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    ELITE PHARMACEUTICALS NOTIFIED OF CONTINUED LISTING NONCOMPLIANCE BY AMEX

NORTHVALE,  NJ,  JANUARY 10, 2006 - On January 4, 2006,  Elite  Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (AMEX: ELI) received notice from the American Stock Exchange that, based on
the Company's  unaudited  financial  statements  as of September  30, 2005,  the
Company was not in compliance with the continued  listing  standards of at least
$4,000,000 of shareholders  equity and income from  continuing  operations in at
least two of its four most  recent  fiscal  years  (Amex Rule  1003(a)(ii))  and
shareholders'   equity  of  at  least  $6,000,000  and  income  from  continuing
operations  or net income in at least one of its five most recent  fiscal  years
(Amex Rule 1003(a)(iii)).

At the  invitation  of the Amex,  the Company  will submit by February 3, 2006 a
plan  advising  the Exchange of the actions it has taken or will take that would
bring it into compliance with the above  continuing  listing  standards within a
maximum  of 18 months  from  January 4,  2006.  The plan is to include  specific
milestones, quarterly financial projections and details related to any strategic
initiatives  the  Company  plans  to  complete.  If  the  Listing  Qualification
Committee determines that the Company has made a reasonable demonstration in the
plan of its ability to regain  compliance  within the 18-month period,  the plan
will be accepted and listing  will  continue  subject to periodic  review of the
progress  under the plan by Amex.  No assurance  can be given that the Company's
plan will be accepted  or, if  accepted,  that the  necessary  progress  will be
achieved during the course of the 18-month period.

ABOUT ELITE PHARMACEUTICALS
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Elite Pharmaceuticals is a specialty  pharmaceutical company principally engaged
in the development of oral, controlled release 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  capsules or
tablets.  Elite has one product currently being sold commercially and a pipeline
of eight drug products under  development in the therapeutic  areas that include
pain management,  allergy,  cardiovascular and infection. The addressable market
for Elite's current pipeline of products exceeds $4.25 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
FURTHER  PRODUCT  DEVELOPMENT,  THAT INVOLVE  KNOWN AND UNKNOWN  RISKS,  DELAYS,
UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF ELITE,  WHICH MAY CAUSE
ACTUAL  RESULTS,  PERFORMANCE OR  ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COMPANIES 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  ELITE'S  FILINGS  WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  SUCH AS THE 10K,  10Q AND 8K REPORTS.  THE
COMPANIES UNDERTAKE NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Investor Relations:
The Investor Relations Group
John Nesbett/Antima "Taz" Sadhukhan
Phone: 212-825-3210
or
FOR ELITE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
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Dianne Will, Investor Relations
Phone: 518-398-6222  E-Mail: DWILL@WILLSTAR.NET
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Website:  WWW.ELITEPHARMA.COM
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