( BW)(IPSEN)(IPN.PA)(MRX) Ipsen and Medicis Announce Acceptance of
Reloxin(R) BLA in Aesthetics by FDA

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

    PARIS & SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19,
2008--Regulatory News:

    Ipsen (Paris:IPN) and Medicis (NYSE: MRX) today announced that the
Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has accepted the filing of
Ipsen's Biologics License Application ("BLA") for Reloxin(R), its
botulinum toxin type A in aesthetic use (glabellar lines) in the
United States. This acceptance signifies the start of the review
process of the dossier.

    In accordance with the agreement between the two parties, Medicis
will pay Ipsen approximately $25 million in connection with the
announcement made today. Subject to approval of the BLA by the FDA,
Medicis will pay to Ipsen a further $75 million and will commercialize
Reloxin(R) in the U.S.

    About Ipsen's Botulinum Toxin Type A

    As of April 2008, Ipsen's botulinum toxin type A, developed in the
field of aesthetic medicine in the U.S., Canada and Japan under the
trademark Reloxin(R), is approved for aesthetic indications in 23
countries: Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Honduras, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mexico,
Moldova, New Zealand, Philippines, Slovak Republic, South Korea,
Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Russia (in Russia, it is the
first botulinum toxin type A approved in this field). Ipsen is also
pursuing regulatory approval for medical indications for the product
in certain additional key international markets.

    Dysport(R) is a neuromuscular blocking toxin which acts to block
acetylcholine release, hence reducing muscular spasm, and was
initially developed for the treatment of motor disorders and various
forms of muscular spasticity, including cervical dystonia (a chronic
condition in which the neck is twisted or deviated), spasticity of the
lower limbs (heal) in children with cerebral palsy, blepharospasm
(involuntary eye closure) and hemifacial spasm. It was later developed
for the treatment of a wide variety of neuromuscular disorders and
aesthetic medicine. Dysport(R) was originally launched in the United
Kingdom in 1991 and has marketing authorisations in over 70 countries
(at 31 March 2008). Ipsen has also recently filed a BLA for Dysport(R)
in cervical dystonia to the FDA.

    About Ipsen

    Ipsen is a European pharmaceutical group with over 20 products on
the market and a total worldwide staff of nearly 4,000. The company's
development strategy is based on a combination of products in targeted
therapeutic areas (oncology, endocrinology and neuromuscular
disorders) which are growth drivers, and primary care products which
contribute significantly to its research financing. This strategy is
also supported by an active policy of partnerships. The location of
its four R&D centres (Paris, Boston, Barcelona, London) gives the
Group a competitive edge in gaining access to leading university
research teams and highly qualified personnel. In 2007, Research and
Development expenditure was EUR 185 million, in excess of 20% of
consolidated sales, which amounted to EUR 920.5 million while total
revenues amounted to EUR 993.8 million (in IFRS). More than 700 people
in Research & Development are dedicated to the discovery and
development of innovative drugs for patient care. Ipsen's shares are
traded on Segment A of Eurolist by Euronext(TM) (stock code: IPN, ISIN
code: FR0010259150). Ipsen's shares are eligible to the "Service de
Reglement Differe" ("SRD") and the Group is part of the SBF 120 index.
For more information on Ipsen, visit our website at www.ipsen.com.

    Ipsen Forward-looking statements

    The forward-looking statements and targets contained herein are
based on Ipsen's management's current views and assumptions. Such
statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from
those anticipated herein. The Group does not commit nor gives any
guarantee that it will meet the targets mentioned above. Moreover, the
Research and Development process involves several stages at each of
which there is a substantial risk that the Group will fail to achieve
its objectives and be forced to abandon its efforts in respect of a
product in which it has invested significant sums. Therefore, the
Group cannot be certain that favorable results obtained during
pre-clinical trials will be confirmed subsequently during clinical
trials, or that the results of clinical trials will be sufficient to
demonstrate the safe and effective nature of the product concerned.
Ipsen expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or
revise any forward looking statements, targets or estimates contained
in this press release to reflect any change in events, conditions,
assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements are based,
unless so required by applicable law. The Group also faces the risk of
product liability claims relating to their safety, notably for its
neuromuscular disorders products (marketed under the brand name
Dysport(R) notably) that may cause, or may appear to cause, serious
adverse side effects or potentially dangerous drug interactions if
misused or improperly prescribed. The Group is subject to adverse
event reporting pharmacoviligance obligations that require to report
to regulatory authorities if the Group's products are associated with
serious adverse events, including patient death or serious injury.
These adverse events, among others, could result in additional
regulatory constraints, such as additional requests from the
regulatory authorities during reviews of applications filed for
marketing approvals in various countries which could delay the launch
time of the given products in new markets, the performance of costly
post-approval clinical studies or revisions to the approved labeling
limiting the indications or patient population for the Group's
products or could even lead to the withdrawal of a product from the
market. Such events could harm the sales of the product and therefore
have a material negative impact on the Group's financial situation.
Furthermore, any adverse publicity associated with such an event could
cause consumers to seek alternatives to the Group's products, which
may cause sales to decline, even if the Ipsen product at stake is
ultimately determined not to have been the cause of the reported
serious adverse event. Ipsen's business is subject to the risk factors
outlined in its information documents filed with the French Autorite
des Marches Financiers.

    About Medicis

    Medicis is the leading independent specialty pharmaceutical
company in the United States focusing primarily on the treatment of
dermatological and aesthetic conditions. The Company is dedicated to
helping patients attain a healthy and youthful appearance and
self-image. Medicis has leading branded prescription products in a
number of therapeutic and aesthetic categories. The Company's products
have earned wide acceptance by both physicians and patients due to
their clinical effectiveness, high quality and cosmetic elegance. The
Company's products include the prescription brands RESTYLANE(R)
(hyaluronic acid), PERLANE(R) (hyaluronic acid), DYNACIN(R)
(minocycline HCl), LOPROX(R) (ciclopirox), PLEXION(R) (sodium
sulfacetamide/sulfur), SOLODYN(R) (minocycline HCl, USP) Extended
Release Tablets, TRIAZ(R) (benzoyl peroxide), LIDEX(R) (fluocinonide)
Cream, 0.05%, VANOS(R) (fluocinonide) Cream, 0.1%, and ZIANA(R)
(clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025%) Gel, BUPHENYL(R)
(sodium phenylbutyrate) and AMMONUL(R) (sodium phenylacetate/sodium
benzoate), prescription products indicated in the treatment of Urea
Cycle Disorder, and the over-the-counter brand ESOTERICA(R). For more
information about Medicis, please visit the Company's website at
www.medicis.com.

    Medicis Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private 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,
including the timing associated with FDA's response to the submission
and the potential commercialization of Reloxin(R). 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. No assurances can be given, however,
that these activities, events or developments will occur or that such
results will be achieved. Such statements are subject to a number of
assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the
control of Medicis. Several of these risks are outlined in the
Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007, and other documents we file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. 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 contained herein, which speak as of the date hereof.

    NOTE: Full prescribing information for any Medicis prescription
product is available by contacting the Company. RESTYLANE(R) and
PERLANE(R) are trademarks of HA North American Sales AB, a subsidiary
of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.

    --30--HB/ny*

    CONTACT: Ipsen
             Didier Veron
             Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Communications
             Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 30 42 38
             Fax: +33 (0)1 44 30 42 04
             didier.veron@ipsen.com
             or
             David Schilansky
             Investor Relations Officer
             Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 30 43 31
             Fax: +33 (0)1 44 30 43 21
             david.schilansky@ipsen.com
             or
             Medicis
             Kara Stancell
             Executive Director, Investor Relations and Corporate
             Communications
             (480) 291-5854
             kstancell@medicis.com





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