Roch Doliveux, CEO of UCB comments: "In 2005, UCB delivered strong financial and operational performance in all its product franchises and geographies. Major R&D progress was achieved, especially the successful completion of the pivotal clinical trials for Cimzia(TM), the first subcutaneous anti-TNF to show efficacy for the treatment of Crohn´s disease. These positive results as well as the successful integration of Celltech clearly reinforce UCB´s momentum toward becoming a global biopharmaceutical leader."

"In 2006 net sales will continue to show solid growth, mainly driven by Keppra® which is becoming the new standard treatment of epilepsy and UCB´s top selling product. The U.S. allergy strategy is being rolled out and a New Drug Application (NDA) for Xyzal® (levocetirizine) is expected to be submitted to the FDA in mid 2006. In the meantime, we are selecting a partner to market this new anti-histamine in the U.S.A. We are actively preparing and investing for the launch of Cimzia(TM) for the treatment of Crohn´s disease, which we target for the first half of 2007.
Furthermore, investment in R&D should remain at 25% of net sales in 2006 to support the clinical development of Cimzia(TM) in new indications and advance our pipeline. We look to Cimzia(TM)´s excellent clinical performance and unique molecular design to contribute to UCB´s continuing success."

Please click on the link below for the full version of the press release:
http://www.directnews.de/servlets/LoadBinaryServlet/1187997/Results_FY2005_ENG_140306.pdf


Enquiries please contact:

Jean-Christophe Donck
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Phone +32.2.559.9346
Email jc.donck@ucb-group.com




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