NEWS Release

WEX Annual and Special Meeting Update

Date: Augsut 15, 2005

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

Vancouver, BC (August 15, 2005) - WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“WEX” or the “Company”) today announced the results of its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on August 12, 2005. 

During the meeting, the following nine directors were elected by the Shareholders: Michael (Guang) Luan, Frank (Hay Kong) Shum, Dr. Kenneth Li, Donna Shum, Peter H. Stafford, Michael Chen, Dr. Phil Gold, Pierre LaPalme and Dr. Edge Wang.

The balance of the Resolutions proposed in the Management Information Circular were duly passed.  A complete copy of the Management Information Circular is available at www.sedar.com.

The Shareholders' proposal on the creation of a royalty trust was tabled for 28 days (with the corresponding conclusion of the Meeting adjourned to deal with this single item of business) in order to give the Company and the shareholder making the proposal a chance to present their views fairly to all of the Shareholders and to maximize the likelihood that the votes of all interested Shareholders would be given effect.  However, as a result of discussions held over the weekend, the shareholder has informed the Company that he no longer wishes to put forward his proposal and therefore, there is no further business to conduct at the Meeting when it is reconvened on September 9, 2005.

As the Shareholders have elected a new Board of Directors, Messrs. Bruce Hay, John Olthoff and Chi Tang Tang, have advised the Company that they will be resigning effective today and Dr. Kenneth Li, Michael Chen and Dr. Edge Wang will be elected by the balance of the Directors to fill the vacancies resulting from those resignations.  These elections and resignations will serve to give full effect to the wishes of the Shareholders as evidenced by the election of the Directors as noted above.

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, 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.