Acorda Therapeutics Names Thomas C. Wessel, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) today announced that Thomas C. Wessel, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Company as Chief Medical Officer, reporting to Ron Cohen, M.D., President and CEO. In this role, Dr. Wessel will have responsibility for the Company’s Clinical Development and Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Data Management and Drug Safety functions.

Previously, Dr. Wessel was Senior Vice President of Clinical Research at Sepracor, Inc., where he led the central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory medicine development teams, including clinical research and operations, clinical pharmacology, drug safety and medical writing. During this time, he served as the medical director for the Lunesta^® (eszopiclone) development program and helped establish partnerships for this product in the EU with GlaxoSmithKline and in Japan with Eisai. He also participated in numerous business development activities at Sepracor, eventually leading to in-licensing eslicarbazepine, an antiepileptic agent with potential uses in epilepsy, bipolar disease and neuropathic pain.

Before joining Sepracor in 2002, Dr. Wessel worked on several CNS projects at Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), including Global Medical Leader for lubeluzole, a neuroprotective agent tested in acute ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury. His work on that product included managing clinical trials in Europe and interacting with regulatory agencies in several EU member states. He also headed the New Drug Application (NDA) submission team for Razadyne^® (galantamine), which was approved by the FDA for the treatment of mild-moderate Alzheimer’s disease in 2001.

"Tom Wessel is a terrific addition to Acorda’s management team,” stated Ron Cohen, M.D., President and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics. "He brings a track record of impressive achievement in the clinical development and regulatory oversight of several important CNS therapies. His expertise will be invaluable to Acorda as we move towards potential FDA approval of Fampridine-SR for multiple sclerosis and as we advance our preclinical products towards Investigational New Drug applications, or INDs.”

Dr. Wessel received his M.D. from the University of Munich School of Medicine and completed his Ph.D. in experimental neurobiology at the Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry in Martinsried, Germany. He completed his residency in neurology at New York Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Cornell University Medical Center) and remained on the faculty in the Department of Neurology and Neuroscience until 1995.

"I’m excited to be joining Acorda at this important juncture in its development,” Dr. Wessel observed. "With Fampridine-SR poised for regulatory filings in the US and EU in 2009, along with the expected IND filings for two of the compounds in its preclinical pipeline, the Company has an ambitious agenda for 2009. I am confident in our ability to deliver on that agenda, and I am looking forward to working with Ron, Andy Blight, Acorda’s Chief Scientific Officer, and the rest of the management team to achieve these goals.”

About Acorda Therapeutics

Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing therapies for spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and related nervous system disorders. The Company's marketed products include Zanaflex Capsules^® (tizanidine hydrochloride), a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. In June 2008, Acorda's lead clinical product, Fampridine-SR, completed a second Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate its safety and efficacy in improving walking ability in people with MS. The Company's pipeline includes a number of products in development for the treatment, regeneration and repair of the spinal cord and brain.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including delays in obtaining or failure to obtain FDA approval of Fampridine-SR, the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Fampridine-SR, Acorda Therapeutics' ability to successfully market and sell Fampridine-SR, if approved, and Zanaflex Capsules, competition, failure to protect its intellectual property or to defend against the intellectual property claims of others, the ability to obtain additional financing to support Acorda Therapeutics' operations, and unfavorable results from its preclinical programs. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. Acorda Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.