March 10, 2004

News Release: Medicure Receives Patent Relating to Combination Products for Treatment of Hypertension

Medicure Inc. (TSX:MPH) (AMEX:MCU), a cardiovascular drug discovery and development company, is pleased to announce the issuance of its tenth patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The newly issued patent, number 6,667,356, covers methods of treating hypertension with MC-1 in combination with various classes of anti-hypertensive drugs. It provides claims for composition combining MC-1 with another anti-hypertensive, including ACE inhibitors.

Entitled 'Treatment of Cardiovascular and Related Pathologies,' this patent provides intellectual property protection for Medicure's clinical product, MC-4232, which is being targeted for treatment of hypertension. It also provides protection for Medicure's other combination products currently in the Company's development pipeline. 'This new patent is one of the most significant in our Company's history,'said Albert D. Friesen, PhD, Medicure's President and CEO. 'It represents a major asset for the Company, protecting the integrity of MC-1 in combination products for the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, adding commercial value to our clinical products and strengthening our drug development pipeline.'

Hypertension is a common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high. Approximately 73% of the more than 50 million adult Americans who have hypertension, are not adequately treated. Recent studies have shown that despite substantial clinical research and refinements to existing pharmacological therapy, the ability to control hypertension remains at the same level as in the 1980s.

About Medicure Inc.

Medicure Inc. is a cardiovascular drug discovery and development Company focused on developing effective therapeutics for unmet needs in the field of cardiovascular medicine. In addition to MC-4232, the Company is also conducting Phase II clinical trials with MC-1, which is focused on the prevention and treatment of ischemia, ischemic reperfusion injury, and stroke. Medicure will be commencing a Phase II clinical trial with patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery this spring. The cardiovascular market is the largest pharmaceutical sector with annual global sales of over US $70 billion.

The Company also has a medicinal chemistry-based Drug Discovery Program, which is similarly focused on advancing novel therapeutics to address unmet cardiovascular needs.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, and accordingly may be deemed to be forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE: Medicure Inc.

Medicure Inc. Derek Reimer or Don Bain, 888-435-2220 Fax: 204-488-9823 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.medicureinc.com

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