Exhibit 99.1

[LOGO] sicor inc.                                                   News Release
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact: Laurie W. Little
         SICOR Inc.
         (949) 455-4879

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

               SICOR REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2003 FINANCIAL RESULTS

      IRVINE,  CA - April 24, 2003 - SICOR Inc.  (Nasdaq:SCRI)  today  announced
that total revenue for the first quarter of 2003 increased 17% to $128.4 million
compared to $109.6 million for the first quarter of 2002 due mainly to increased
sales of finished dosage products in the United States.  Gross margins increased
to 54.0% in the first quarter of 2003 from 53.2% in the first quarter of 2002 as
a result of an improved product mix.

      Net income  applicable  to common  shares for the quarter  ended March 31,
2003  increased  17% to $26.3  million,  or $0.22 per share on a diluted  basis,
compared to net income of $22.5 million,  or $0.19 diluted earnings per share in
the comparable quarter ended March 31, 2002.

Operating Expenses

      Research and  development  expenses  increased 51% to $7.5 million for the
first quarter of 2003 compared to $5.0 million in the comparable  quarter of the
prior year.  This increase was  primarily due to higher new product  development
expenses  in the  Company's  U.S.  finished  dosage and  European  biotechnology
operations.

      Selling,  general and administrative  expenses during the first quarter of
2003  increased  18% to $17.2  million as compared to $14.5  million in the same
period a year earlier.  This increase  primarily  reflected higher insurance and
other administrative  expenses.  As a percentage of total revenue, SG&A expenses
were 13% in the first quarters of both 2003 and 2002.

      "SICOR   delivered  strong   operating   results  this  quarter,   further
demonstrating  our ability to execute on our business  strategy,"  stated Marvin
Samson,  president and chief executive officer.  "We filed four new applications
with the FDA, received four product  approvals,  including three final approvals
and one tentative approval, launched three new products into the U.S. market and
began

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       19 Hughes # Irvine, CA 92618 # (949) 455-4700 # (949) 457-2894 Fax

<PAGE>

SICOR REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2003
FINANCIAL RESULTS
2-2-2

expanding our sales force to take advantage of our unique position in the market
and expand the reach of our oncology franchise.

      "In  addition,  each of our business  units  continued to seek out new and
exciting  opportunities to further grow our business,"  continued  Samson.  "Our
biotech  operations  are  developing  complex  protein drug  products,  which we
believe will be SICOR's future growth driver, our finished dosage operations are
building  expertise in suspension and emulsion  formulation  through  innovative
development and expertise, and our active pharmaceutical ingredients business is
expanding its customer base with new client opportunities.  We believe that with
all these new  ventures,  SICOR's  future  remains  promising."

2003 Financial Outlook

      Based  upon the  results  of the  first  quarter  of 2003,  SICOR  remains
comfortable with previous  guidance,  with revenues in the range of $525 million
to $550  million and diluted  earnings  per share in the range of $0.92 to $0.98
per share on an annual basis for 2003.

      As  previously  announced,  the  Company  will hold a  conference  call on
Thursday,  April 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m.  (Eastern Time) to review the results of
the first quarter of 2002 and discuss the outlook for the rest of the year.  The
public is invited to listen to this conference  call by dialing  877-259-4795 at
least 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start of the call.  Individuals  who dial in
will be asked to identify themselves and their affiliations. Investors, analysts
and the  public  are also  invited  to  listen to the  conference  call over the
internet by visiting our website at  http://www.sicorinc.com.  To listen to this
call live on the Internet,  visit the investor page of SICOR's Web site at least
20 minutes early (to download and install any necessary audio software).

      SICOR  Inc.  is  a  vertically  integrated,  multinational  pharmaceutical
company  that focuses on generic  finished  dosage  injectable  pharmaceuticals,
active  pharmaceutical  ingredients,  or APIs,  and generic  biopharmaceuticals.
Using internal research and development capabilities,  together with operational
flexibility and manufacturing and regulatory expertise,  SICOR is able to take a
wide variety of products from the laboratory to the worldwide market. Leveraging
these capabilities, SICOR concentrates on products and technologies that present
significant  barriers  to entry or offer  first-to-market  opportunities.  SICOR
operates

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       19 Hughes # Irvine, CA 92618 # (949) 455-4700 # (949) 457-2894 Fax

<PAGE>

SICOR REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2003
FINANCIAL RESULTS
3-3-3

several  manufacturing  facilities in the U.S.,  Western and Eastern  Europe and
Mexico, while maintaining its corporate headquarters in Irvine,  California. For
more information, please visit our website at www.sicorinc.com.

         This press release contains forward looking statements that are subject
to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those set forth in the forward looking statements including whether SICOR
will realize long-term growth, whether SICOR will achieve targeted top-line and
bottom-line financial results for 2003, whether financial performance will be
consistent, whether SICOR will deliver sustainable returns for its shareholders,
whether SICOR's formula for success is working, whether SICOR's biotech
operation will deliver future growth for the company, and those matters set
forth in the risk factors section of SICOR's filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward looking statements
represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The
Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward looking
statements.

                                     # # #

       19 Hughes # Irvine, CA 92618 # (949) 455-4700 # (949) 457-2894 Fax

<PAGE>

                                   SICOR Inc.
                             PRESS RELEASE SUMMARY
                       First Quarter Ended March 31, 2003
                                    ($000's)

                                                        Three months ended
                                                             March 31,
                                                     ------------------------
Income Statement Data:                                 2003            2002
----------------------                               --------        --------

Net revenues                                         $128,416        $109,553

Costs and expenses:
  Cost of sales                                        59,064          51,239
  Research and development                              7,488           4,958
  Selling, general and
    administrative                                     17,164          14,524
  Write-down of long-lived assets                          --           1,229
  Amortization of intangibles                             952             942
                                                     --------        --------
Operating income                                       43,748          36,661
Interest and other income
  (expense), net                                         (233)           (498)
                                                     --------        --------
Income before income taxes                             43,515          36,163
Provision for income taxes                            (17,173)        (13,130)
                                                     --------        --------
Net income                                             26,342          23,033
Dividends on preferred stock                               --            (580)
                                                     --------        --------
Net income applicable to
  common shares                                      $ 26,342        $ 22,453
                                                     ========        ========

Net income per share:
  Basic                                              $   0.22        $   0.19
  Diluted                                            $   0.22        $   0.19

Weighted average number of
  common shares:
  Basic                                               117,665         115,529
  Diluted                                             120,345         119,649

Balance Sheet Data:                                  03/31/03         12/31/02
----------------------                               --------         --------
                                                                      (audited)
Assets:
  Cash and short-term investments                    $227,561        $199,823
  Accounts receivable, net                             95,388          84,707
  Inventory, net                                       82,329          75,870
  Other current assets                                 47,598          39,820
  Property and equipment, net                         187,258         186,616
  Long-term investments                               115,368         130,416
  Intangibles, net                                    110,154         111,022
  Other assets                                         35,943          35,104
                                                     --------        --------
    Total assets                                     $901,599        $863,378
                                                     ========        ========

Liabilities and stockholders'
  equity:
  Current liabilities                                $142,486        $133,121
  Other liabilities                                    29,465          30,272
  Deferred taxes                                       14,306          14,535
  Stockholders' equity                                715,342         685,450
                                                     --------        --------
    Total liabilities and
      stockholders' equity                           $901,599        $863,378
                                                     ========        ========


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                                   SICOR Inc.
                             PRESS RELEASE SUMMARY
                       First Quarter Ended March 31, 2003
                                    ($000's)

                                                     Three months ended
                                                          March 31,
                                                     ------------------
                                                     2003          2002
                                                     ----          ----
Supplementary Financial Information:

Revenue Data:

    Propofol                                            29%          36%
    Other finished dosage                               48%          40%
                                                     -----        -----
  Total finished dosage                                 77%          76%
  Active pharmaceutical ingredients                     21%          23%
  Generic biopharmaceuticals                             2%           1%
                                                     -----        -----
                                                       100%         100%
                                                     =====        =====

Investor Data:

  Gross margin                                          54%          53%
  Research and development                               6%           5%
  Selling, general and administrative                   13%          13%
  Operating income                                      34%          33%
  Effective tax rate                                    39%          36%