Valeant Pharmaceuticals Makes a Strong Showing at the Movement Disorder Society's 9th International Congress.

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Global Tasmar Launch and Recent Acquisition of Xcel Pharmaceuticals Demonstrate Valeant's Dedication to Neurosciences

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE:VRX) is advancing its commitment to the company's neurosciences business with a strong presence at The Movement Disorder Society's 9th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, which begins today and continues through March 8 in New Orleans. This year's Congress marks Valeant's first significant exhibition at the Congress (Booth # 114), with primary booth activities focused on the global launch of Tasmar(R) (tolcapone).

Valeant's neurology business has been steadily gaining momentum over the past nine months, beginning with the U.S. re-launch of Tasmar in July 2004, and continuing with the company's acquisition of Xcel Pharmaceuticals earlier this month and the planned launch of Zelapar later in the year. The addition of Xcel's line of neurology products dramatically expands Valeant's neurology franchise in North America.

"The Movement Disorder Society's International Congress offers Valeant the opportunity to formally introduce our company and family of products to the neurosciences community," said Wesley P. Wheeler, Valeant's President, North America and Global Commercial Development. "We plan to aggressively grow our neurology business and are enthusiastic about the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to Parkinson's disease solutions to the industry's leading scientists, researchers and physicians."

Four study abstracts involving Valeant drugs are on the poster session schedule at the 2005 Congress, including:

--"Entacapone to tolcapone switch study: multicenter double-blind, randomized, active-controlled trial in advanced Parkinson's disease" - Scheduled for presentation by Dr. Factor on Monday, March 7 between 12:30 and 2:15 p.m.

--"Evaluation of liver-related adverse events with tolcapone: a review of seven-years of worldwide safety data" - Scheduled for presentation by Dr. Watts on Tuesday, March 8 between 12:45 and 2:30 p.m.

--"Results from a two-year centralized tolcapone liver enzyme monitoring program" - Scheduled for presentation by Dr. Lew on Tuesday, March 8 between 12:45 and 2:30 p.m.

--"Cardiac Safety of a Novel MAO-B Inhibitor for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease" - Scheduled for presentation by Dr. Lasseter on Sunday, March 6 between 12:45 and 2:30 p.m.

In addition to Valeant's booth presence at the Congress, the company also supported two Kickoff Seminars, which were offered to provide the latest information regarding research and treatment options in the field of Movement Disorders. Through unrestricted educational grants, Valeant Pharmaceuticals has supported the following Kickoff Seminars:

--Novel Delivery of MAO-B Inhibition - Scheduled at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5 and chaired by Kapil D. Sethi, with Cheryl Waters providing an update on clinical studies and Peter Lewitt offering a rationale for development.

--Tolcapone: A Non-Jaundiced View - Scheduled at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, March 5 and chaired by Stewart Factor, with Ray Watts providing an update on Tolcapone and Warren Olanow offering safety considerations.

About Tasmar

Tasmar is an adjunctive therapeutic agent used in combination with levodopa and DDCI for patients with severe Parkinson's disease who are not responding satisfactorily or are not appropriate candidates for other adjunctive therapies. Tasmar is classified as a COMT inhibitor.

About Valeant Pharmaceuticals

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE:VRX) is a global, publicly traded, research-based specialty pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of pharmaceutical products. More information about Valeant can be found at www.valeant.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

In clinical trials, adverse events reported at a frequency of greater than or equal to 10% when TASMAR was administered in combination with levodopa/carbidopa were dyskinesia, nausea, sleep disorder, dystonia, anorexia, diarrhea, somnolence, excessive dreaming, muscle cramps, orthostatic complaints, dizziness, headache, and hallucination and confusion.

USE OF TASMAR REQUIRES WRITTEN INFORMED CONSENT BY THE PATIENT (SEE PATIENT CONSENT SECTION IN THE COMPLETE PRESCRIBING INFORMATION).

WARNING: Due to the risk of potentially fatal, acute fulminant liver failure, TASMAR should ordinarily be used in patients with Parkinson's disease on levodopa/carbidopa who have symptom fluctuations and are not responding satisfactorily to or who are not appropriate for other adjunctive therapies (see INDICATIONS and DOSAGE AND ADMINSTRATION).

TASMAR should not be initiated in patients with clinical evidence of liver disease or 2 SGPT/ALT or SGOT/AST values greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN) and should be discontinued if substantial clinical benefit is not seen within 3 weeks.

Patients with severe dyskinesia or dystonia should be treated with caution (see PRECAUTIONS: Rhabdomyolysis).

Frequent laboratory monitoring is essential (see PRECAUTIONS: Laboratory Tests for the recommended schedule). Liver monitoring may not prevent liver failure; however, early detection and immediate drug withdrawal are believed to enhance the likelihood for recovery. Patients should be advised to self-monitor for signs of liver disease. Discontinue TASMAR if hepatic enzymes exceed ULN or patient exhibits signs of liver failure.

For further information, please see the BOXED WARNING and the complete prescribing information for TASMAR.