EXHIBIT 32.1


CERTIFICATION OF PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER



                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Par  Pharmaceutical  Companies,  Inc.
(the  "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 3, 2004 as filed with
the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the  "Report"),  I,
Scott Tarriff,  President and Chief Executive  Officer of the Company,  certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350,  as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

     (1)  The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(a) of
          the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of
          the Company.




/s/ Scott Tarriff
- -----------------
Scott Tarriff
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 12, 2004