NEWS Release

Appointment of Chief Medical Officer

Date: March 9, 2005

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

Vancouver, (March 9, 2005) - WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX: WXI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jean Bourgouin as its new Chief Medical Officer in charge of all clinical, non-clinical and discovery programs.

Dr. Jean Bourgouin brings to WEX over 25 years experience in global clinical drug development within the pharmaceutical industry in a wide range of clinical and project leadership positions. He joined the Rhône-Poulenc Rorer organization in Canada in 1982 as project leader in the Medical department. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, he held positions of increasing responsibilities, becoming Director, Clinical Research in 1985 and Vice President, Research and Development in 1988. In 1996, he was named Vice President of the company's Specialties Division, where he oversaw marketing, sales and strategic clinical development for hospital products.

In 1997, Dr Bourgouin joined the Hoechst Marion Roussel organization as Executive Vice President Scientific Affairs. When the global Hoechst and Rhône-Poulenc organizations merged to form Aventis in 1999, he took the role of Vice President, Scientific Affairs with responsibilities of all stages of clinical development in Canada as well as registration and market access using health economics, health management and professional education strategies.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Jean Bourgouin to our management team," said Frank Shum, President and CEO of WEX.  "His extensive clinical experience in the industry and extraordinary leadership skills will be of essence for building successful clinical programs for our company".

About WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc.

WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a neuro-bioscience 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 the Global market. The Company's Chinese subsidiary sells generic products manufactured at its facility in China and are expanding its marketing efforts in the rest of Asia.