Exhibit 99.1


SEPTEMBER 22, 2003

               Atrix Laboratories Presents a Company Update at the
                  UBS Warburg Global Life Sciences Conference


Fort Collins, CO (September 22, 2003) -- Atrix Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ NM:
ATRX) today announced that it will be presenting at the UBS Warburg Global Life
Sciences Conference in New York. At the conference, the company will be
discussing Atrix's prospects, opportunities, and challenges, including the
financial challenges related to the goal of breaking even for 2003.

Atrix will present on September 22, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. There will be a live
webcast of the presentation from the conference. The webcast will be accessible
through a link posted on the Atrix website at www.atrixlabs.com. The
presentation will also be available for replay on Atrix's website for a limited
period of time after the conference.

At the conference, the company will provide an update on Eligard(R) (leuprolide
acetate for injectable suspension) prostate cancer products. While the monthly
sales of Eligard in the third quarter demonstrate growth, the second expansion
of the sales force by Atrix's licensee, Sanofi-Synthelabo, has apparently
created some disequilibrium. Additionally, Eligard's therapeutic category has
been dominated by a single product for many years and numerous factors can
affect the speed of adoption and ultimate market penetration. Accordingly, Atrix
has offered additional financial support designed to promote increased awareness
of Eligard. The company considers this a long-term investment in the success of
Eligard.

In addition, the company will update the progress of the Eligard(R) 45mg
six-month prostate cancer product. To date, the data suggests patients are
achieving low mean testosterone levels with no apparent breakthroughs. The New
Drug Application (NDA) for this product is on track to be submitted to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) early in 2004.

The company will be discussing the status of its Atrisone(TM) (5% dapsone)
topical gel product. Atrix will report the successful completion of a long-term
safety study in 340 patients.



Additionally, the company will discuss the status of the Phase III efficacy
trials for acne, which are expected to be complete by late 2003 with NDA
submission in mid-2004. In part due to the suggestion of the FDA, Atrix and
Fujisawa Healthcare Inc., Atrix's licensee for Atrisone, have agreed to perform
additional preclinical work to strengthen the NDA submission for Atrisone while
maintaining the same target date for NDA submission.

Finally, the company will review the status of the abbreviated new drug
application (ANDA) for a generic topical dermatology products. The company will
comment on the first ANDA to be approved by the company and also discuss the
product that was not approved several weeks ago. The company has evaluated the
non-approval letter and continues to believe that the product met the regulatory
requirements to prove bioequivalence. Therefore, the company has decided to
appeal the decision to the FDA. While there can be no assurance that the FDA
will reverse its previous decision, the company believes that it has grounds
supporting its position that it has proved bioequivalence. The company expects
increased inventory reserves and anticipates incurring additional legal fees.
Atrix remains enthusiastic about this program. The company anticipates further
generic approvals and is continuing to add resources to develop additional
generic topical products.

The company believes the aforementioned matters and other items could impact
2003 results by up to $5 million. The company believes the expenses mentioned
herein are all necessary for the long-term growth of the company but will
increase the challenges of meeting the company's goal of breaking even for 2003.

Atrix Laboratories, Inc. is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused
on advanced drug delivery. With five unique patented technologies, Atrix is
currently developing a diverse portfolio of proprietary products, including
oncology, pain management, and dermatology products. The company also partners
with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to apply its proprietary
technologies to new chemical entities or to extend the patent life of existing
products.

Statements contained in this press release, which are not historical facts, are
forward-looking statements, as the term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements about the following topics:
the company's expectations for Eligard, Atrisone and the generic topical
products, the company's expectation that Atrix's licensees will be able to
successfully market these product; the risk that the NDAs for



Eligard 45mg and Atrisone will be submitted to the FDA in early 2004 and
mid-2004 respectively, the risk that the FDA may not approve Eligard 45mg,
Atrisone for acne or additional generic topical products, and uncertainty as to
whether the non-approved generic topical will be approved by the FDA. Other
risks include the company's expectation that the matters and other items
mentioned in the press release could impact the company's 2003 results and may
result in the company not being able to achieve its goal to breakeven in 2003.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which can
cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, due
to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, product demand,
pricing, market acceptance, changing economic conditions, risks in product and
technology development, the effect of the company's accounting policies. These
and other factors are described in more detail in the company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and its subsequent filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional risks may be described from
time-to-time in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All
such risk factors are difficult to predict, contain material uncertainties that
may affect actual results, and may be beyond the company's control. The
statements in this press release are made as of today, based on information
currently known to management, and the company disclaims any duty to update such
statements. Eligard is a registered trademark of Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc.

                                  # # #

COMPANY CONTACT:
Danette R.M. Meyer, Ph.D. (Dmeyer@atrixlab.com)
Director of Investor Relations
ATRIX LABORATORIES, INC.
(970) 482-5868