RNS Number:0343N
Intercare Group PLC
02 July 2003


2 July 2003


                            The Intercare Group plc

                        Pre-close period trading update


The Intercare Group plc ("Intercare"), the pharmaceutical manufacturer and
distributor, today issues a pre-close period trading update at the end of the
first half of the 2003 financial year.

Commenting on trading, Mr Ken Harvey, Chairman of Intercare, said:

"At the mid-point of the year, we are seeing a continuation of the trading
conditions described two months ago at our Annual General Meeting.

Our core Manufacturing Division continues to perform extremely well and we are
confident of seeing strong organic sales and profit growth for the full year.

The Distribution Division has experienced overall revenue growth.  However,
substantial rises in cost prices in the parallel imported products sector, as a
result of the strengthening of the Euro, continue to have an effect on margins.
This is despite a good performance in generic product sales.

At Group level therefore we anticipate that profits for the full year will be
somewhat lower than the current consensus of analysts' estimates.  Historically,
Group profitability has been higher in the second half than the first.  As
indicated at the time of our AGM in April, we expect this effect to be more
marked this year than in the past."


Enquiries:

The Intercare Group plc                                   Tel: 01423 535500
John Parker, Chief Executive                              www.intercareplc.co.uk
Jeremy Earnshaw, Group Finance Director
Andrew Kay, Chief Operating Officer

Financial Dynamics                                        Tel: 020 7831 3113
David Yates




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