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<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">FORM 8-K</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">CURRENT REPORT</P>
</B><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 2, 2002</P>
</U><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOREST LABORATORIES, INC.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>
</U>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</P>

<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Delaware&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;        &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1-5438&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;    <U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11-1798614<BR>
</U>(State or other jurisdiction&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Commission&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(IRS Employer<BR>
</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;of incorporation)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;File Number)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Identification No.)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>
<BR>
</P>
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">909 Third Avenue, New York, New York</U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>  10022&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>
</U>(Address of principal executive offices)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Zip Code)</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  <U>212-421-7850</P>
</U><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Other Events</P>
</U>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibit 99(1) to this Report is a Press Release issued by Forest Laboratories, Inc. on July 2, 2002.  The Press Release reports the receipt by Lipha S.A., a French subsidiary of Merck KGaA of Germany, of notification from the United States Food and Drug Administration that the New Drug Application submitted by Lipha for acamprosate, a medication designed to help maintain abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence, is not approvable at this time.  Forest licenses the United States marketing and distribution rights to acamprosate from Lipha.</P>

<P>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits</P>
</U>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Exhibit 99(1).  Press Release of Forest Laboratories, Inc. dated July 2, 2002.</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURES</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOREST LABORATORIES, INC.</P>

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<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;By:<U> &nbsp;&nbsp;/s/Howard Solomon<FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT> </P>
</U><P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Howard Solomon,</P>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chairman of the Board</P>

<P>Date:  July 2, 2002</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">EXHIBIT 99(1)</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<B><FONT SIZE=2><P>Contact:</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;<I>CHARLES E. TRIANO&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</I><B>Media:</B><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;Greg Williams  212-453-2406<BR>
Vice President - Investor Relations&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mary Curtin  212-453-2434<BR>
Forest Laboratories, Inc.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fleishman-Hillard, for Forest Labs<BR>
909 Third Avenue&#9;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;williamg@fleishman.com<BR>
New York, New York  10022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;curtinm@fleishman.com<BR>
212-224-6714<BR>
charles.triano@frx.com<BR>
</P>
</I><B><P>Merck KGaA Contact:</P>
</B><P>Dr. Hartmut Vennen - Corporate Media Relations &amp; Public Affairs<BR>
Tel:  +49 6151 72 2386<BR>
hartmut.vennen@merck.de</P>

<B><P>&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER">FDA ISSUES NON-APPROVABLE LETTER FOR ACAMPROSATE </P>
</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<I><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><P>NEW YORK, July 2, 2002 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that the New Drug Application (NDA) submitted by Lipha S.A. for acamprosate, a medication designed to help maintain abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence, is not approvable at this time. <B> </B>Lipha S.A., a French subsidiary of Merck KGaA based in Darmstadt, Germany, developed acamprosate and licensed the U.S. marketing and distribution rights to Forest Laboratories in October 2001.   Lipha's NDA for acamprosate was filed in December 2001, and received a priority review designation from the FDA.</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR="#0000ff"> </P>
</FONT>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Despite the conclusion from its advisory committee on May 10, 2002 that clinical trial data for acamprosate submitted in the NDA demonstrated efficacy, the FDA, upon completing its review of the application, has indicated that the data submitted did not adequately establish the safety and efficacy of acamprosate.  The FDA has requested that at least one additional U.S. clinical trial evaluating safety and efficacy be conducted as well as additional pharmacokinetic analyses and additional pre-clinical studies.</P>

<P>Lipha conducted several multi-center, placebo-controlled clinical trials that tested the safety and efficacy of acamprosate in more than 4,500 patients with alcohol dependence.  In the trials, acamprosate was shown to consistently increase abstinence rates when used as part of a multidisciplinary approach that included psychosocial or behavioral therapies.  The studies also demonstrated that side effects for acamprosate were generally mild, with the most frequently reported side effect being diarrhea<B>.  </B> Acamprosate is currently approved and available in 24 countries outside the United States and was most recently approved in the United Kingdom in 1995 and in Australia 1999 and Italy in 1999.</P>
</FONT><I>
<P>Except for the historical information contained herein, this release contains forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the difficulty of predicting FDA approvals, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the timely development and launch of new products and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002, along with any Merck KGaA reports. </P>
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 2, 2002
FOREST LABORATORIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
1-5438
11-1798614
(State or other jurisdiction                    (Commission                        (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                       File Number)                        Identification No.)
909 Third Avenue, New York, New York
10022
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
212-421-7850
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5.
Other Events
Exhibit 99(1) to this Report is a Press Release issued by Forest Laboratories, Inc. on July 2, 2002.  The Press Release reports the receipt by Lipha S.A., a French subsidiary of Merck KGaA of Germany, of notification from the United States Food and Drug Administration that the New Drug Application submitted by Lipha for acamprosate, a medication designed to help maintain abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence, is not approvable at this time.  Forest licenses the United States marketing and distribution rights to acamprosate from Lipha.
Item 7.
Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
(c) Exhibit 99(1).  Press Release of Forest Laboratories, Inc. dated July 2, 2002.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
FOREST LABORATORIES, INC.
By:
/s/Howard Solomon
Howard Solomon,
Chairman of the Board
Date:  July 2, 2002
EXHIBIT 99(1)
Contact:
CHARLES E. TRIANO
Media:
Greg Williams  212-453-2406
Vice President - Investor Relations                                                                     Mary Curtin  212-453-2434
Forest Laboratories, Inc.                                                                                      Fleishman-Hillard, for Forest Labs
909 Third Avenue	                                                                                                williamg@fleishman.com
New York, New York  10022                                                                                  curtinm@fleishman.com
212-224-6714
charles.triano@frx.com
Merck KGaA Contact:
Dr. Hartmut Vennen - Corporate Media Relations & Public Affairs
Tel:  +49 6151 72 2386
hartmut.vennen@merck.de
FDA ISSUES NON-APPROVABLE LETTER FOR ACAMPROSATE
NEW YORK, July 2, 2002 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that the New Drug Application (NDA) submitted by Lipha S.A. for acamprosate, a medication designed to help maintain abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence, is not approvable at this time.
Lipha S.A., a French subsidiary of Merck KGaA based in Darmstadt, Germany, developed acamprosate and licensed the U.S. marketing and distribution rights to Forest Laboratories in October 2001.   Lipha's NDA for acamprosate was filed in December 2001, and received a priority review designation from the FDA.
Despite the conclusion from its advisory committee on May 10, 2002 that clinical trial data for acamprosate submitted in the NDA demonstrated efficacy, the FDA, upon completing its review of the application, has indicated that the data submitted did not adequately establish the safety and efficacy of acamprosate.  The FDA has requested that at least one additional U.S. clinical trial evaluating safety and efficacy be conducted as well as additional pharmacokinetic analyses and additional pre-clinical studies.
Lipha conducted several multi-center, placebo-controlled clinical trials that tested the safety and efficacy of acamprosate in more than 4,500 patients with alcohol dependence.  In the trials, acamprosate was shown to consistently increase abstinence rates when used as part of a multidisciplinary approach that included psychosocial or behavioral therapies.  The studies also demonstrated that side effects for acamprosate were generally mild, with the most frequently reported side effect being diarrhea
.
Acamprosate is currently approved and available in 24 countries outside the United States and was most recently approved in the United Kingdom in 1995 and in Australia 1999 and Italy in 1999.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this release contains forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the difficulty of predicting FDA approvals, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the timely development and launch of new products and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002, along with any Merck KGaA reports.
# # #