Axcan Pharma Inc. (AXCA) President and Chief Executive Officer to Ring the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell


ADVISORY, Dec. 11, 2006 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) --



 What:
 Frank Verwiel, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, of Axcan 
 Pharma Inc. (AXCA) will preside over the closing bell.  Dr. Verwiel 
 will be joined by members of the Axcan management team.  Axcan began 
 trading on NASDAQ in 2000.

 Where:
 NASDAQ MarketSite - 4 Times Square - 43rd & Broadway - Broadcast Studio

 When: 
 Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 4 p.m. ET

 Contacts:
 Isabelle Adjahi
 Director, Investor Relations
 450-467-5138; iadjahi@axcan.com

 NASDAQ MarketSite:
 Jolene Libretto; 646.441.5220; 347.219.9539
 Jolene.Libretto@NASDAQ.com

Feed Information:

The closing bell is available from 3:50 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. on uplink IA-6 C-band/transponder 17. The downlink frequency is 4040 Vertical; Audio 6.2-6.8. The feed can also be found on Waterfront fiber 1623. If you have any questions, please contact Jolene Libretto at (646) 441-5220.

Webcast:

A live Webcast of the NASDAQ Closing Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_about.stm

Photos:

To obtain a hi-resolution photograph of the Market Close, please go to http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_events.stm and click on the market close of your choice.

ABOUT AXCAN PHARMA (AXCA):

Axcan is a leading multinational specialty pharmaceutical company focused on gastroenterology. The company develops and markets a broad line of prescription products to treat a range of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cholestatic liver diseases and complications related to pancreatic insufficiency. Axcan's products are marketed by its own specialized sales forces in North America and Europe. Its common shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "AXCA" and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AXP".