NOVEN ANNOUNCES ANNUAL MEETING RESULTS;
DIANE M. BARRETT APPOINTED CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Miami, FL, May 15, 2003 -- Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVN), ) today announced the results of its 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the appointment of Diane M. Barrett (previously Noven’s Vice President – Finance & Treasurer) as Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.

Shareholder Meeting Results
The holders of over 90% of Noven’s common stock were represented in person or by proxy at the meeting, held May 14 at the company’s headquarters in Miami Florida. Shareholders re-elected the following persons to the Noven Board of Directors:

•	Sidney Braginsky (President & CEO of Atropos Technology Inc.);
•	John G. Clarkson, M.D. (Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs & Dean, University of Miami School of Medicine);
•	Lawrence J. DuBow (Chairman, HMS Sales and Marketing, Inc.);
•	Regina E. Herzlinger (Prof. of Business Administration, Harvard Business School);
•	Robert C. Strauss (President, CEO & Chairman of Noven); and
•	Wayne P. Yetter (CEO & Chairman, SYNAVANT, Inc.).

Shareholders also ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Noven's independent auditors for 2003. At the meeting, Robert Strauss made a presentation regarding Noven’s business and prospects. A replay of the meeting is available at www.noven.com.

Appointment of CFO
Noven also announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Diane M. Barrett as Noven's Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Barrett, a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years finance and accounting experience, joined Noven in August 2000, and served most recently as Vice President – Finance & Treasurer. She assumed the office of Chief Financial Officer from James B. Messiry. Mr. Messiry has been appointed Senior Vice President, retaining responsibility for the company’s transaction-related initiatives geared toward product and partner diversification and other corporate objectives.

About Noven
Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a leading developer of advanced transdermal drug delivery technologies and prescription transdermal products. Together with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Noven owns a profitable women’s health products company called Novogyne Pharmaceuticals. Noven’s existing products include advanced estrogen transdermal delivery systems (including Vivelle-Dot^®, licensed to Novogyne, and Estradot^®, licensed to Novartis Pharma AG) and combination estrogen/progestin transdermal delivery systems (including CombiPatch^®, licensed to Novogyne, and Estalis^®, licensed to Novartis Pharma AG). With a range of additional products in development, Noven is committed to becoming the world’s premier transdermal drug delivery company.

Contact:
Investor & Media Contact
Joseph C. Jones
Vice President – Corporate Affairs
Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(305) 253-1916

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