Interim Report, January-September 2003

11/11/2003 6:07 AM EST

· Net sales amounted to SEK 31,226 M (32,119).

· A profit of SEK 330 M (869) was reported after financial items.
Year-earlier profit included a capital gain of SEK 301 M from the sale
of NVS.

· Profit after tax amounted to SEK 168 M (571), corresponding to
SEK 1.65 (5.50) per share.

· Profit after net financial items for the third quarter improved
to SEK 584 M (139).

· Fourth-quarter profit is expected to be lower than in the
fourth quarter of 2002.

· The record date for the spin-off of Altima shares is December 12.

If you have any questions, please contact: Ann-Sofie Danielsson, Chief
Financial Officer (Tel: +46-8-585 51717 or +46-70 674 07 20)
or Annica Gerentz, Investor Relations Manager (Tel: +46-8-585 522 04,
or +46-70- 398 42 09).