Cipher Pharmaceuticals appoints Lynne Bulger as Vice President, Medical Affairs

Company also announces promotions of Peter Weiler and Linda Angaritis

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CPHR; TSX:CPH) ("Cipher" or "the Company") today announced the appointment of Lynne Bulger as Vice President, Medical and Clinical Affairs to lead the Company's clinical development and medical affairs efforts for current and new pipeline products.

Ms. Bulger has 27 years of experience in drug development in the pharmaceutical industry, conducting clinical research and providing strategic medical marketing support in dermatology, rheumatology, osteoporosis and CNS. Most recently, Ms. Bulger held the position of Director Medical Affairs at Stiefel, a GSK company. In this role, she was responsible for medical affairs activities for Stiefel Global and Canada for 35 dermatology products. Previously, Ms. Bulger was Director Medical and Regulatory Affairs at Barrier Therapeutics and Director Medical Affairs at Hoffman-La Roche. She served as President of the Canadian Dermatology Industry Association from 2005 to 2008.

In addition to this appointment, Cipher promoted Peter Weiler to the position of Vice President, Business Development and Linda Angaritis to the position of Vice President, Global Regulatory Compliance and Quality. Mr. Weiler has been with Cipher since 2008 and leads the Company's expanding business development activities. Ms. Angaritis joined Cipher in 2013 and is responsible for the overall regulatory compliance and quality functions across the business.

"We are pleased to welcome Lynne to Cipher's management team," said Shawn O'Brien, President and CEO at Cipher. "Her deep experience in dermatology clinical development and strong customer relationships will be valuable assets as we execute our strategy to build our dermatology pipeline, bring new products to market and support our marketing efforts. I'd also like to congratulate Peter and Linda on their expanded roles with the organization. We have a strong and growing management team to support our strategic growth plans."

About Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Cipher Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CPHR; TSX:CPH) is a growing specialty pharmaceutical company focused on dermatology. Cipher acquires products that fulfill high unmet medical needs, manages the required clinical development and regulatory approval process, and markets those products either directly or through partners. Cipher's key product, a novel version of the acne medication isotretinoin, is marketed as Absorica(TM) in the U.S. and Epuris(R) in Canada. Since the Company was founded in 2000, Cipher has achieved regulatory marketing approval in the U.S. and Canada for all three original products and completed eight marketing partnerships, generating growing revenue streams and shareholder value. Cipher is building its dermatology franchise through product licensing and acquisitions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking and therefore subject to various risks and uncertainties. The words "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "forecast", "objective", "hope" and "continue" (or the negative thereof), and words and expressions of similar import, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.  Factors that could cause results to vary include those identified in the Company's Annual Information Form, Form 40-F and other filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities. These factors include, but are not limited to; the applicability of patents and proprietary technology; patent litigation and patent infringement; regulatory approval of products in the Company's pipeline; marketing of products; meeting projected drug development timelines and goals; product liability and insurance; dependence on strategic partnerships and licensees; concentration of the Company's revenue; substantial competition and rapid technological change in the pharmaceutical industry; the publication of negative results of clinical trials of the Company's products; the ability to access capital; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; changes in government regulation or regulatory approval processes; dependence on contract research organizations; third party reimbursement; the success of the Company's strategic investments; the possibility of shareholder dilution; market price volatility of securities; and the existence of significant shareholders. All forward-looking statements presented herein should be considered in conjunction with such filings. Except as required by Canadian or U.S. securities laws, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements; such statements speak only as of the date made.

SOURCE Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Investors: In Canada: Craig Armitage, TMX Equicom, [phone] ext 278, [email protected]; In the United States: Michael Moore, TMX Equicom, [phone], [email protected]; Media: Mike Beyer, Sam Brown Inc., Office: [phone], Mobile: [phone], [email protected]