(SLXP) Announces Early Termination of HSR Waiting Period for Pending Transaction

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ: SLXP) today announced that it has received notice of the early termination of the waiting period for U.S. antitrust review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, relating to its previously announced combination transaction with Cosmo Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. (SIX: COPN). The waiting period was scheduled to expire on August 21, 2014. Termination of the waiting period satisfies a condition to the closing of the transaction. Completion of the transaction remains subject to approval by Salix’s stockholders and certain other closing conditions.

About Salix

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products and medical devices for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Salix’s strategy is to in-license or acquire late-stage or marketed proprietary therapeutic products, complete any required development and regulatory submission of these products, and commercialize them through Salix’s 500-member specialty sales force.

Salix markets XIFAXAN^® (rifaximin) tablets 200 mg and 550 mg, MOVIPREP^® (PEG 3350, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid for oral solution, 100 g/7.5 g/2.691 g/1.015 g/5.9 g/4.7 g), OSMOPREP^® (sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, USP, and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, USP) tablets, APRISO^® (mesalamine) extended-release capsules 0.375 g, UCERIS^® (budesonide) extended release tablets, for oral use, GIAZO^® (balsalazide disodium) tablets, COLAZAL^® (balsalazide disodium) Capsules, GLUMETZA^® (metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets) 500 mg and 1000 mg, ZEGERID^® (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) Powder for Oral Suspension, ZEGERID^® (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) capsules, METOZOLV^® ODT (metoclopramide hydrochloride), RELISTOR^® (methylnaltrexone bromide) Subcutaneous Injection, FULYZAQ^® (crofelemer) delayed-release tablets, SOLESTA^®, DEFLUX^®, RUCONEST^® (C1 esterase Inhibitor (Recombinant) 50 IU/kg, PEPCID^® (famotidine) for Oral Suspension, DIURIL^® (chlorothiazide) Oral Suspension, AZASAN^® (azathioprine) tablets, USP, 75/100 mg, ANUSOL-HC^® 2.5% (Hydrocortisone Cream, USP), ANUSOL-HC^® 25 mg Suppository (Hydrocortisone Acetate), PROCTOCORT^® Cream (Hydrocortisone Cream, USP) 1% and PROCTOCORT^® Suppository (Hydrocortisone Acetate Rectal Suppositories) 30 mg, CYCLOSET^®(bromocriptine mesylate) tablets, FENOGLIDE^® (fenofibrate) tablets. UCERIS (budesonide) rectal foam, RELISTOR^®, encapsulated bowel preparation and rifaximin for additional indications are under development.

For full prescribing information and important safety information on Salix products, including BOXED WARNINGS for OSMOPREP, AZASAN, GLUMETZA and METOZOLV, please visit www.salix.com, where Salix promptly posts press releases, SEC filings and other important information, or contact Salix at (919) 862-1000.

Salix trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “SLXP”.

For more information, please visit our Website at www.salix.com or contact Salix at (919)-862-1000. Follow us on Twitter (@SalixPharma) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/SalixPharma). Information on our Twitter feed, Facebook page and web site is not incorporated in our filings with the SEC.

About Cosmo

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. is a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Lainate, Italy. The company’s proprietary clinical development pipeline specifically addresses innovative treatments for the gastrointestinal tract, specifically inflammatory bowel diseases, colon infections and colon diagnosis, as well as selected topically treated skin disorders. Cosmo’s proprietary MMX^® technology, designed to deliver active ingredients in a targeted manner in the colon, is at the core of the Company’s product pipeline and was developed from its expertise in formulating and manufacturing gastrointestinal drugs for international clients at its GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facilities in Lainate, Italy. Currently, Cosmo, through its appointed partners, has three products on the market and six in clinical development. For further information on Cosmo, please visit the Company’s website: www.cosmopharma.com.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the merger or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

As previously announced on July 8, 2014, Salix, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. and Irish domiciled Cosmo Technologies Limited entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, pursuant to which a subsidiary of Cosmo Technologies Limited will merge with and into Salix, with Salix as the surviving entity, and Salix will become an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Cosmo Technologies Limited, which will change its name to Salix Pharmaceuticals, plc.

Please Note: The statements provided herein that are not historical facts are or might constitute projections and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our expectations might not be attained. Forward-looking statements are just predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from expected results. Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described herein include, among others: uncertainties as to the ability to successfully complete the proposed transaction in accordance with its terms and in accordance with the expected schedule; the possibility that competing offers will be made; the possibility that various closing conditions for the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including that a governmental entity may prohibit or refuse to grant any approval required for the consummation of the proposed transaction; the unpredictability of the duration and results of regulatory review of New Drug Applications, Biologics License Agreements, and Investigational NDAs; generic and other competition in an increasingly global industry; litigation and the possible impairment of, or inability to obtain, intellectual property rights and the costs of obtaining such rights from third parties in an increasingly global industry; the cost, timing and results of clinical trials and other development activities involving pharmaceutical products; post-marketing approval regulation, including the ongoing Department of Justice investigation of Salix’s marketing practices; market acceptance for approved products; revenue recognition and other critical accounting policies; the need to acquire new products; changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof; general economic and business conditions; and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. Salix does not undertake to update any of these statements in light of new information or future events, except as required by law. The reader is referred to the documents that Salix files from time to time with the SEC.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction and required stockholder approval, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals S.p.A., Cosmo Technologies Limited and Salix will file relevant materials with the SEC, including a proxy statement/prospectus contained in a registration statement on Form S-4, which will be mailed to the stockholders of Salix after the registration statement is declared effective. The registration statement has not yet become effective.

SALIX STOCKHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BEFORE THEY MAKE ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES THERETO.

Salix stockholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, when it becomes available, and other documents filed by Salix at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Copies of Salix’s filings with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the “Investors” section of Salix’s website at www.salix.com or by contacting the Investor Relations Department of Salix at 919-862-1000.

Participants in the Solicitation

Salix and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the interests of such directors and executive officers was included in Salix’s Proxy Statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 28, 2014 and information concerning the participants in the solicitation will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Each of these documents is, or will be, available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and from Salix on its website or by contacting the Investor Relations Department at the telephone number above.