Optaflexx™ Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Use in Combination with Rumensin® and Tylan®

Optaflexx Now Available for Purchase

GREENFIELD, INDIANA, January 28, 2004 - The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Optaflexx to be fed to beef cattle in combination with two other commonly used feed ingredients, Rumensin and Tylan. Now commercially available, Optaflexx is the first cattle feed ingredient that, when fed during the last 28 days1 of the finishing period, increases live weight gain, improves feed efficiency and increases red meat yield, while maintaining beef's natural taste, tenderness and juiciness.

"With the combination approval of Optaflexx with Rumensin and Tylan, cattle feeders can now utilize all three ingredients within a ration and benefit from each product's positive effects," says Andy Crook, marketing manager, Elanco Animal Health. "In addition to the advantages Optaflexx offers in beef cattle, Rumensin prevents and controls coccidiosis; Tylan reduces the incidence of profit-limiting liver abscesses."

Based on the recommended dose2 of 200 mg of Optaflexx per head per day for 28 days, beef producers can expect 17 more pounds per head of live weight gain, 14 more pounds of additional carcass weight and improved nutrient usage, allowing cattle to increase red meat yield on the same amount of feed.

Since the U.S. FDA approved Optaflexx as a single feed ingredient in June of 2003, Elanco has been conducting an extensive international and domestic outreach program. Elanco personnel have been working with nutritionists, veterinarians, customers and key stakeholders - such as packers and processors - to best determine how to integrate this new technology into current industry practices to derive maximum value for all segments of the food chain. As a part of the responsible introduction, Elanco has spent the past few months educating and working with key stakeholders and will now make Optaflexx available for purchase. Optaflexx can be purchased via traditional distribution outlets for animal health feed ingredients.

"With this new management practice, we're working directly with feedyards and their consultants to help determine how best to integrate Optaflexx into each yard's day-to-day operations," says Crook. "We've been working diligently with consulting nutritionists and veterinarians; feed company personnel; animal health and micro-ingredient machine distributors; and feedyard software suppliers to help them prepare to assist their clients and customers with the adoption of Optaflexx into their finishing programs."

Optaflexx will be available in a 25-pound bag containing 45.4 grams of ractopamine hydrochloride per pound. The product must be thoroughly mixed into feeds before use. There is no withdrawal.

Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, based in Greenfield, Indiana, is one of the world's leading animal health companies. Elanco develops and markets innovative technologies for use in animal production, care, disease prevention and treatment. Elanco is a global animal health company with facilities located to serve the global marketplace.