QUEBEC CITY, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX: AEZ; NASDAQ: AEZS), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and oncology, today announced the appointments of Jurgen Ernst as Chairman of the Board of Directors and David J. Mazzo, Ph.D., the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Jurgen Ernst has served as Vice Chairman since November 2005 and succeeds Eric Dupont, Ph.D., who has served as Executive Chairman since January 2003 and who is stepping down from the Board, also effective today. Jurgen Ernst, Chairman of Aeterna Zentaris, stated, "Dr. Dupont's contributions to the growth and evolution of Aeterna Zentaris have proven to be invaluable. Since founding the Company in 1991, Dr. Dupont has established Aeterna Zentaris as a solid, global biopharmaceutical company. He successfully piloted the spin-off in January 2007 of our former subsidiary, Atrium Innovations Inc., which was created out of the Company's commercial activities at the end of 1999. With Aeterna Zentaris emerging earlier this year as a mature, pure-play global biopharmaceutical company with a rich pipeline, the implementation of a highly skilled and well experienced new management team, as well as the Company's secure financial position, Dr. Dupont and the Board of Directors agreed that now would be an appropriate time for him to retire from the Board and for the Company to name a new Chairman of the Board. On behalf of the entire Aeterna Zentaris organization, especially the Board of Directors, I would like to personally thank Dr. Dupont for his undying dedication, passion and tenacity over the years, and I am grateful he will remain a special advisor to the Board to ensure a smooth transition." David J. Mazzo, Ph.D., President and CEO of Aeterna Zentaris, added, "We are very pleased that Jurgen Ernst has agreed to take on additional responsibilities as Chairman of our Board of Directors. Jurgen is a seasoned executive, and we will continue to benefit from his 35 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, specifically corporate development and pharmaceutical product marketing expertise." Dr. Dupont will serve as a special advisor to the Board of Directors of Aeterna Zentaris until the end of the year. About Aeterna Zentaris Inc. Aeterna Zentaris Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and oncology with proven expertise in drug discovery, development and commercialization. News releases and additional information are available at http://www.aeternazentaris.com/. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words "believes", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "expects", "estimates", "will," "may", "should", "approximately", and the negative or other variations of those terms or comparable terminology, are forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect management's current views, intentions, strategies and plans and are based on certain assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the ability of Aeterna Zentaris to implement its business strategies, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of Aeterna Zentaris to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic conditions. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE: AETERNA ZENTARIS INC. CONTACT: Jenene Thomas, Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, (418) 655-6420,

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