UCB S.A. 60 Allée de la Recherche, B-1070 ()

Press Release

Brussels, 3 December 2004

H.R.H. PRINCE VISITS THE UCB SITE IN BRAINE- L’ALLEUD TOGETHER WITH THE WALLOON AUTHORITIES

During his visit at the UCB site in Braine-l’Alleud on Friday 3 December 2004, H.R.H. Prince Philippe of Belgium presided over a round-table discussion on the topic of "pharmaceutical research: safeguarding the future”.

The participants were: Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe, Minister-President of the Walloon Region, Jean-Claude Marcourt, Walloon Minister for the Economy and the Employment, Marie-Dominique Simonet, Walloon Minister for Scientific Research and New Technology, Jean-Louis Vanherweghem, President of the Board of ULB, Marcel Crochet, former Rector of UCL, Kurt Vandenberghe, European Commission, Thierry Appelboom, Professor, rheumatologist at Hospital, Jean Stephenne, President and General Manager of GSK Biologicals, Roch Doliveux, Director-General of UCB Pharma, and Georges Jacobs, Chairman of the Executive Committee of UCB.

The discussion brought to the fore the conditions needed to guarantee the future of the pharmaceutical industry in Belgium and in particular Wallonia.

Wallonia must develop a highly qualified workforce in this sector, which provides considerable added value as a clean, environmentally friendly industry that uses few raw materials and is likely to generate exports.

At the round-table discussion, the leaders of industry stressed the need for a climate that promotes a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation and that meets training requirements so as to attract the sectors of research and production to the Walloon region.

During the event, the second production unit for the antiepileptic drug Keppra was officially opened. At the inauguration ceremony tribute was paid to the UCB research team and the staff in charge of production of the drug.

About UCB Pharma

UCB Pharma is part of the UCB Group, a global pharmaceutical and specialty chemical company with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. UCB Pharma is a global biopharma leader, specialising in the fields of central nervous system disorders, allergy and respiratory disease, immune and inflammatory disorders and oncology. UCB Pharma’s key products are Keppra® (antiepileptic), Xyzal® and Zyrtec® (antiallergics), Nootropil® (cerebral function regulator), and Tussionex® (antitussive). UCB Pharma employs over 8,000 people operating in over 100 countries and, in 2003, achieved sales of €1.5 billion.

For further information please contact:

UCB - Press contacts Ogilvy PR Laurence Battaille Evelyn Gessler Head of Corporate Communication Lorraine de Fierlant Tel.: +32 (2) 559 95 88 Bld de l’Impératrice, 13 1000 Brussels UCB - Investor Relations contacts Tel.: +32 (2) 545 66 00 Arnaud Denis Fax: +32 (2) 545 66 10 Investor Relations Manager E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +32 (2) 559 92 64 E-mail: [email protected]