Chelsea Therapeutics Appoints Dr. William D. Schwieterman Chief Medical Officer

Former FDA Branch Chief to Assume New Position as Head of Chelsea's Medical and Regulatory Affairs

CHARLOTTE, N.C, Nov. 2, 2009 -- Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. (Nasdaq:CHTP) announced the appointment of William D. Schwieterman, M.D., to the newly created position of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Schwieterman, who resigned his seat on Chelsea's Board of Directors to assume the position, will be responsible for medical and regulatory affairs, and will report to Simon Pedder, Ph.D., Chelsea's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"Bill joins Chelsea's management team at a time when his experience will be invaluable across each of our clinical programs," said Dr. Simon Pedder. "Having known Bill for 12 years, going back to the development of Pegasys(R), I was delighted to first welcome his insight and expertise on our rheumatology scientific advisory board and later on the Company's Board of Directors. Given the extensive regulatory experience he gained during his 10 year tenure at the FDA, his deep knowledge of Chelsea, and commitment to our therapeutic pipeline, we believe Bill's contributions as Chief Medical Officer will be instrumental as we work toward approval of Droxidopa in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and continue to advance all of our product candidates."

Dr. Schwieterman, a rheumatologist and board-certified internist, brings over 25 years of experience to Chelsea with a career spanning medical practice, drug development, and regulatory oversight. For the past year, Dr. Schwieterman held a seat on Chelsea's Board of Directors following three years of service on the Company's rheumatology advisory board. While advising Chelsea, he also served as an independent consultant to other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, focusing on clinical development and regulatory matters since 2002. Prior to that, Dr. Schwieterman was Chief of the Medicine Branch and Chief of the Immunology and Infectious Disease Branch in the Division of Clinical Trials at the FDA. In these capacities and others, he worked with sponsors for the development of new agents for pulmonary medicine, neurology, hepatitis, rheumatology, infectious disease, and solid organ transplantation, among other areas.

In addition to having helped author the FDA's Good Review Practices for investigational products, Dr. Schwieterman is widely published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Schwieterman received his M.D. from the University of Cincinnati and his internship and residency programs were completed at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Schwieterman's research training was obtained at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He currently serves on the board of directors and compensation committee of OXiGENE, Inc., a publicly traded company.

About Chelsea Therapeutics

Chelsea Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical development company that acquires and develops innovative products for the treatment of a variety of human diseases. Chelsea's most advanced drug candidate, Droxidopa, is an orally active synthetic precursor of norepinephrine initially being developed for the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. In addition to Droxidopa, Chelsea is also developing a portfolio of metabolically inert oral antifolate molecules engineered to have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity to treat a range of immunological disorders, including two clinical stage product candidates: CH-1504 and CH-4051. Preclinical and clinical data suggest superior safety and tolerability, as well as increased potency versus methotrexate (MTX).

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events. These statements are just predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include our need to raise operating capital, our history of losses, risks and costs of drug development, risk of regulatory approvals, our reliance on our lead drug candidates Droxidopa and CH-1504, reliance on collaborations and licenses, intellectual property risks, competition, market acceptance for our products if any are approved for marketing and reliance on key personnel including specifically Dr. Pedder.

CONTACT:  Chelsea Therapeutics
          Investors:
          Kathryn McNeil
          718-788-2856
          mcneil@chelseatherapeutics.com

          Hill & Knowlton
          Media:
          Sean Leous
          212-885-0549
          sean.leous@hillandknowlton.com