Minster Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM: MPM), the drug development company specialising in neurological and psychiatric disorders, is pleased to announce the appointment as a consultant in the US of Joseph Lofft, a highly experienced pharmaceutical executive who launched and oversaw the growth of Johnson & Johnson’s Topamax in the prevention of migraine.

Mr Lofft has more than 20 years’ experience in new product development, sales and marketing in the US pharmaceutical industry. His specific experience of the migraine prevention market is expected to be of immense value to Minster as the Company advances its clinical studies of tonabersat, its lead compound in migraine prevention.

Mr Lofft worked at Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, a Johnson & Johnson company, between 1993 and 2006. In 1999, he was appointed Director of Commercial Development – Topamax New Indications, a role in which he was responsible for the development of four new indications for Topamax including migraine prevention. In 2002 he was appointed Director of Marketing – Topamax, overseeing the launch and growth of the brand in migraine prophylaxis and achieving sales currently estimated at in excess of $1 billion in this indication.

Mr Lofft will work as a consultant to Minster and his primary roles will be to characterise the full commercial market opportunities for tonabersat in both the US and Europe and to raise the awareness of the scientific community to the novel mode of action of the compound as a neuronal gap junction blocker. His input is expected to enhance significantly the Company’s presence in the global migraine market and assist the Company in positioning its compound to achieve the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.

Minster’s tonabersat is currently in Phase IIb development in the US in a 500 patient study named TEMPUS (Tonabersat Evaluation in Migraine Prevention in the United States). The primary endpoint of the study is the reduction in the number of migraine attacks that patients suffer during the last eight weeks of a 20 week treatment period. The study has attracted many of the key opinion leaders in migraine throughout North America at specialist and general centres, where the need for an effective, preventive treatment for migraine is widely recognised.

The latest developments in the understanding of the mode of action of tonabersat will be presented later this month to the full plenary session of the American Headache Society’s Annual Congress in Boston.

Paul Sharpe, Minster Pharmaceuticals’ Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted that a pharmaceutical executive of Joseph Lofft’s highly relevant experience will be working with Minster. Mr Lofft has an unrivalled knowledge of the migraine prevention market, which will be of immense value to Minster as we progress tonabersat in this rapidly developing indication.”

For further information:

Minster Pharmaceuticals plc

Tel: +44 (0) 1799 506623

Paul Sharpe, Chief Executive Officer

Robert Aubrey, Chief Financial Officer

Buchanan Communications

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

Mark Court

Rebecca Skye Dietrich

Catherine Breen

Nomura Code Securities Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7776 1200

Richard Potts

Gerard Harper