Release issued 15th October 2002

UNION CITY, Calif., Oct 8, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX:QSC) has signed an agreement with Beacon Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK, for the exclusive marketing and distribution of H.P. Acthar(R) Gel in the United Kingdom. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Beacon becomes our second distribution partner for HP Acthar(R) Gel outside the US and this agreement continues our strategy of selecting well-positioned strategic partners in individual foreign countries to market and sell our products," said Charles J. Casamento, Questcor's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. "The United Kingdom is one of the leading markets in the European Union and demand for H.P. Acthar(R) Gel is already present."

"This marketing and distribution partnership with Beacon Pharmaceuticals will allow the estimated 800 children each year in the UK that suffer from infantile spasm, or West Syndrome, to have access to H.P. Acthar(R) Gel," commented Kenneth R. Greathouse, Questcor's Vice President of Commercial Operations. "Beacon represents our first point of access for H.P. Acthar(R) Gel in Europe. We expect additional countries to be added to this list over the next 12 months." On Aug. 28, 2002, Questcor announced an agreement with Orphan Australia to distribute H.P. Acthar(R) Gel and Ethamolin(R) in Australia and New Zealand. The Company is currently negotiating with potential distribution partners in additional countries, as part of its long-term strategy to fully exploit the product's commercial potential in Europe and Asia, as well as the US. About Questcor Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that serves the needs of the acute care and critical care hospital markets with its proprietary products including HP Acthar(R) Gel for a seizure complex, referred to as West Syndrome or infantile spasm, and patients with multiple sclerosis, Ethamolin(R) for sclerotherapy, Glofil(TM)-125 and Inulin for measuring renal glomerular filtration rate, VSL#3(TM), a therapeutic probiotic for promoting normal gastrointestinal function and Pramidin(R) which is marketed in Italy for various gastrointestinal disorders including nausea and vomiting. Questcor's clinical stage pipeline products are being developed to treat delayed onset emesis (vomiting) and various central nervous system disorders. As part of a strategy to develop its products globally, Questcor has entered into over 20 contractual relationships with public and private companies including:

Ahn-Gook Pharmaceuticals of Korea; Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Bridgewater, N.J.; Beacon Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK; CSC Pharmaceuticals Handels GmbH of Vienna, Austria; Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan; Orphan Australia of Melbourne, Australia; Rigel, Inc. of South San Francisco, Calif.; Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A of Rome, Italy; Sirton Pharmaceuticals, S.p.A (formerly known as Crinos Group) of Como, Italy; Tularik, Inc. of South San Francisco, Calif. and VSL Pharmaceuticals of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

About Beacon Pharmaceuticals Beacon Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is a UK based company with a primary focus on the hospital market through specialist products such as Haemaccel (polygeline) to increase plasma volume, daunorubicin for leukaemia and other products such as high dose steroids and prostaglandins.

Note: Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements are subject to certain factors, which may cause Questcor's results to differ from those reported herein. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, Questcor's ability to accurately forecast the demand for each of their products, the gross margins achieved from the sale of those products and the expenses and other cash needs for the upcoming periods, Questcor's ability to obtain finished goods from its sole source contract manufacturers on a timely basis if at all, Questcor's need for additional funding, uncertainties regarding Questcor's intellectual property and other research, development, marketing and regulatory risks, and, to the ability of Questcor to implement its strategy and acquire products and, if acquired, to market them successfully as well as the risks discussed in Questcor's report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended Dec. 31, 2001 and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The risk factors and other information contained in these documents should be considered in evaluating Questcor's prospects and future financial performance. Questcor undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT: Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Charles J. Casamento, 510/400-0700 or

The Investor Relations Group Investors and Media:

Shayne Payne / Dian Griesel, 212/825-3210 URL:

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