Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Advises Plans Niaspan(R) is Now a Part D Eligible Drug; Confirms Niaspan as an Important Treatment Option for Dyslipidemia

CMS issued a policy memorandum to Plans Tuesday, April 11, 2006.The new policy allows Plans to cover, or continue coverage of, Niaspanimmediately, and enables patients needing Niaspan therapy to contacttheir healthcare professionals to discuss continued access.Previously, seniors participating in Part D Plans with Niaspan onformulary were assured reimbursement until May 31, 2006.

"This prompt CMS review of prescription Niaspan therapydemonstrates how Part D is an important tool to help seniors enhancehealthcare options," said Adrian Adams, President and CEO, KosPharmaceuticals, Inc. "CMS staff clearly realizes the importance ofNiaspan as a unique therapy for raising good cholesterol. Thankfully,their prompt decision assures healthcare professionals and patientsaccess to the one therapy that can significantly raise HDL, and weappreciate CMS's efforts on behalf of America's seniors," he added.

About Niaspan

Available since 1997, Niaspan is the only FDA-approved, once-dailyextended-release prescription formulation of niacin for treatingabnormal cholesterol levels. Niaspan is indicated as an adjunct todiet when the response to a diet restricted in saturated fat andcholesterol and other nonpharmacologic measures alone has beeninadequate, to reduce elevated total cholesterol, LDL-C, Apo B, andtriglyceride levels, and to increase HDL-C in patients with primaryhypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia. In patients with ahistory of myocardial infarction and hypercholesterolemia, niacin isindicated to reduce the risk of recurrent non-fatal myocardialinfarction or coronary artery disease and hypercholesterolemia.Niacin, in combination with a bile acid binding resin, is indicated toslow progression or promote regression of atherosclerotic disease.

Niaspan is contraindicated in patients with allergies to any ofits ingredients, active peptic ulcer disease, significant orunexplained persistent liver dysfunction, or arterial bleeding.Niaspan should not be substituted for equivalent doses ofimmediate-release niacin. Niaspan should be prescribed with caution inpatients who consume substantial amounts of alcohol and/or have a pasthistory of liver disease. Liver function tests should be performed onall patients during therapy with Niaspan. Use of Niaspan with otherlipid-altering medications called statins may increase the risk ofrhabdomyolysis, a rare condition that causes muscles to breakdown. Themost common side effect with Niaspan is flushing of the skin. Othercommonly reported side effects include indigestion, headache, pain,abdominal pain, nausea, itching, diarrhea, running nose, vomiting andrash. Patients with diabetes should carefully monitor their bloodsugar and report changes to their doctor.

About Kos Pharmaceuticals

Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a fully integrated specialtypharmaceutical company engaged in developing, commercializing,manufacturing and marketing proprietary prescription products for thetreatment of chronic diseases with a particular focus on thecardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory disease areas. The Company'sprincipal product development strategy is to reformulate existingpharmaceutical products with large market potential to improve safety,efficacy, and patient compliance. Kos' strategy also includes makingmeasured investments in new chemical entity research through in-houseand sponsored research, scientific in-licensing and general corporatedevelopment activities. The Company currently markets Niaspan andAdvicor(R) for the treatment of cholesterol disorders, Azmacort(R) forthe treatment of asthma, Cardizem(R)LA for the treatment ofhypertension and angina, and Teveten(R) and Teveten(R)HCT for thetreatment of hypertension. Kos has a strong and growing research anddevelopment pipeline including proprietary drug delivery technologiesin solid-dose, inhalation and aerosol metered-dose deviceadministration to help fuel sustained, organic sales growth into thefuture.

Certain statements in this press release, including statementsrelating to Niaspan, the Company's strong and growing research anddevelopment pipeline and future sales growth are forward-looking andare subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual resultsto differ materially from those projected in a forward-lookingstatement. These risks and uncertainties include, the Company'sability to attract and retain sales professionals and increase thesize of its sales force, the Company's ability to successfully develop(both internally and through sponsored research arrangements withthird parties) and commercialize new products under development andwithin expected timeframes, the Company's ability to successfullynegotiate additional important strategic business development andcorporate opportunities, the progress of the Company's research anddevelopment pipeline, the protection afforded by the Company's patentsand those related to the acquired and licensed products, the effect ofconditions in the pharmaceutical industry and the economy in general,the Company's ability to maintain compliance with FDA standardswithout adversely affecting its manufacturing capability or ability tomeet its production requirements, the Company's ability to ensurecompliance with prescription drug sales and marketing laws andregulations, and changes in the regulatory environment governing theCompany's compliance with FDA. A more detailed discussion of risksattendant to the forward-looking statements included in this pressrelease are set forth in the "Forward-Looking Information: CertainCautionary Statements" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the Securitiesand Exchange Commission, and in other reports filed with the SEC. Allinformation in this press release is as of April 12, 2006 and theCompany undertakes no duty to update this information.