NEWS Release

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Date: February 7, 2005

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

Vancouver ( February 7, 2005 ) - Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc. "WEX" (TSX: WXI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Perri as its new Chief Financial Officer. Bob MacGregor will relinquish his role as the interim Chief Financial Officer and assume the position as Head of Finance.

Michael Perri is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of senior management experience in public and private industry holding such positions as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Controller and Corporate Secretary.  Michael spent the past six years with Xillix Technologies Corp. where he was instrumental in raising $37 million in equity financings as it moved its products from R&D to clinical trials and early commercialization.

Mr. Perri holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and received his C.A. with Ernst & Young in 1979.

About WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, symptom relief associated with addiction withdrawal from opioid abuse, and medicines designed for local and regional anaesthesia. The Company's principle business strategy is to derive drugs from naturally occurring toxins and develop proprietary products for North American, European and International markets. The Company also generates revenues from sales of generic products manufactured at its facility in China .

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