Exhibit 99.1

                                                              [ELITE LETTERHEAD]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


ELITE LABORATORIES ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT,
MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF A CONTROLLED RELEASE PRODUCT

NORTHVALE, NJ, April 5, 2005; Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(AMEX:ELI) announced
the entry into an agreement with a specialty dermatological marketing company,
and a boutique formulation development company, for the manufacture and
distribution of a controlled release drug product. The product is a generic
equivalent to a branded drug with addressable market revenues of approximately
$80 million per year.

The agreement provides for (i) the drug development by Elite with costs of
development to be shared by Elite and the marketing company, (ii) the
manufacture by Elite and its sale to the marketing company for distribution, and
(iii) the boutique development company to be responsible for any requisite
submissions to the FDA relating to the product. Elite is to share in the profits
generated from the sale of the product.

Bernard Berk, CEO of Elite, said, "We are pleased to initiate this arrangement
and are looking forward to developing this controlled release product. This
collaboration allows us to capitalize on our collective strengths and to
accelerate Elite's development activities."

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 using 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 one
product currently being sold commercially and a pipeline of six drug products
under development in the therapeutic areas that include pain management,
allergy, cardiovascular 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.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Dianne Will, Investor Relations for Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Phone: 518-398-6222  E-Mail: dwill@willstar.net
Website:  www.elitepharma.com