FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEALTH CANADA GIVES CANADIAN WOMEN A PLAN B
Paladin Labs Inc.’s Plan B “Morning After Pill” Now Available Without a Prescription

Montreal, Canada, April 20, 2005 - Paladin Labs Inc. (TSX: PLB) confirmed today that Plan B, a safe and effective “morning-after pill” distributed in Canada by the specialty pharmaceutical company, is now available at Canadian pharmacies without a prescription.

The decision by Health Canada, which takes immediate effect and was announced earlier today, is supported by 70 per cent of Canadians and every leading medical organization in the country.

Plan B is a safe and effective “morning after pill” that is 95 per cent effective in preventing unintended pregnancy if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex. Plan B is 85 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy if taken within 72 hours — but has no impact on an already established pregnancy.

Landmark Day for Canadian Women
“This is a landmark day for Canadian women who now have immediate access to Plan B, a safe and effective morning after pill that has been used by millions of women in more than 100 countries around the world to prevent unintended pregnancy,” says Jonathan Ross Goodman, President and CEO of Paladin Labs.

A May 2004 survey by Leger & Leger shows that 70 per cent of Canadians and 81 per cent of Quebecers agreed that Plan B should be made available without a prescription, as is the case in more than 30 other countries including the UK and France.

The move is supported by leading Canadian medical authorities including: the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada, the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, the Canadian Women’s Health Network, and the Canadian Nurses Association.

Equalizing Access for Canadian Women
“Today’s decision equalizes access to emergency contraceptives to women across Canada,” confirms Dr. Andre Lalonde, Executive Vice-President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. “Due to the nature of emergency contraception, it needs to be taken as soon as possible within a maximum of 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. Better access and greater knowledge and use of emergency contraception could significantly reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy in Canada.”

Plan B Provides Emergency Back-Up to Birth Control
The two most common cited reasons for use in Canada, and around the world, include condom failure and forgetting to take a daily birth control pill. Plan B is available in most Canadian pharmacies at a cost of approximately $25. The treatment consists of two small pills that each contain .75 mg of levonorgestrel, slightly more hormone than a daily birth control pill. Plan B is also available in some health centres (CLSCs in Quebec).

About Paladin Labs Inc.
Paladin Labs Inc. (TSX: PLB), headquartered in Montreal, Canada, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring or in-licensing innovative pharmaceutical products for the Canadian market. With this strategy, a focused national sales team and proven marketing expertise, Paladin has evolved into one of Canada’s leading specialty pharmaceutical companies. For more information about Paladin, please visit the Company’s web site at www.paladinlabs.com.

Plan B is a registered trademark of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements or predictions. These statements represent our judgement as of this date and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those associated with product development, clinical trials, future revenues and profitability, and obtaining marketing approval and other factors that are discussed in the Management Discussion and Analysis published in the Company's annual report.

For more information, see media news release on Canada Newswire — www.newswire.ca.

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For investor relations, please contact: Samira Sakhia, Chief Financial Officer at Paladin Labs Inc. TEL: (514) 340-5067 E-mail: info@paladin-labs.com