EATONTOWN, N.J., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Roberts Pharmaceutical
Corporation (Amex: RPC) today reported financial results for the third-quarter
and nine-month period ended September 30, 1997.
    As was indicated in the Company's press release of September 18th, certain
items that were largely non-recurring in nature impacted third-quarter 1997
earnings and, in turn, Roberts today reported a net loss for the quarter of
$0.11 per share, in line with the previously announced expectations.  In
addition to a one-time, pre-tax cost of $2.3 million for settling a
shareholder lawsuit, third-quarter 1997 results included the effect of a
promotional investment in Roberts' over-the-counter laxatives to pursue a
unique marketing opportunity that arose after a leading competitive brand was
withdrawn from the marketplace.  Per share earnings in the comparable period
of 1996 amounted to a loss of $0.17 from continuing operations.
    Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 1997 were $28.6 million, an
increase of 32% from the $21.7 reported for the same period the year earlier.
Third-quarter 1997 revenues benefited from this year's U.S. introductions of
ProAmatine(R) and Agrylin(TM), albeit the overall year-to-year advance in
revenues, as noted in the September 18th press release, was tempered by back
orders for some other products.  Additionally, third-quarter 1997 revenues do
not include sales of certain divested non-strategic products which were
included in the revenues reported for the third-quarter of 1996.
    During the nine-month period ended September 30, 1997, revenues
increased 29.8% to $85.3 million from $65.7 million in the comparable period
of 1996.  Per share earnings for the nine-months ended September 30, 1997
amounted to a loss of $0.03 compared to a loss from continuing operations of
$0.46 in the same period a year earlier.
    As of September 30, 1997, the Company's position of cash, cash
equivalents and marketable securities amounted to $89.7 million.  At that
time, total long-term debt, including current installments, stood at
$10.9 million.  Total shareholders' equity on September 30, 1997 was
$314.5 million.
    "The third-quarter of 1997 was characterized by what we believe
to be timing issues and, in the case of the settlement costs, a significant
one-time event," said John T. Spitznagel, Roberts President and CEO.  He
concluded by noting, "With the quarter now behind us, we are optimistic about
our future and continue to expect a resumption in profitability in the fourth
quarter of the year."
    Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation, with operating subsidiaries
in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, focuses on new health
care solutions through the acquisition and development of specialty
pharmaceuticals.  The Company's first pipeline product, ProAmatine, was
recently launched in the US as the first FDA cleared drug to treat orthostatic
hypotension.  Agrylin, Roberts second pipeline product, has since been
launched in the US as the first drug cleared to treat essential
thrombocythemia and is currently under review for approval in Canada and the
European Union.
    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 may contain 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 regulatory action and competing products.  Any changes
in such assumptions or external factors could produce significantly different
results.

                      ROBERTS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
                       Financial Highlights Operations
                     (in millions, except per share data)
                                 (unaudited)

                                For the nine months    For the three months
                                   ended Sept. 30,       ended Sept. 30,
                                    1997      1996       1997      1996
    Total revenue                  $85.3     $65.7      $28.6     $21.7
    Gross profit                    46.6      33.0       14.6      11.4
    Operating expenses              47.3      44.5       17.6      14.9
    Operating income (loss)         (0.7)    (11.5)      (3.0)     (3.5)
    Other income (expenses) (net)*   1.0      (0.4)      (1.1)     (0.1)
    Income (loss) before taxes       0.3     (11.9)      (4.1)     (3.6)
    Provision (benefit) for taxes    0.4      (2.8)      (1.1)     (0.5)
    Net income from
      continuing operations         (0.1)     (9.1)      (3.0)     (3.1)
    Discontinued operations          0.0       4.0        0.0       0.0
    Net income (loss)              ($0.1)    ($5.1)     ($3.0)    ($3.1)
    Per share net income (loss):
      Continuing operations       ($0.03)   ($0.46)    ($0.11)   ($0.17)
    Discontinued operations        $0.00     $0.20      $0.00     $0.00
    Net income (loss)             ($0.03)   ($0.26)    ($0.11)   ($0.17)
    Weighted average number of
      common shares
      and equivalents (000's)     29,162    19,582      28,426   18,820

    Balance sheet items as of September 30, 1997
    Cash and marketable securities          89.7
    Long-term debt                            11
    Total shareholders' equity             314.5

    * Includes $2.3 million for settlement of shareholder lawsuit and
      associated expenses.

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