NEWS Release

Collaboration Between ESTEVE and WEX Grows to Co-Development

Date: March 16, 2005

Toronto Stock Exchange Trading Symbol: WXI
http://www.wexpharma.com

E-mail: wex@wexpharma.com

Vancouver, (March 16, 2005) - WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("WEX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has mutually decided with its European partner, Laboratorios del Dr. Esteve S.A. ("ESTEVE") to make certain amendments to the previously executed License and Collaboration Agreement relating to the Company's products Tectin™, Tetrodin™ and Tocudin™; The amendments expand the existing collaboration to include additional co-development work.  Both parties agree that to achieve commercialization of Tectin™ in the most expeditious manner it is necessary to effectively utilize their combined resources.   ESTEVE will pursue development in Europe and is planning to commence a double blind placebo controlled study in Europe later this year.

Under the agreement, WEX and ESTEVE will jointly be responsible for patent portfolio expansion and certain development work, including non-clinical work, required to meet regulatory requirements.  Employees of both companies will jointly manage co-development work covered by the agreement.

WEX will receive a payment from ESTEVE of €2,000,000 within 10 business days as their commitment to the recently completed Phase IIa trial in Canada.

WEX will continue to retain the exclusive rights to manufacture and supply its products to Europe as well as to the rest of the world and ESTEVE will retain exclusive rights to market the products in Europe.

About WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc.

WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a neuro-bio-science 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.

About Laboratorios del Dr. Esteve S.A.

ESTEVE is one of the largest pharmaceutical-chemical corporations in Southern Europe , with close to 2500 employees and sales in excess of €800 million.  They have an international presence through subsidiaries in Italy and Portugal and worldwide licensees and distributors.  Since 1960, ESTEVE has established strategic all ian ces with multinational pharmaceutical-chemical companies to market their products worldwide.   ESTEVE has established its own successful research and development capabilities, developing new chemical entities and manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients with its research products marketed in over 90 countries.

Forward Looking Statements

This News Release contains forward-looking statements which may not be based on historical fact. 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. Such factors include, among others, WEX's dependence on Esteve, Esteve's planned clinical trials, and the regulatory approval and risks associated with clinical trials.  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 or Gordon Stanley, Corporate Communications, at 604-683-8880 or 1-800-722-7549.