Becomes Roberts' Largest Selling Product

         Company Expects 1998 Earnings to Exceed Analysts' Estimates

    EATONTOWN, N.J., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Roberts Pharmaceutical
Corporation (Amex: RPC) today announced that it has acquired the exclusive
U.S. rights to market Pentasa(R), a patented gastrointestinal drug for
ulcerative colitis, from Hoechst Marion Roussel, the pharmaceutical company of
Hoechst AG (NYSE: HOE).
    Roberts said it expects the first 12-months of Pentasa sales to exceed
$40 million.  This would make Pentasa the Company's largest revenue generating
drug and one of the highest gross-profit-margin products in Roberts' portfolio
of marketed pharmaceuticals.  Roberts said the transaction is expected to be
accretive to its income in 1998, and the Company expects to substantially
increase its R&D investments while also anticipating 1998 per share earnings
significantly above the First Call consensus estimate of $0.33.
    "We expect Pentasa to improve our cash flow sufficiently to fund the
increased investments in R&D and also add to our earnings strength.  While
recognizing that there will be launch expenses and that Pentasa will only
contribute sales for a part of this year, we expect our 1998 earnings to
substantially exceed current estimates.  Going forward, we foresee additional
momentum building in annual profitability through 1999 and 2000," said John T.
Spitznagel, Roberts' President and CEO.
    Roberts said that the cash transaction will involve payments to Hoechst
Marion Roussel totaling approximately $130 million and that Donaldson, Lufkin
& Jenrette Securities Corporation is arranging for $100 million in financing
for the transaction.
    Mr. Spitznagel also noted, "Pentasa sales have increased over the past
several years and this purchase fits our strategy of augmenting the
longer-term potential of our pipeline by acquiring high-potential products
consistent with our strengths and representing near-term growth
opportunities."
    Pentasa strongly complements Roberts' interests in the gastrointestinal
(GI) marketplace.  The Company currently markets a number of GI products such
as Tigan(R), Furoxone(R), Colace(R), and PeriColace(R) with others in
development, including Tazofelone, for inflammatory bowel disease, and
LY315535, for the large unsatisfied market for irritable bowel syndrome.
    Commenting on today's announcement, Dr. Robert A. Vukovich, Roberts'
Executive Chairman and Founder said, "Pentasa, coupled with the recent
launches of our first pipeline drugs Agrylin(TM) and ProAmatine(R), represent
major milestones in Roberts' plans to enhance shareholder value by positioning
the Company for growth and profitability while maintaining a high-level
commitment to the future opportunities represented by our drug development
pipeline."
    As part of today's announced transaction, Roberts will receive available
product samples and promotional materials for the 250 mg controlled release
capsule of Pentasa plus rights to a 500 mg tablet which is in Phase III
development.  Roberts intends to distribute Pentasa from its new distribution
center in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
    Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation, with operating subsidiaries in the
United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, focuses on licensing, acquiring,
developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceuticals.
    This and past press releases of Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation are
available through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call fax service at
1-800-758-5804, extension 760975 and on the Internet at
http://www.prnewswire.com and http://www.robertspharm.com.

    This release contains forward-looking statements which reflect
management's current views of future events and operations.  These
forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and external factors,
including assumptions relating to, but not limited to regulatory action,
product pricing, competitive market conditions, financial data, and other
risks or uncertainties detailed from time to time in Roberts' filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  These forward-looking statements
represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release and any
changes in the assumptions or external factors could produce significantly
different results.

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