At Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders - Neurochem to officially adopt new name - BELLUS Health - And to provide update on programs including first new natural health product, VI...(II clinical trial indiabetic patients in...),Health

Leveraging the many years of accumulated knowledge and the experience it has gained in developing tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Neurochem will prioritize and accelerate the development of a prodrug of tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)), a new chemical entity (NCE), for the treatment of AD. A prodrug is a pharmaceutical substance which is administered in an inactive form and, once absorbed, is metabolized in vivo into its active form (in this case, tramiprosate). This NCE has potential patent protection until 2027.

Financial Update

Neurochem indicated that it expects to spend less in fiscal 2008 than in 2007, due in large part to the discontinuation of the European Phase III clinical trial for tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)). The Company completed fiscal 2007 with approximately US$59 million cash on hand, enough to finance the current needs of Neurochem's pharmaceutical and branded nutraceutical activities. Management indicated that additional financing could be contemplated if required and that it can count on the continued support of Picchio Pharma, the Company's major shareholder

Board Members

Neurochem expresses its thanks and appreciation to Mr. Jean-Guy Desjardins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Centria Inc. who has served on the Board since 2004 and whose term comes to an end with the close of today's shareholders' meeting. At the same time the Company welcomes Ms. Helene Fortin to its Board. Ms. Helene Fortin is one of Quebec's leading chartered accountants, and has been a practicing partner since 1989, now with CGF CA - Chartered Accountants. Ms. Fortin is a member of the board of directors of a number of important Canadian com
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