April 8, 2004

Neurochem consolidates operations as it reaches new level of growth.
Acquires State-of-the-Art Facilities for its New Headquarters.

- Neurochem, Inc. (NASDAQ: NRMX, TSX: NRM) - is pleased to announce today that the Company has signed a conditional agreement to purchase the Shire BioChem facilities located in the Parc scientifique et de haute technologie de Laval for CAN$10.5 million. Upon completion of the transaction, Neurochem will relocate its headquarters and employees, corporate and scientific, on the same site. The transaction will be financed by asset-backed funding and cash on-hand.

"The Company is able to acquire the former Shire BioChem facilities in suburban Laval, Quebec, on favorable terms that entail a low outlay of capital," said Dr. Francesco Bellini, Chairman and CEO of Neurochem. "We explored a number of alternatives and this location is the best solution, given the necessity to act quickly to accommodate the rapid expansion of our workforce. Our growth over the past several years has extended Neurochem's operations out over separate sites in the Montreal area. As we expect the growth rate in the number of employees to be sustained over 2004, we are pleased to have secured a larger property, which will provide for greater efficiencies in many aspects of our daily activities. The consolidation of our operations and occupancy of the new headquarters site is scheduled for May 2004."

The building consists of approximately 160,000 square feet, 40% of which is state-of-the-art research and development space to cost-effectively support Neurochem's rapidly advancing programs in Alzheimer's disease, hemorrhagic stroke due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis. The facility will bring together Neurochem's current 125 employees and will allow for future expansion as the Company prepares for the commercialization of its product candidates.

Given the fact that the R&D facilities presently exceed Neurochem's current needs, a portion of the building will be leased to ViroChem Pharma Inc. ViroChem is a pharmaceutical antiviral research and development organization, led by Dr. Gervais Dionne, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer and by Mr. François Legault, President and Chief Operating Officer.

About Neurochem

Neurochem is focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for neurological disorders. The Company's pipeline of proprietary, disease-modifying, oral products addresses critical unmet medical needs. Fibrillex™, designated as an orphan drug and as Fast Track Product candidate, is in a Phase II/III clinical trial for the treatment of AA amyloidosis. Alzhemed™ and Cerebril™ have completed a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and for the prevention of hemorrhagic stroke caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy respectively. For additional information on Neurochem, please visit our website at: (www.neurochem.com).

Certain statements contained in this news release, other than statements of fact that are independently verifiable at the date hereof, may constitute forward-looking statements. Such statements, based as they are on the current expectations of management, inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, many of which are beyond Neurochem's control. Such risks include but are not limited to: the impact of general economic conditions, general conditions in the pharmaceutical industry, changes in the regulatory environment in the jurisdictions in which Neurochem does business, stock market volatility, fluctuations in costs, and changes to the competitive environment due to consolidation as well as other risks included in public filings of Neurochem. Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in the forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this news release. These statements speak only as of the date made and Neurochem is under no obligation and disavows any intention to update or revise such statements as a result of any event, circumstances or otherwise.

For further Information, please contact:
Dr. Lise Hébert
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lhebert@neurochem.com

275 Armand-Frappier
Laval (Quebec)
H7V 4A7
Tel: (450) 680-4500
Fax: (450) 680-4501

Our site is best viewed with IE4+ at a resolution of 1024×768.
All contents copyright © 1998-2007 Neurochem Inc.
Terms, Conditions and Legal Notice.