VANCOUVER, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - QLT Inc. (NASDAQ: QLTI; TSX: QLT) ("QLT" or the "Company") today announced that it has received an income tax refund of Cdn$45.3 million from the Canada Revenue Agency. The income tax refund resulted primarily from a request to carryback losses the Company incurred in 2007 in connection with the judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in favor of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. The amount of the refund, before certain minor adjustments, was reflected in the previously filed financial statements of the Company, including as part of the income tax receivable balance at June 30, 2009. As a result, the tax refund is not expected to have any material effect on the Company's current period statement of operations.

About QLT

QLT Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies. Our research and development efforts are focused on pharmaceutical products in the field of ophthalmology. In addition, we utilize three unique technology platforms, photodynamic therapy, Atrigel(R) and punctal plugs with drugs, to create products such as Visudyne(R) and Eligard(R) and future product opportunities. For more information, visit our website at www.qltinc.com.

    QLT Inc. is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the trading symbol
    "QLTI" and on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "QLT."

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward looking statements" of QLT within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and constitute "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to: our expectation that the tax refund will not have a material effect on our current period statement of operations; and statements which contain language such as: "assuming," "prospects," "future," "projects," "believes," "expects" and "outlook." Forward-looking statements are predictions only which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed in such statements. Many such risks, uncertainties and other factors are taken into account as part of our assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements and include, among others, the following: the Company's future operating results are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; the assessment or audit of tax refunds is within the discretion of the Canada Revenue Agency; and general economic conditions and other factors described in detail in QLT's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Forward looking statements are based on the current expectations of QLT and QLT does not assume any obligation to update such information to reflect later events or developments except as required by law.

SOURCE QLT Inc.