NEWS Release

NEW DIRECTOR

Toronto Stock Exchange Trading Symbol: WXI
http://www.wexpharma.com
E-mail: wex@wexpharma.com

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Vancouver, BC (December 19, 2005) - WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("WEX" or "the Company") today announced that Mr. Simon Anderson has joined the Board of Directors ("Board").  Mr. Anderson will replace Michael Chen who has decided to resign from the Board for personal reasons.

Mr. Simon Anderson is a chartered accountant with over 19 years experience in the financial markets.  Mr. Anderson brings extensive expertise to WEX in the areas of corporate finance, financial consulting, mergers and acquisitions and securities markets valuation. For the last eight years, Mr. Anderson has been Vice-President of MCSI Consulting Services Inc., a company that provides consulting expertise in the areas of regulatory compliance, exchange listings, securities valuation and financial operations. Previously, he was with BDO Dunwoody Chartered Accountants and Consultants, and with Collins, Barrow Chartered Accountants. Currently, Mr. Anderson is also a board member and/or chief financial officer for a number of publicly traded companies trading on the TSX, TSX-V and AMEX exchanges.

The Company thanks Mr. Chen for his contribution as a director of the Company.

About WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc.

WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of innovative drug products to treat moderate to severe acute and chronic pain, symptom pain relief associated with addiction withdrawal from opioid abuse and medicines designed for local anaesthesia.  The Company’s principal business strategy is to derive drugs from naturally occurring toxins and develop proprietary products for the global market.  The Company’s Chinese subsidiary sells generic products manufactured at its facility in China.

Forward Looking Statements

This News Release contains forward-looking statements which may not be based on historical fact, including without limitation statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments.

For additional information on our products, visit us at www.wexpharma.com or call Don Evans, V.P. Corporate Communications at 604-683-8880 or 1-800-722-7549.

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