Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACTS:	Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
		Patty Eisenhaur
		(951) 493-5611

WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS REPORTS
FIRST QUARTER 2008 RESULTS

Total Net Revenue of $627 Million;
GAAP EPS $0.45; Adjusted EPS $0.55

CORONA, CA — May 1, 2008 — Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2008.

First Quarter 2008 Results

     Net revenue for the first quarter 2008 was $626.9 million and net income was $50.6 million, or $0.45 per diluted share. Net income for the first quarter 2008 included charges related to the Company’s Global Supply Chain Initiative, a milestone payment, debt repurchase costs, and a gain on the sale of securities. Excluding special items as detailed in the reconciliation table below, adjusted net income for the first quarter was $62.1 million, or $0.55 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter 2008 was $149.3 million and cash flow from operations was $66.6 million. Cash and marketable securities were $186.7 million as of March 31, 2008.

     “As we enter the year, we are pleased to report strong financial results and tremendous progress made on our 2008 goals,” stated Paul Bisaro, Watson’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The successful resolution of our Official Action Indicated status at our Davie, Florida manufacturing facility announced earlier this week will provide us with important new product opportunities and allow us to transfer new products to the site, as part of our ongoing Global Supply Chain Initiative.”

     “Our Brand division posted solid results and continues to move our urology pipeline products, silodosin and topical oxybutynin gel, closer to market. As the recent approval of the Trelstar^® MixJect^TM delivery system demonstrates, we look to offer products and services that improve the quality of patients’ lives, and meet the needs of physicians who specialize in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of urological disorders. While we continue to believe that fiscal 2008 will be a transitional year for Watson, we remain focused in our efforts to drive earnings growth and shareholder value,” concluded Mr. Bisaro.

First Quarter 2008 Business Segment Results

Generic Segment Information

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(Unaudited; $ in thousands)	2008			2007
Generic Segment Contribution
Product sales	$	342,459		$	411,475
Other revenue		24,297			13,150
Net revenue		366,756			424,625
Cost of sales		229,723			272,623
Gross profit		137,033			152,002
Gross margin		37.4	%		35.8	%
Research and development		22,597			26,513
Selling and marketing		14,053			14,549
Segment contribution	$	100,383		$	110,940
Segment margin		27.4	%		26.1	%

     Generic product sales for the first quarter of 2008 decreased $69.0 million to $342.5 million, primarily related to the loss of revenue from oxycodone HCl extended-release tablets following the termination of a distribution agreement. This was partially offset by the addition of new distributed products, such as alendronate sodium.

     Generic other revenue increased $11.1 million to $24.3 million, due primarily to the addition of royalties from Sandoz’s sales of metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets 50mg.

     Gross margin for the Generic segment increased from 36 percent in the first quarter 2007 to 37 percent in the first quarter 2008 due to the increase in other revenue and an improvement in product mix. Cost of sales for the first quarter includes approximately $13 million in costs related to Watson’s Global Supply Chain Initiative, which includes the planned closure of its Carmel, New York facilities.

     Watson currently has approximately 60 ANDAs on file with the FDA.

Brand Segment Information

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(Unaudited; $ in thousands)	2008			2007
Brand Segment Contribution
Product sales	$	98,992		$	90,638
Other revenue		16,299			10,902
Net revenue		115,291			101,540
Cost of sales		27,526			25,216
Gross profit		87,765			76,324
Gross margin		76.1	%		75.2	%
Research and development		15,418			11,295
Selling and marketing		27,995			26,411
Segment contribution	$	44,352		$	38,618
Segment margin		38.5	%		38.0	%

     Brand product sales for the first quarter of 2008 increased 9 percent or $8.4 million to $99.0 million, primarily due to higher sales of Ferrlecit^® and Trelstar^®, slightly offset by a decline in sales of non-promoted products. Brand other revenue increased $5.4 million to $16.3 million, due primarily to increased revenue from the Company’s licensing arrangements.

     Gross margin for the Brand segment increased from 75 percent in the first quarter 2007 to 76 percent in the first quarter 2008, due to the increase in other revenue.

     During the first quarter 2008, Watson’s New Drug Application (NDA) for silodosin, a new chemical entity under development for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, was accepted for filing by FDA. Watson expects to have an NDA on file with FDA for its topical gel formulation of oxybutynin for overactive bladder by mid 2008. In the second half of 2008, Watson expects to submit a supplemental NDA for its six-month formulation of Trelstar^®, a product for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Distribution Segment Information

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(Unaudited; $ in thousands)	2008			2007
Distribution Segment Contribution
Net revenue	$	144,902		$	145,440
Cost of sales		122,853			126,882
Gross profit		22,049			18,558
Gross margin		15.2	%		12.8	%
Selling and marketing		14,032			14,203
Segment contribution	$	8,017		$	4,355
Segment margin		5.5	%		3.0	%

     Distribution segment net revenue for the first quarter of 2008 was $144.9 million, essentially even with $145.4 million reported in the first quarter 2007. Revenue from new products launched within the last twelve months offset price erosion and volume decreases in the base business. Distribution revenue excludes sales of Watson products.

     Gross margin for the Distribution segment increased from 13 percent in the first quarter 2007 to 15 percent in first quarter 2008. Cost of sales for the first quarter 2007 included $2.5 million in acquisition-related inventory charges.

Other Operating Expenses

     Consolidated general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2008 increased $2.5 million to $50.6 million.

     Amortization expense for the first quarter 2008 declined $23.8 million to $20.2 million, reflecting the full amortization of Ferrlecit^® product rights as of December 31, 2007.

2008 Financial Outlook

     Watson’s estimates are based on the Company’s actual results for the first quarter 2008, and management’s current belief about prescription trends, pricing levels, inventory levels and the anticipated timing of future product launches and events.

     Watson estimates total net revenue for the full year of 2008 at approximately $2.5 billion.

Net Revenue Estimates by Segment

For the Twelve Months Ending December 31, 2008

Generic Segment	$1.45-$1.55 Billion
Brand Segment	$420-$440 Million
Distribution Segment	$580-$610 Million

     Research and development investment for 2008 is expected to be approximately $160 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses for 2008 are expected to be $420 to $440 million. Amortization expense for 2008 is expected to be approximately $80 million.

     In 2008, the Company expects to incur pre-tax costs associated with the planned closure of its Carmel, NY manufacturing facilities of approximately $32 million which includes accelerated depreciation, severance, retention and other related plant closure costs. The Company also expects to incur $6 million of licensing costs. These charges, together with other items, are excluded from Watson’s 2008 adjusted earnings per diluted share forecast as detailed in Table 6 below.

     For 2008, the Company expects GAAP earnings per diluted share to be between $1.70 to $1.80 and adjusted earnings per diluted share to be between $1.90 and $2.00. Excluding special items as detailed in the EBITDA reconciliation table below, adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $551 and $571 million.

Webcast and Conference Call Details

     Watson will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss first quarter 2008 results, the outlook for 2008 and recent corporate developments. The dial-in number to access the call is (877) 251-7980, or from international locations, (706) 643-1573. A taped replay of the call will be available by calling (800) 642-1687 with access pass code 43235228. The replay may be accessed from international locations by dialing (706) 645-9291 and using the same pass code. This replay will remain in effect until midnight Eastern Daylight Time, May 9, 2008. To access the live webcast, go to Watson’s Investor Relations website at http://ir.watson.com.

About Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., headquartered in Corona, California, is a leading specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, markets, sells and distributes brand and generic pharmaceutical products. Watson pursues a growth strategy combining internal product development, strategic alliances and collaborations and synergistic acquisitions of products and businesses.

     For press release and other company information, visit Watson Pharmaceuticals’ website at http://www.watson.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

     Statements contained in this press release that refer to Watson’s estimated or anticipated future results or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Watson’s current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. For instance, any statements in this press

release concerning prospects related to Watson’s strategic initiatives, product introductions and anticipated financial performance are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that Watson’s goals and expectations are not predictions of actual performance. Watson’s performance, at times, will differ from its goals and expectations. Actual results may differ materially from Watson’s current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Watson’s business. These factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainty associated with financial projections; the impact of competitive products and pricing; successful integration of strategic transactions; the ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of strategic transactions; variability of revenue mix between the Company’s Brand, Generic and Distribution business units; periodic dependence on a small number of products for a material source of net revenue or income; variability of trade buying patterns; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; risks that the carrying values of assets may be negatively impacted by future events and circumstances; timely and successful consummation and implementation of strategic initiatives; the timing and success of product launches; the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of product development efforts and FDA or other regulatory agency approvals or actions; the uncertainty associated with the identification and successful consummation of external business development transactions; market acceptance of and continued demand for Watson’s products; costs and efforts to defend or enforce intellectual property rights; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; the availability and pricing of third party sourced products and materials; successful compliance with FDA and other governmental regulations applicable to Watson’s and its third party manufacturers’ facilities, products and/or businesses; uncertainties related to the timing and outcome of litigation and other claims; changes in the laws and regulations, including Medicare and Medicaid, affecting among other things, pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products; and such other risks and uncertainties detailed in Watson’s periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Watson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Except as expressly required by law, Watson disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

     MixJect^TM is a trademark of Medimop Medical Projects Ltd., a subsidiary of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

The following table presents Watson’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

Table 1

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited; in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2008			2007
Net revenues	$	626,949		$	671,605
Cost of sales (excludes amortization, presented below)		380,102			424,720
Gross profit		246,847			246,885
Operating expenses:
Research and development		38,015			37,808
Selling, general and administrative		106,633			103,218
Amortization		20,179			43,933
Total operating expenses		164,827			184,959
Operating income		82,020			61,926
Non-operating (expense) income, net:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(1,095	)		(2,729	)
Interest income		2,309			2,929
Interest expense		(6,796	)		(13,876	)
Other income		5,353			3,403
Total non-operating expense, net		(229	)		(10,273	)
Income before income taxes		81,791			51,653
Provision for income taxes		31,162			20,041
Net income	$	50,629		$	31,612
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.45		$	0.29
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		117,380			116,612

The following table presents Watson’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

Table 2

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited; in thousands)

	March 31,		December 31,
	2008		2007
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	173,998	$	204,554
Marketable securities		12,711		11,799
Accounts receivable, net		273,305		267,117
Inventories		521,322		490,601
Other current assets		182,291		199,705
Property and equipment, net		684,507		688,185
Investments and other assets		131,285		129,920
Product rights and other intangibles, net		583,776		603,697
Goodwill		876,449		876,449
Total Assets	$	3,439,644	$	3,472,027
Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities	$	435,721	$	444,927
Long-term debt		824,473		899,408
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities		276,083		278,227
Stockholders’ equity		1,903,367		1,849,465
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,439,644	$	3,472,027

The following table presents Watson’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

Table 3

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited; in thousands)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2008			2007
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$	50,629		$	31,612
Reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		41,984			61,962
Deferred income tax provision		6,443			250
Provision for inventory reserve		9,082			11,427
Restricted stock and stock option compensation		4,322			3,402
Other adjustments		(2,676	)		(41	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net		(6,188	)		12,083
Inventories		(39,803	)		9,063
Accounts payable and accrued expense		(26,151	)		(83,596	)
Income taxes payable		24,253			10,319
Other assets and liabilities		4,737			31,758
Total adjustments		16,003			56,627
Net cash provided by operating activities		66,632			88,239
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to property, equipment and product rights		(18,535	)		(16,897	)
Additions to marketable securities and long-term investments		(1,288	)		(2,243	)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities and investments		1,628			699
Other investing activities, net		—			115
Net cash used in investing activities		(18,195	)		(18,326	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Payments on term loan, current debt and other long-term liabilities		(88,058	)		(151,661	)
Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt		9,076			—
Other		(11	)		1,127
Net cash used in financing activities		(78,993	)		(150,534	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(30,556	)		(80,621	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		204,554			154,171
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	173,998		$	73,550

The following table presents a reconciliation of reported net income and diluted earnings per share to adjusted net income and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

Table 4

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Reconciliation Table
(Unaudited; in thousands except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2008			2007
GAAP to adjusted net income calculation
Reported GAAP net income	$	50,629		$	31,612
Adjusted for:
Global supply chain initiative(1)		13,740			—
Acquisition and licensing charges		5,000			7,361
Gain on sale of assets		(1,355	)		(1,789	)
Loss on debt repurchases		1,095			2,729
Legal settlements		—			1,000
Income taxes		(7,041	)		(3,609	)
Adjusted net income		62,068			37,304
Add: Interest expense on CODES, net of tax		1,986			1,943
Adjusted net income, adjusted for interest on CODES	$	64,054		$	39,247
Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share — GAAP	$	0.45		$	0.29
Diluted earnings per share — Adjusted	$	0.55		$	0.34
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		102,625			101,928
Effect of dilutive securities:
Conversion of CODES		14,357			14,357
Dilutive stock options		398			327
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		117,380			116,612

⁽¹⁾ Includes accelerated depreciation charges of $1,757.

The following table presents a reconciliation of reported net income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 to adjusted EBITDA:

Table 5

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation Table
(Unaudited; in millions)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2008			2007
GAAP net income	$	50.6		$	31.6
Plus:
Interest expense		6.8			13.9
Interest income		(2.3	)		(2.9	)
Provision for income taxes		31.2			20.0
Depreciation (2008 includes accelerated depreciation)		21.8			18.0
Amortization		20.2			43.9
EBITDA		128.3			124.5
Adjusted for:
Share-based compensation		4.3			3.4
Acquisition and licensing charges		5.0			7.4
Litigation charge		—			1.0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		1.1			2.7
Global supply chain initiative		12.0			—
Gain on sale of assets		(1.4	)		(1.8	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	149.3		$	137.2

The following table presents a reconciliation of forecasted net income for the 12 months ending December 31, 2008 to adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share:

Table 6

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Reconciliation Table — Forecasted Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share
(Unaudited; in millions except per share amounts)

	Forecast for Twelve Months
	Ending December 31, 2008
	Low			High
GAAP to adjusted net income calculation
GAAP net income	$	191.6		$	203.3
Adjusted for:
Licensing charges		6.0			6.0
Global supply chain initiative		32.0			32.0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		1.1			1.1
Gain on sale of securities		(1.4	)		(1.4	)
Income taxes		(14.4	)		(14.4	)
Adjusted net income		214.9			226.6
Add: Interest expense on CODES, net of tax		7.8			7.8
Adjusted net income, adjusted for interest on CODES	$	222.7		$	234.4
Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share — GAAP	$	1.70		$	1.80
Diluted earnings per share — Adjusted	$	1.90		$	2.00
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		117.4			117.4

     The reconciliation table is based in part on management’s estimate of net income for the year ending December 31, 2008. Watson expects certain known GAAP charges for 2008, as presented in the schedule above. Other GAAP charges that may be excluded from adjusted net income are possible, but their amounts are dependent on numerous factors that we currently cannot ascertain with sufficient certainty or are presently unknown. These GAAP charges, such as potential asset impairment charges, are dependent upon future events and valuations that have not yet been performed.

     The following table presents a reconciliation of forecasted net income for the 12 months ending December 31, 2008 to adjusted EBITDA:

Table 7

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Forecasted Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation Table
(Unaudited; in millions)

	Forecast for Twelve
	Months Ending December 31, 2008
	Low			High
GAAP net income	$	191.6		$	203.3
Plus:
Interest expense		28.0			28.0
Interest income		(6.9	)		(5.9	)
Provision for income taxes		117.9			125.2
Depreciation (includes accelerated depreciation)		93.9			93.9
Amortization		80.7			80.7
EBITDA		505.2			525.2
Adjusted for:
Global supply chain initiative		23.1			23.1
Share-based compensation		16.7			16.7
Licensing charges		6.0			6.0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		1.1			1.1
Gain on sale of securities		(1.4	)		(1.4	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	550.7		$	570.7

     The reconciliation table is based in part on management’s estimate of adjusted EBITDA for the year ending December 31, 2008. Watson expects certain known GAAP charges for 2008, as presented in the schedule above. Other GAAP charges that may be excluded from estimated EBITDA are possible, but their amounts are dependent on numerous factors that we currently cannot ascertain with sufficient certainty or are presently unknown. These GAAP charges, such as potential asset impairment charges, are dependent upon future events and valuations that have not yet been performed.