Axcan Pharma To Present At Merrill Lynch Global Healthcare Conference

MONT SAINT-HILAIRE, QC, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Axcan Pharma Inc. (“Axcan” or the “Company”) today announced that on Tuesday, February 7, 2006, president and chief executive officer, Frank A.G.M. Verwiel, M.D., will present an overview of the Company at Merrill Lynch’s Global Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Medical Device Conference held in New York, NY. This presentation will take place at 10:20 A.M. ET.

A webcast of Axcan’s presentation can also be accessed via the Company’s website at www.axcan.com.

Axcan is a leading specialty pharmaceutical company involved in the field of gastroenterology. The Company markets a broad line of prescription products sold for the treatment of symptoms in a number of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cholestatic liver diseases and complications related to cystic fibrosis. Axcan’s products are marketed by its own sales force in North America and Europe. Its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “AXP” and on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “AXCA”.

“Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

This release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future events. To the extent any statements made in this release contain information that is not historical, these statements are essentially forward looking and are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan” and “believe.” Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the difficulty of predicting FDA and other regulatory approvals, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development and launch, reliance on key strategic alliances, availability of raw materials, the regulatory environment, fluctuations in operating results, the protection of our intellectual property and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

AXCAN PHARMA INC.

CONTACT: Isabelle Adjahi, Director, Investor Relations Axcan Pharma Inc.,(450) 467-2600 ext. 2000, www.axcan.com; Source: Axcan Pharma Inc.; Torequest a free copy of this organization’s annual report, please go tohttp://www.newswire.ca and click on reports@cnw.

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