EXHIBIT 99.1



                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contacts:
Investors:  (U.S.)         Investors:  (Europe)             Media:
Jack Howarth               Emer Reynolds                    Sunny Uberoi
Ph:  212-407-5740          Ph:  353-1-709-4000              Ph:  212-994-8206
     800-252-3526               00800 28352600                   800-252-3526



             ELAN ANNOUNCES RECEIPT OF FTC LETTER REGARDING SKELAXIN

DUBLIN, IRELAND, May 8, 2003 -- Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) ("Elan")
announced today that it has received a letter from the U.S. Federal Trade
Commission (the "FTC") informing Elan that the FTC has discontinued that portion
of its investigation concerning whether Elan wrongfully listed its patent for
Skelaxin(TM) (metaxalone) in the Food and Drug Administration's Orange Book
(Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations). The letter
further states that the FTC is "no longer investigating any Elan activities
relating to Skelaxin that would lead us to recommend that the [FTC] commence a
law enforcement action for the removal of the [Skelaxin] patent from the Orange
Book." Elan continues to work closely with the FTC regarding matters unrelated
to the Orange Book listing of the Skelaxin patent.

G. Kelly Martin, Elan's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We
believe that the FTC's letter further confirms and validates our previously
stated position that all conditions to King Pharmaceuticals' agreement to close
its purchase of Elan's primary care franchise have at all times been, and
continue to be, satisfied."

On March 14, 2003, Elan announced that the FTC had commenced a non-public
investigation to determine whether Elan or any other person had engaged in
unfair methods of competition with respect to Skelaxin. On March 17, 2003, Elan
commenced an action against King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. alleging that King
breached its agreement to purchase Elan's primary care franchise (principally
consisting of Elan's U.S. and Puerto




Rican rights to Sonata(TM) (zaleplon) and Skelaxin). A trial date has been set
for May 15, 2003.

Elan is focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, selling and
marketing of novel therapeutic products in neurology, pain management and
autoimmune diseases. Elan shares trade on the New York, London and Dublin Stock
Exchanges.

This document contains forward-looking statements about Elan's financial
condition, results of operations and business prospects that involve substantial
risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the fact that they
use words such as "anticipate", "estimate", "project", "envisage", "intend",
"plan", "believe" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection
with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or events.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those described herein are the following: the outcome of the litigation with
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. relating to the sale to King of Elan's primary care
franchise; and the risk that the transaction will fail to close on a timely
basis or at all. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties
and other matters can be found in Elan's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, and in its Reports of Foreign Issuer on
Form 6-K. Elan assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.