Exhibit 99.1


ELITE PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES ELECTION OF NEW DIRECTOR TO ITS BOARD AND DATE
OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING

    NORTHVALE, N.J., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Elite Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. ("Elite" or the "Company") (Amex: ELI) announced that Mr. Edward
Neugeboren, a managing partner of Indigo Ventures LLC, has agreed to join the
Company's Board of Directors and that John A. Moore has resigned as a Director.
These changes are being made as the company continues it's transformation from a
development stage organization to a high growth specialty pharmaceutical
company.

    Bernard Berk, Chairman and CEO of Elite, commented, "Edward Neugeboren will
be a valued member of the Board of Directors and we look forward to his
participation. His financial experience, specifically within the Specialty
Pharmaceuticals industry, will contribute to our future growth. In addition, the
Company wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to John Moore for his stewardship
during a critical phase of the Company's evolution."

    Additionally, the Company has set March 22, 2005 as the date of its Annual
Stockholders Meeting.

    ABOUT ELITE PHARMACEUTICALS

    Elite Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company principally
engaged in the development of oral, controlled release products. Elite develops
controlled release products internally using its proprietary technology and
licenses these products. The Company's strategy includes developing generic
versions of controlled release drug products with high barriers to entry and
assisting partner companies in the life cycle management of products to improve
off-patent drug products. Elite's technology is applicable to develop delayed,
sustained or targeted release pellets, capsules, tablets, granules and powders.
Elite has a pipeline of six drug products under development in the therapeutic
areas that include cardiovascular, pain management, allergy and infection. The
addressable market for Elite's pipeline of products exceeds $2 billion. Elite
also has a GMP and DEA registered facility for research, development, and
manufacturing located in Northvale, NJ.

    This news release contains forward-looking statements, including those
related to the preliminary nature of the clinical program results and the
potential for product efficacy and product development, that involve known and
unknown risks, delays, uncertainties and other factors not under the Company's
control, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the
Company to be materially different from the results, performance or other
expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, because
substantial future testing will be required prior to approval, the results
described above may not be supported by additional data or by the results of
subsequent trials. These risks and other factors, including the timing or
results of pending and future clinical trials, regulatory reviews and approvals
by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities, and
intellectual property protections and defenses, are discussed in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission such as the 10K, 10Q and 8K
reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements.

    Contacts:
    Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Dianne Will, 518-398-6222
    dwill@willstar.net
    http://www.elitepharma.com

SOURCE Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.elitepharma.com