AGM Statement

Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
16 October 2002









Issued by Citigate Dewe Rogerson Ltd, Birmingham

Date: Wednesday, 16 October 2002

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                           Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC

                             Annual General Meeting


At today's Annual General Meeting (16 October 2002), Michael Redmond, Chairman
told shareholders:


'The Board is pleased to report solid trading in the first quarter.


National Veterinary Services ('NVS'), our principal trading subsidiary,
continues to achieve organic growth through operational efficiencies and high
customer service levels. NVS continues to lead in this highly competitive
market, a sector which has itself seen strong growth over the last three months.


Arnolds Veterinary Products Ltd ('Arnolds') is continuing to focus on the
development of the Group's licensed veterinary pharmaceutical portfolio.
Recently Arnolds announced a collaboration agreement with Maelor plc for the
development and marketing of Maelor's patented technology for use in the
veterinary market.


The transfer of the Anglian Pharma Plc activities, acquired in May 2002, to our
Dales manufacturing operation in Skipton is on schedule with the first two
phases of a three-phase programme completed. We anticipate that the move will be
successfully concluded in the third quarter.


The additional capacity and resources this development creates will allow us to
further drive our revenue growth over the medium term. The strengthened
management team has already secured additional new business at Dales and has
identified further operational efficiencies that will be implemented following
the rationalisation of Anglian.


The businesses of North Western Laboratories and Cambridge Specialist Laboratory
Services have continued to achieve our pre-acquisition expectations. I am
pleased to report that they have recently secured a significant contract to
provide laboratory and clinical pathology services to a major corporate
veterinary group.


On a different note, the Competition Commission's final report in relation to
their inquiry into the supply of prescription-only veterinary medicines is to be
submitted to The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in early January
2003.


At this stage, the hypothetical remedies proposals detailed in their
announcement on 17 September are potentially open to change. However, we believe
that the current proposals are unlikely to have any material impact on the
performance of our trading subsidiary, NVS. Furthermore, the Group is in a
strong position to service and support the requirements of our existing and new
customers if and when change is implemented.


Overall, your Directors remain confident in the prospects for growth being
achieved and I look forward to updating shareholders at the Interim Results
which are scheduled to be announced in early March.'


All resolutions were duly passed.

Enquiries:

Michael Redmond, Non-Executive Chairman                     Fiona Tooley (mobile: [phone])

Ian Page, Chief Executive (mobile: [phone])            Katie Dale (mobile: [phone]

Dechra(R) Pharmaceuticals PLC                               Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Tel: [phone]                                           Tel: [phone]

www.dechra.com



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