Exhibit 99.1


                                                            NEWS RELEASE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jackie Cossmon
Catalytica, Inc.
(650) 960-3000 Ext. 6204

CATALYTICA TO EXPAND PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING OPERATION THROUGH ACQUISITION
                          OF WYCKOFF CHEMICAL COMPANY

ACQUISITION TO ADD SIGNIFICANT CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

    MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (July 15, 1999) --Catalytica, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTAL),
announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wyckoff
Chemical Company, Inc. (Wyckoff), a well-established manufacturer of active
ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry, located in South Haven, Michigan.
The additional manufacturing capacity of Wyckoff's operations will significantly
increase the chemical manufacturing capabilities of Catalytica's subsidiary
Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  Wyckoff also brings chemical process
development and pilot plant capabilities, as well as large-volume reactor
production capacity, that will complement the current operations of Catalytica
Pharmaceuticals.

    Catalytica will purchase privately held Wyckoff in a stock-for-stock
transaction intended to be accounted for using the pooling of interest method of
accounting.  Shareholders of Wyckoff will receive an aggregate of 4,496,487
shares of Catalytica Inc., reflecting a purchase price of approximately $60
Million. The completion of the transaction is subject to approval by Wyckoff's
stockholders, regulatory and governmental approvals, and other customary
conditions.  Catalytica believes that the acquisition of Wyckoff could be
completed in the fourth quarter of 1999 and could be slightly accretive to
earnings after adjusting for transaction costs.

    Ricardo Levy, president and CEO of Catalytica, Inc., stated, "The merger of
Wyckoff with our Company provides us with an excellent opportunity to more
effectively serve our customers.  With a combined chemical reactor capacity of
over 100,000 reactor gallons, we will be one of the largest cGMP chemical
manufacturers providing FDA approved products to the pharmaceutical industry."


    Wyckoff president and CEO, Ron Hartgerink stated, "We are delighted to join
forces with Catalytica.  When our assessment of the chemical market showed that
a greater critical mass would be required to really be a player in this
industry, we identified Catalytica as the highest quality supplier to the
market, whose strategies and philosophy of business match those of Wyckoff.  The
breadth of their operations, including their ability to develop drug
formulations and manufacture of final dosage form, provide a very powerful
complement to our business and strengthens our ability to serve our customers."

    Dr. Gabriel Cipau, president and CEO of Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, also
commented on the merger, "Wyckoff has been on the short list of a number of
companies seeking to expand their U.S. cGMP manufacturing sites for some time.
In addition to excellent chemical process development capabilities, their large
chemical reactor capacity makes their operation one of the largest independent
cGMP chemical manufacturing sites in the U.S.  Wyckoff has an excellent track
record in the production of both generic and branded products.  Its success in
obtaining several important development and manufacturing contracts in the
branded area has led to expansion of their facility.  This will not only enable
greater capacity for production of active pharmaceutical ingredients for major
pharmaceutical companies but also enhance further Wyckoff's longer term
contribution to revenues."

    Wyckoff was founded in 1976 and has a strong customer base in both the
generic and branded sectors of the pharmaceutical industry.  It is a privately
held company with fiscal year 1999 revenues of approximately $35 million.  It
has been profitable for the last 15 years.  Wyckoff operates under current Good
Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and supplies FDA approved products to a number of
pharmaceutical companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Mylan, Pfizer,
Pharmacia & Upjohn, Schein, Schering Plough and Watson.

    Catalytica, Inc., through its subsidiary, Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
provides the pharmaceutical and biotech industries with comprehensive skills,
world class facilities, and demonstrated commercial experience in a broad
spectrum of activities extending from process development through drug
development, formulation, manufacturing and packaging.  Since the acquisition of
the Greenville Facility from Glaxo Wellcome in 1997, Catalytica Pharmaceuticals
has entered into over 25 new agreements for the development and manufacture of
products for various pharmaceutical and biotech companies. It is the largest
fully integrated supplier of drug development and manufacturing services in the
world.

    Catalytica, Inc. builds business in markets where the Company's technologies
serve to optimize manufacturing and solve environmental problems. Catalytica
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. provides drug development and product manufacturing
services to the pharmaceutical industry; Catalytica Combustion Systems, Inc.
produces XONON, a catalytic system that permits essentially pollution free
combustion for the energy market; and Catalytica Advanced Technologies, Inc.
serves as an incubator for new catalytic technologies for industrial
applications.  Find Catalytica on the World Wide Web at www.catalytica-inc.com.
                                                        ----------------------

    This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding expected
completion of the negotiation, the accounting method that Catalytica intends to
use for the proposed


acquisition of Wyckoff, and the potential effects on Catalytica's future
operations and earnings after the purchase of Wyckoff. It also contains forward-
looking statements related to the current and future operations at Catalytica's
Greenville facility and Wyckoff's facility including but not limited to
statements related to new agreements and contracts, expansion of facilities,
expectations of additional business and market position. Actual results may
differ from these statements and such differences may be material. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the
ability to complete the transaction for the acquisition of Wyckoff, the ability
to use pooling of interest accounting for the transaction and the ability to
integrate and operate the manufacturing and development facilities of Wyckoff
efficiently and achieve operating synergies resulting in accretive financial
results. Additional risks and uncertainties applicable to operations of
Catalytica and Wyckoff after the acquisition include the ability of the Company
and its subsidiaries to operate cost effectively and in a timely manner, the
possibility of product development delays, changes in the Company's competitive
position, and the impact of FDA, EPA, and other regulations on pharmaceutical
and biotech manufacturing and on the Company's Combustion Systems business.
Catalytica undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statements to reflect new information, events, or circumstances after the date
of this release. Investors are encouraged to review Catalytica's Form 10K for
the year ending December 31, 1998, and Form 10Q for the quarter ending March 31,
1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of
additional factors that could affect Catalytica's future performance.

                                    # # # #