NEWS Release

New Director and Chairman of the Board Appointed

Date: April 18, 2005

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

Vancouver, BC (April 18, 2005) - WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("WEX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Guang Luan as Director and Chairman of its Board of Directors.  Mr. Luan has been involved in numerous successful real estate developments and is an investor and the co-coordinator of a syndicated US$50 million bond fund in the United States.  He is also the Chairman and CEO of Beijing Fushuntai Investment Management Co. Ltd., a private investment company that makes strategic investments in various international ventures and has been a director of several public companies over the past 10 years.

Mr. Luan is a significant shareholder of the Company and brings to the Board his extensive business experience and commitment to achieve WEX's strategic plan to commercialize its products in the most expeditious manner.

About WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc.

WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a 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.

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.  These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue rel ian ce 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.