AspenWorld 2004 Conference Hosts the Launch of Significant New Software Portfolio for the Pharmaceuticals Industry

Aspen Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZPN), today announced that an innovative software portfolio for Enterprise Operations Management (EOM) in the pharmaceuticals industry will be revealed at AspenWorld 2004, October 10-15, 2004, in Orlando, Florida. This new offering addresses the key business areas in the pharmaceuticals industry — including process development, manufacturing execution, and supply chain management — and supports the industry’s drive to achieve operational excellence.

AspenWorld 2004 features a comprehensive program focused on process industry issues and challenges. Among industry leaders participating in the plenary session of the pharmaceuticals track, “Pharmaceuticals: Achieving Excellence in a Compliant World”, are Jack Cooper, former CIO of Bristol Myers Squibb, Janat Gmira of Aventis, and Roddy Martin, Vice President CPG & Life Sciences Industry Strategy of AMR Research. The plenary presentations will be followed by three sessions that address key business processes in the pharmaceuticals industry and examine how leading companies are implementing innovative technology solutions to increase profitability and generate improved returns for shareholders:

— From Molecule to Medicine: Process Development from Discovery to Supply — discussing approaches that are being used to address key issues in process development and improvement in today’s world of limited resources and fast-paced project execution

— Dynamic Supply Chain: A Strategic Advantage in a Compliant World — exploring the complexities of strategically managing the pharmaceuticals supply chain to reduce costs, increase customer satisfaction levels, and keep pace with the increasing number of SKUs being creating to support the NCE pipeline

— Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operations Management — focusing on how industry leaders are using IT applications to streamline pharmaceutical manufacturing in order to improve efficiency, increase speed to market and cut costs while remaining fully compliant.

“In recent years the climate within the pharmaceuticals industry has become significantly more competitive and less predictable,” said David McQuillin, President and CEO, AspenTech. “There is increasing pressure on manufacturing operations to cut costs, reduce inventory and decrease time-to-market, while at the same time achieving the required quality, regulatory and environmental standards. AspenWorld 2004 will enable managers to see how leading companies are using the latest solutions to address and overcome these challenges.”

The pharmaceuticals industry track is part of an AspenWorld 2004 (www.aspenworld2004.com ) program which includes nearly 300 presentations from companies such as Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi-Sythelabo; a showcase of AspenTech’s solutions for Enterprise Operations Management (EOM); and a conference agenda that offers opportunities for valuable discussions, learning experiences, and mixing with industry peers. To view the AspenWorld 2004 program and build your own agenda, visit www.aspenworld2004.com/myagenda/ .

About AspenTech

Aspen Technology, Inc. provides industry-leading software and implementation services that enable process companies to increase efficiency and profitability. AspenTech’s engineering product line is used to design and improve plants and processes, maximizing returns throughout an asset’s operating life. Its manufacturing/supply chain product line allows companies to increase margins in their plants and supply chains, by managing customer demand, optimizing production, and streamlining the delivery of finished products. These two offerings are combined to create solutions for enterprise operations management (EOM), integrated enterprise-wide systems that provide process manufacturers with the capability to dramatically improve their operating performance. Over 1,500 leading companies already rely on AspenTech’s software, including Aventis, Bayer, BASF, BP, ChevronTexaco, Dow Chemical, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Fluor, GlaxoSmithKline, Shell, and Total. For more information, visit www.aspentech.com .