Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:SOMX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the in-licensing and development of proprietary product candidates for the treatment of diseases and disorders in the fields of psychiatry and neurology, today announced the appointment of Michael L. Eagle as an independent director of the company. Mr. Eagle will also serve as a member of the company's audit committee. This appointment fills the board seat vacated by Scott L. Glenn, who is a co-founder of the company and served on the board of directors since August 2003. The number of company directors remains at nine, with a seven-member independent majority.

Mr. Eagle has more than 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience. He served as Vice President of Manufacturing for Eli Lilly and Company from 1994 through 2001 and held a number of executive management positions with Eli Lilly and its subsidiaries throughout his career there. Since retiring from Eli Lilly, he has served as a founding member of Barnard Life Sciences, LLC.

Mr. Eagle serves as chairman of the board of directors of Favrille, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and serves on the boards of directors of Micrus Endovascular Corporation, a medical device company, and a number of privately-held companies. Mr. Eagle earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University and an MBA from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Kettering University, on the Dean’s Senior Advisory Council of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University and on the board of directors of the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art.

"We are looking forward to calling upon Mike's broad experience in the pharmaceutical industry as we look towards the future of our product candidate SILENOR and our company as a whole," said Ken Cohen, president and chief executive officer of Somaxon.

David F. Hale, chairman of the board of Somaxon, said, "We are extremely pleased that Mike has agreed to join our board. We believe he can make important strategic contributions to Somaxon based on his significant pharmaceutical industry expertise."

Mr. Hale also added, "On behalf of the Somaxon board of directors, I would like to thank Scott Glenn for his four years of service on our board and his many contributions to the company."

About Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the in-licensing and development of proprietary product candidates for the treatment of diseases and disorders in the fields of psychiatry and neurology. Somaxon has completed four successful Phase 3 clinical trials for its lead product candidate, SILENOR (doxepin Hcl) for the treatment of insomnia. The company has also completed a pilot Phase 2 trial for nalmefene in smoking cessation with positive results. It has also completed a Phase 2/3 clinical trial for nalmefene for the treatment of pathological gambling that did not achieve statistical significance for the primary or secondary endpoints. The company will evaluate the results from both of these trials before making determinations regarding the future of the nalmefene program. Acamprosate Ca, a potential treatment for movement disorders, is currently in formulation development.

For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.somaxon.com.