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CONTACT:
- --------
Kara Stancell, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, (602) 808-3854

           MEDICIS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2005 FINANCIAL RESULTS

SCOTTSDALE,  Arizona--April 20,  2005--Medicis  (NYSE:MRX) today announced third
quarter  fiscal 2005 net revenue  growth of  approximately  16% to $95.2 million
with net income of $24.3  million,  or $0.37 per  diluted  share,  absent a $5.0
million  tax-effected  special charge associated with a research and development
collaboration with aaiPharma,  compared to third quarter fiscal 2004 revenues of
$81.8  million  with net income of $20.7  million,  or $0.31 per diluted  share.
Including  the $5.0 million  tax-effected  special  charge  associated  with the
research and development collaboration,  the Company reported Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles ("GAAP") net income of $19.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted
share for the third  quarter  of fiscal  2005.  Diluted  per share  amounts  are
calculated  using the  "if-converted"  method of accounting  in accordance  with
GAAP.

Third quarter fiscal 2005 revenues increased  primarily as a result of growth in
each product segment category.  The revenue growth in the acne products category
was due primarily to an increase in sales of PLEXION(R)  Cleansing  Cloths.  The
revenue growth in the non-acne products category was due primarily to the launch
of VANOS(TM). The revenue growth in the non-dermatological products category was
due  primarily  to the  approval  of  AMMONUL(R),  and the  increase in contract
revenue  associated with fees derived from authorized  generics  launched on the
Company's behalf. The Company includes revenue derived from authorized  generics
in the  non-dermatological  products category.  At the end of the third quarter,
the  Company's  core  brands   included   DYNACIN(R),   LOPROX(R),   OMNICEF(R),
PLEXION(R),  RESTYLANE(R),  TRIAZ(R) and VANOS(TM).  Additionally, the Company's
gross profit margin for third quarter fiscal 2005 increased to approximately 85%
from 84% for third quarter  fiscal 2004  primarily due to a favorable  change in
the Company's product mix.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2005,  Medicis  reported  revenues of $276.4
million with net income of $68.4 million,  or $1.03 per diluted share,  absent a
$19.4  million   tax-effected   special  charge  associated  with  the  SubQ(TM)
transaction,  a $3.5  million  tax-effected  special  charge  associated  with a
research and  development  collaboration  with Ansata  Therapeutics,  and a $5.0
million  tax-effected  special charge associated with a research and development
collaboration  with  aaiPharma  reported in the first nine months of fiscal 2005
totaling  $27.8 million.  Including the  tax-effected  special  charges of $27.8
million reported in the nine months ended March 31, 2005,  Medicis reported GAAP
net  income of $40.6  million,  or $0.64 per  diluted  share for the first  nine
months of fiscal 2005.

Comparatively,  in the  first  nine  months  of fiscal  2004,  Medicis  reported
revenues  of  $215.8  million  with net  income of $46.2  million,  or $0.71 per
diluted share,  absent a $37.5 million  tax-effected  loss  associated  with the
early  extinguishment  of debt and absent a $1.6  million  tax-effected  special
charge associated with a research and development  collaboration reported in the
first nine months of fiscal 2004.  Including the tax-effected special charges of
$37.5 million and $1.6 million reported in the nine months ended March 31, 2004,

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Medicis reported GAAP net income of $7.1 million, or $0.12 per diluted share for
the first nine months of fiscal 2004.

For the first nine months of fiscal 2005,  revenue  increased  approximately 28%
primarily as a result of growth in the Company's core brands. Additionally,  the
Company's gross profit margin for the nine months ended fiscal 2005 increased to
approximately  85% from 84% over the nine months ended fiscal 2004 primarily due
to a favorable change in the Company's product mix.

Selling,  general and  administrative  expenses for the third  quarter of fiscal
2005 were $31.9 million, or approximately  33.5% of revenues,  compared to $28.8
million,  or  approximately  35.2% of revenues,  for the third quarter of fiscal
2004,  a decrease as a  percentage  of revenues of  approximately  2  percentage
points, primarily due to various operational efficiencies which resulted in less
spending.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first nine months of fiscal
2005 were $96.3 million,  or approximately  34.9% of revenues  compared to $87.9
million,  or approximately 40.7% of revenues for the first nine months of fiscal
2004,  a decrease as a  percentage  of revenues of  approximately  6  percentage
points.   Revenue  growth   outpaced  the  increase  in  selling,   general  and
administrative  expenses  primarily due to the  investment  spending  behind the
RESTYLANE(R) launch incurred in the first nine months of fiscal 2004.

"We are pleased to announce  another strong quarter  characterized  by continued
strength  in the  RESTYLANE(R)  brand and two  pipeline  approvals,"  said Jonah
Shacknai,  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer of Medicis.  "In February,  the
U.S.  Food  and  Drug  Administration   approved  the  Class  I  corticosteroid,
VANOS(TM),  and the Urea Cycle  Disorder drug,  AMMONUL(R).  Both products enjoy
sound intellectual  property  protection and attractive market potential.  As we
look to the fourth  quarter and fiscal  year-end,  we  anticipate  a  successful
VANOS(TM) launch to  dermatologists,  and continue  advancing our  sophisticated
research and development pipeline through its respective  developmental  stages.
Providing  value to our  shareholders  and the  physicians and patients we serve
remains our paramount focus."

The Company's current fiscal 2005 revenue guidance is approximately $376 million
with earnings per share guidance of $1.44.

At a September  29-30,  2004 meeting,  the Emerging  Issues Task Force  ("EITF")
reached a conclusion  that the  accounting  for  contingently  convertible  debt
instruments,  commonly  referred  to as  "CoCos,"  should be included in diluted
earnings per share  computations (if dilutive)  regardless of whether the market
price  trigger has been met,  effective  for periods  ending after  December 15,
2004.

As a result  of the  EITF's  conclusion,  third  quarter  fiscal  2005 and third
quarter fiscal 2004 diluted per share amounts and year-to-date diluted per share
amounts  are  calculated  using  the  "if-converted"  method  of  accounting  in
accordance  with GAAP  regardless of whether the  outstanding  2.5%  Convertible
Senior Notes and 1.5% Convertible  Senior Notes meet the criteria for conversion
and  regardless  of whether the  bondholders  actually  convert their bonds into
shares.  For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, the dilutive  shares relative
to the  convertible  notes do not impact GAAP  earnings  per share,  as they are
anti-dilutive.

At the time of this disclosure, Medicis believes these objectives are attainable
based  upon  information  currently  available  to the  Company.  The  Company's
business is subject to all risk factors  outlined in the  Company's  most recent
annual report on Form 10-K and other filed  documents  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission.  At the time of this release,  the Company  cannot,  among

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other  things,  assess the  forthcoming  results of the  Company's  research and
development  projects and the risks  associated  with the FDA approval  process,
risks associated with significant competition within the Company's industry, nor
can the Company  validate its  assumptions of the full impact on its business of
the approval of competitive  generic  versions of the Company's core brands,  in
particular,  the recent approval of a generic LOPROX(R) Cream or a substitutable
DYNACIN(R)  Tablet form, and any future  competitive  product approvals that may
affect the Company's  brands.  Additionally,  Medicis may acquire and/or license
products or technologies from third parties to enter into new strategic markets.
The  Company  periodically  makes  up-front,  non-refundable  payments  to third
parties  for  research  and  development  work  which  has  been  completed  and
periodically  makes  additional  non-refundable  payments for the achievement of
various  milestones.  There can be no certainty in which periods these potential
payments  could be made,  nor if any payments such as these will be made at all.
The above  estimated  future  guidance does not include the  potential  payments
associated with any such transactions.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information:
- --------------------------------------

The Company has provided non-GAAP financial information in this press release in
order to provide meaningful  supplemental  information regarding its operational
performance  and to enhance its  investors'  overall  understanding  of its core
financial  performance.  Management  measures the  Company's  performance  using
non-GAAP  financial  measures  such as those  that are  disclosed  in this press
release. This information  facilitates  management's internal comparisons to the
Company's  historical core operating  results,  comparisons to competitors' core
operating  results  and is a basis for  financial  decision  making.  Management
believes that Medicis'  investors  benefit from seeing the Company's  results on
the same basis as management, in addition to the GAAP presentation. In our view,
the non-GAAP adjustments are informative to investors, allowing them to focus on
the ongoing operations and the core results of Medicis' business.  Historically,
Medicis has reported similar non-GAAP  information to its investors and believes
that the inclusion of comparative numbers provides  consistency in the Company's
financial  disclosures.  This  information  is not  in  accordance  with,  or an
alternative  for,  information  prepared  using  GAAP in the United  States.  It
excludes items,  such as special charges for research and development,  that may
have a material  effect on the  Company's  net income and diluted net income per
common share  calculated  in  accordance  with GAAP.  The Company  excludes such
charges and the related tax benefits when analyzing its financial results as the
items are  distinguishable  events and have no impact to the  Company's  ongoing
results of operations. Management believes that by viewing the Company's results
of operations excluding these charges,  investors are given an indication of the
ongoing results of the Company's operations.

Medicis  is the  leading  independent  specialty  pharmaceutical  company in the
United  States  focusing  primarily  on  the  treatment  of  dermatological  and
podiatric  conditions  and  aesthetics  medicine.  Medicis has  leading  branded
prescription  products in a number of therapeutic  categories,  including  acne,
eczema, fungal infections,  hyperpigmentation,  photoaging,  psoriasis, rosacea,
seborrheic  dermatitis  and skin and  skin-structure  infections.  The Company's
products  have earned wide  acceptance  by both  physicians  and patients due to
their clinical effectiveness, high quality and cosmetic elegance.

The Company's products include the prescription brands RESTYLANE(R),  DYNACIN(R)
(minocycline HCl), LOPROX(R)  (ciclopirox),  OMNICEF(R)  (cefdinir),  PLEXION(R)
(sodium    sulfacetamide/sulfur),    TRIAZ(R)   (benzoyl   peroxide),   LIDEX(R)
(fluocinonide)   Cream,  0.05%,   VANOS(TM)   (fluocinonide)  Cream,  0.1%,  and
SYNALAR(R)  (fluocinolone  acetonide),  BUPHENYL(R) (sodium  phenylbutyrate) and
AMMONUL(R)  (sodium   phenylacetate/sodium   benzoate),   prescription  products
indicated in the  treatment  of Urea Cycle  Disorder,  and the  over-the-counter
brand  ESOTERICA(R).  For more  information  about  Medicis,  please  visit  the
Company's website at www.medicis.com.

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Except for historical information,  this press release includes "forward-looking
statements"  within the meaning of the  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act.  All
statements  included in this press  release that address  activities,  events or
developments that Medicis expects,  believes or anticipates will or may occur in
the future are  forward-looking  statements.  This includes earnings  estimates,
future  financial  performance and other matters.  These statements are based on
certain  assumptions  made by Medicis based on its  experience and perception of
historical trends,  current  conditions,  expected future developments and other
factors it believes are  appropriate in the  circumstances.  Such statements are
subject to a number of assumptions,  risks and uncertainties,  many of which are
beyond the control of Medicis.  Any such  projections or statements  include the
current   views  of  Medicis  with  respect  to  future   events  and  financial
performance.  No assurances can be given,  however, that these events will occur
or that such results will be achieved.  Medicis cannot  validate its assumptions
of the full  impact on its  business  of the  approval  of  competitive  generic
versions of its core brands,  or any future  competitive  product approvals that
may affect its brands.  Also, there are a number of additional important factors
that could  cause  actual  results to differ  materially  from those  projected,
including  the  anticipated  size of the markets,  the  availability  of product
supply,  the receipt of required  regulatory  approvals,  the ability to realize
anticipated  synergies  and  benefits  of the Q-Med  transaction,  the risks and
uncertainties  normally incident to the pharmaceutical  industry,  dependence on
sales  of  key  products,  the  uncertainty  of  future  financial  results  and
fluctuations in operating results, dependence on Medicis' strategy including the
uncertainty  of license  payments  and/or other payments due from third parties,
the timing and success of new product  development  by Medicis or third parties,
product  introductions  and other risks  described from time to time in Medicis'
SEC filings including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30,
2004. There can be no assurance as to when or if any of the holders of the Notes
will  have the right to  convert  or if the Notes  will be  converted,  and what
impact the increase in the number of shares outstanding will have on its results
of  operations.  Forward-looking  statements  represent the judgment of Medicis'
management as of the date of this release,  and Medicis  disclaims any intent or
obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

NOTE:  Full  prescribing  information  for any Medicis  prescription  product is
available by contacting  the Company.  OMNICEF(R)  is a registered  trademark of
Abbott Laboratories, Inc. under a license from Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
RESTYLANE(R)  is a  registered  trademark  of HA  North  American  Sales  AB,  a
subsidiary of Medicis  Pharmaceutical  Corporation.  All other marks (or brands)
and names are the property of Medicis or its Affiliates.



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                                     Medicis
                        Summary Statements of Operations
                        --------------------------------
                      (in thousands, except per share data)



                                                                Three Months Ended                      Nine Months Ended
                                                                    March 31,                               March 31,
                                                       ------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
                                                              2005                2004              2005                2004
                                                       ------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
                                                                                                           
Revenues                                                       $ 95,188           $ 81,839           $276,355          $ 215,767
Cost of sales                                                    13,914             13,118             41,185             34,536
                                                               --------           --------           --------          ---------
    Gross profit                                                 81,274             68,721            235,170            181,231
Operating expenses:
    Selling, general and administrative                          31,868             28,793             96,327             87,907
    Research and development                                     14,518(a)           3,084             60,934(b)          12,375(c)
    Depreciation and amortization                                 6,054              4,707             16,276             11,872
                                                               --------           --------           --------          ---------
           Total operating expenses                              52,440             36,584            173,537            112,154
Operating income                                                 28,834             32,137             61,633             69,077
Interest (income) expense, net                                     (331)                335               (83)               449
Loss on early extinguishment of debt                                 --                 --                 --             58,660
Income tax expense                                                9,794             11,131             21,121              2,833
                                                               --------           --------           --------          ---------
    Net income                                                 $ 19,371           $ 20,671          $  40,595          $   7,135
                                                               ========           ========          =========          =========
Basic net income per common share                                 $0.36              $0.37              $0.73              $0.13
                                                               ========           ========          =========          =========
Diluted net income per common share                               $0.30              $0.31              $0.64              $0.12
                                                               ========           ========          =========          =========
Shares used in basic net income per common share                 54,251             56,042             55,506             55,198
Shares used in diluted net income per common share               69,773             73,164             71,489             58,569
Cash flow from operations                                      $ 33,848           $ 37,446          $  79,313          $  77,428
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAAP Net income (above)                                        $ 19,371           $ 20,671          $  40,595          $   7,135
   Special charge for R&D (tax-effected)                          4,976(a)              --             27,830(b)           1,575(c)
   Loss on early extinguishment of debt (tax-effected)               --                 --                 --             37,474
                                                               --------           --------           --------          ---------
Net income absent special charge                               $ 24,347           $ 20,671          $  68,425          $  46,184
   Interest expense and associated bond offering
   costs (tax-effected)                                           1,674(d)           1,666(d)           5,026(e)           5,143(e)
                                                               --------           --------           --------          ---------
"If-converted" net income absent special charge
and loss on early extinguishment of debt                       $ 26,021           $ 22,337          $  73,451          $  51,327
                                                               ========           ========          =========          =========
       Shares used in diluted net income per common
       share                                                     69,773             73,164             71,489             71,816
       Diluted net income per common share                        $0.37              $0.31              $1.03              $0.71
                                                               ========           ========          =========          =========
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(a) Reported R&D expenses include a special charge of $8.3 million ($5.0 million
tax-effected) relating to a research & development collaboration.
(b) Reported R&D expenses include a special charge of $44.6 million ($27.8
million tax-effected) relating to research & development collaborations.
(c) Reported R&D expenses include a special charge of $2.4 million ($1.6 million
tax-effected) relating to a research & development collaboration.
(d) To calculate diluted earnings per share, tax-effected net interest on the
2.5% and 1.5% contingent convertible notes and associated bond offering costs of
$1.7 million and $1.7 million are added back to GAAP net income for the three
months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and divided by shares used
in diluted net income per common share.
(e) To calculate diluted earnings per share, tax-effected net interest on the
2.5% and 1.5% contingent convertible notes and associated bond offering costs of
$5.0 million and $5.1 million are added back to GAAP net income for the nine
months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and divided by shares used
in diluted net income per common share. For GAAP diluted net income per common
share for the nine months ended March 31, 2004, the dilutive shares relative to
the convertible notes are not included as they are anti-dilutive.

                                 Balance Sheets
                                 --------------



                                                                       At March 31, 2005       At June 30, 2004
                                                                       -----------------       ----------------
                                                                          (unaudited)
                                                                                          
Assets
  Cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments                        $   561,254            $   634,040
  Accounts receivable, net                                                    48,004                 47,858
  Inventory, net                                                              19,067                 19,540
  Other current assets                                                        31,202                 32,425
                                                                         -----------            -----------
     Total current assets                                                    659,527                733,863
  Property and equipment, net                                                  6,346                  5,842
  Intangible assets, net                                                     329,497                331,144
  Other assets                                                                11,214                  7,535
                                                                         -----------            -----------
     Total assets                                                        $ 1,006,584            $ 1,078,384
                                                                         ===========            ===========
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
  Current liabilities                                                    $    87,013            $    67,120
  Contingent convertible senior notes 2.5% due 2032                          169,155                169,157
  Contingent convertible senior notes 1.5% due 2033                          283,910                283,910
  Deferred tax liability                                                       4,891                  2,894
  Stockholders' equity                                                       461,615                555,303
                                                                         -----------            -----------
     Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                          $ 1,006,584            $ 1,078,384
                                                                         ===========            ===========

Working capital                                                          $   572,514            $   666,743
                                                                         ===========            ===========



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