(PTX) Appoints Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (“Pernix” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ MKT: PTX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced the appointment of Rick Shalaby as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing effective March 17, 2014.

Mr. Shalaby brings over twenty-three years of successful industry experience, including ten in executive leadership, to Pernix. His unique combination of big pharma, service provider and start-up pharmaceutical company experience combined with his motivational style, broad based background and ability to create and sustain positive cultures is a perfect fit for Pernix at this time in the company’s life cycle. Prior to joining Pernix, Mr. Shalaby spent eighteen years of his career at Merck and Co. Inc. where he held a variety of successful and progressively responsible positions in the areas of analytics, operations, market research, marketing, managed care and ultimately senior level positions in sales where he managed over two hundred sales professionals in specialty and primary care sales. His novel managed care pricing strategies, promotional message development and sales training expertise combined for many exceptional years of performance at Merck. From Merck, Mr. Shalaby moved on to PDI and in his tenure as vice president of sales was responsible for sales operations and for the creation and leadership of over eight distinct sales teams consisting of over seven hundred and fifty sales professionals. His work there provided him exposure to different methodologies utilized by his many clients and that knowledge facilitated successful product launches and ultimately positive sales results for each of his teams. He then moved to Amarin Pharmaceuticals where he was Vice President of Sales and efficiently built and led a three hundred person sales force to launch Amarin’s first commercial brand. Mr. Shalaby has also been on numerous advisory boards and is on the board of directors of Poly-Med Inc.

“Rick’s deep experience combined with his motivational style and high energy levels make him the ideal candidate to take our Pernix sales and marketing efforts to the next level as we launch Khedezla in April and plan for the relaunch of Silenor shortly thereafter. The management team and I are excited to have Rick on board and look forward to working with him to execute the new growth strategy for Pernix,” said Doug Drysdale, President and CEO of Pernix.

About Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Pernix Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company primarily focused on the sales, marketing, manufacturing and development of branded pharmaceutical products. The Company markets a portfolio of branded products, including: CEDAX®, an antibiotic for middle ear infections and a number of treatments for cough and cold conditions including ZUTRIPRO®, REZIRA® and VITUZ®. The Company also markets SILENOR, a non-narcotic product for the treatment of insomnia and KHEDEZLA, a treatment for major depressive disorder. The Company promotes its branded products to physicians through its Pernix sales force and markets its generic portfolio through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Cypress Pharmaceuticals and Macoven Pharmaceuticals. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Pernix Manufacturing, manufactures and packages products for the pharmaceutical industry in a wide range of dosage forms. Founded in 1996, the Company is based in Houston, Texas.

Additional information about Pernix is available on the Company’s website located at www.pernixtx.com.