Medicis to Present at JP Morgan H&Q Health Care Conference.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 31, 2001

Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (NYSE:MRX) today announced that a live webcast of its presentation scheduled for Monday, January 7, 2002, at 3 p.m. Pacific Time (6 p.m. Eastern Time), may be accessed via the Internet.

Jonah Shacknai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medicis, is scheduled to present at the JP Morgan H&Q Health Care Conference at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.

The webcast will be available via a link on the Medicis corporate web site at http://www.medicis.com/ir/index.html. This link will allow any visitor to the web site to access the Medicis presentation. The archive of the webcast will be available on the Medicis corporate web site for two business days following the live presentation.

Medicis is the leading independent pharmaceutical company in the United States focusing primarily on the treatment of dermatological conditions. Medicis develops and markets leading products for major segments within dermatology, including acne, fungal infections, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, photoaging, psoriasis, eczema, skin and skin-structure infections, seborrheic dermatitis, head lice and cosmesis (improvement in the texture and appearance of skin). The Company's primary products include the prescription brands DYNACIN(R) (minocycline HCl), TRIAZ(R) (benzoyl peroxide), LUSTRA(R) (hydroquinone), LUSTRA-AF(R) (hydroquinone) with sunscreen, ALUSTRA(TM) (hydroquinone) with retinol, LOPROX(R) (ciclopirox), PLEXION(TM) (sodium sulfacetamide/sulfur), PLEXION TS(TM) (sodium sulfacetamide/sulfur), OMNICEF(R) (cefdinir), OVIDE(R) (malathion), LIDEX(R) (fluocinonide), SYNALAR(R) (fluocinolone acetonide), TOPICORT(R) (desoximetasone) and A/T/S(R) (erythromycin); the over-the-counter brand ESOTERICA(R); and BUPHENYL(R) (sodium phenylbutyrate), a prescription product indicated in the treatment of Urea Cycle Disorder.

Except for historical information, this press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Medicis expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. This includes earnings estimates, future financial performance and other matters. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by Medicis based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Medicis. Any such projections or statements include the current views of Medicis with respect to future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given, however, that these events will occur or that such results will be achieved and there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including the ability of Medicis to successfully integrate Ascent's operations, the ability to realize anticipated synergies and benefits of the transaction, the risks and uncertainties normally incident to the pharmaceutical industry, dependence on sales of key products, the uncertainty of future financial results and fluctuations in operating results, dependence on Medicis' strategy, the timing and success of new product introductions and other risks described from time to time in Medicis' SEC filings including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2001. Forward-looking statements represent the judgment of Medicis' management as of the date of this release, and Medicis disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

NOTE: Full prescribing information for any Medicis prescription product is available by contacting the Company. OMNICEF(R)is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories, Inc. under a license from Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. All other marks (or brands) and names are the property of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation or its Affiliates.