Exhibit 99.1

Company Contact:

Cristina Murphy

Senior Communications Manager

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(202) 734-3414

cristina.murphy@vandapharma.com

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 8, 2012 – Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Vanda) (NASDAQ: VNDA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, today announced financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Key Highlights:

FIRST QUARTER 2012 REPORTED RESULTS

Total revenues for the first quarter of 2012 were $8.1 million, compared to $7.5 million for the same period in 2011. First quarter 2012 revenues included $1.5 million in Fanapt® royalties received from Novartis as compared to royalties of $0.9 million for the first quarter of 2011.

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2012 were $16.5 million, compared to $7.5 million for the first quarter of 2011. The primary driver of the higher expenses in the first quarter of 2012 was the ongoing support of the tasimelteon Non-24 and MDD clinical studies.

Vanda recorded a net loss of $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to net income of $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2011. Diluted net loss per share for the first quarter of 2012 was $0.28, compared to diluted net income of $0.00 per share for the first quarter of 2011.

First Quarter 2012 Key Financial Figures¹

Select Cash Flow Data¹

Select Balance Sheet Data¹

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OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

On January 26, 2012, Vanda announced that initial clinical data in the RESET study revealed the potential of tasimelteon to reset the body clock in Non-24. The tasimelteon Non-24 program continues to advance towards the goal of a projected mid-2013 NDA filing with the FDA. Vanda is in continuing discussions with the FDA to confirm the path and requirements for this regulatory submission. Vanda expects to complete the two Phase III efficacy studies, SET and RESET, by the end of 2012.

The tasimelteon MAGELLAN efficacy study for MDD is ongoing and Vanda expects to report top-line results in the first half of 2013. This Phase IIb/III study in MDD is expected to enroll 500 patients across approximately 40 sites in the U.S.

On April 16, 2012, Vanda announced that it had obtained exclusive world-wide rights from Eli Lilly and Company to develop and commercialize VLY-686, a small molecule neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R) antagonist for all human indications. In 2012, Vanda intends to initiate and complete the technology transfer activities and further examine the clinical and commercial profile of VLY-686. This strategic evaluation will further inform potential indications for an early clinical development program. VLY-686 is a Phase II ready program.

First quarter 2012 sales of Fanapt® were reported by Novartis to be $15.4 million. Fanapt® prescriptions, as reported by IMS, reached 35,000 for the first quarter of 2012. This represents a 39% increase over first quarter 2011 prescriptions.

The review of Vanda’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for oral iloperidone tablets in the European Union is ongoing. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has provided its standard 120-day list of questions and has granted Vanda a 3-month extension, through mid-May 2012. Vanda expects to respond to the EMA questions by such time. Regulatory filings for market approval of Fanapt® by Vanda’s commercial partners are under review in Israel, Mexico and Argentina.

2012 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

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The tables at the end of this press release include a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP expected G&A expenses and R&D expenses. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

CONFERENCE CALL

Vanda has scheduled a conference call for today, Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at 10:00 AM ET. During the call, Vanda’s management will discuss the first quarter 2012 results and other corporate activities. Investors can call 866-314-4865 (domestic) and 617-213-8050 (international) and use passcode 62288061. A replay of the call will be available beginning Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET and will be accessible until Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at 5:00 PM ET. The replay call-in number is 1-888-286-8010 for domestic callers and 1-617-801-6888 for international callers. The access number is 20166070.

The conference call will be broadcast simultaneously on Vanda’s website, http://www.vandapharma.com. Investors should click on the Investor Relations tab and are advised to go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary software or presentations. The call will also be archived on Vanda’s website for a period of 30 days, through June 6, 2012.

ABOUT VANDA PHARMACEUTICALS INC.:

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products for central nervous system disorders. For more on Vanda, please visit http://www.vandapharma.com.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Various statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” under the securities laws. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “target,” “goal,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” and “could,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions or words, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the company’s forward-looking statements include, among others: the extent and effectiveness of the development, sales and marketing and distribution support Fanapt® receives; Vanda’s ability to successfully commercialize Fanapt® outside of the U.S. and Canada; delays in the completion of Vanda’s clinical trials; a failure of Vanda’s products, product candidates or partnered products to be demonstrably safe and effective; Vanda’s failure to obtain regulatory approval for its products, product candidates or partnered products or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements; a lack of acceptance of Vanda’s products, product candidates or partnered products in the marketplace, or a failure to become or remain profitable; Vanda’s expectations regarding trends with respect to its costs and expenses; Vanda’s inability to obtain the capital necessary to fund additional research and development activities; Vanda’s failure to identify or obtain rights to new products or product candidates; Vanda’s failure to develop or obtain sales, marketing and distribution resources and expertise or to otherwise manage its growth; limitations on Vanda’s ability to utilize some or all of its prior net operating losses and research and development credits; a loss of any of Vanda’s key scientists or management personnel; losses incurred from product liability claims made against Vanda; a loss of rights to develop and commercialize Vanda’s products or product candidates under its license and sublicense agreements and other factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Vanda’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 which is on file with the SEC and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition to the risks described above and in Vanda’s annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Vanda’s results. There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Vanda will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Vanda. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved.

All written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to Vanda or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Vanda cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements Vanda makes or that are made on its behalf. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Vanda undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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VANDA PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

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VANDA PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

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USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

To supplement the financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Vanda uses measures of non-GAAP G&A and R&D expenses. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the closest GAAP financial measure, is presented in the financial table below.

2012 Full Year Guidance GAAP to Non-GAAP adjustments

Vanda believes that the non-GAAP financial information provided in this release can assist investors in understanding and assessing the ongoing economics of the company’s business and reflect how it manages the business internally and sets operational goals. Vanda’s “non-GAAP G&A expenses” and “non-GAAP R&D expenses” exclude stock based compensation. Vanda believes that excluding the impact of expensing stock options better reflects the recurring economic characteristics of its business and the company’s use of financial resources. Non-GAAP G&A and Non-GAAP R&D, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies since not all companies may calculate these measures in an identical manner and, therefore, they are not necessarily an accurate measure of comparison between companies. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for guidance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude significant elements that are required by GAAP to be recorded in Vanda’s financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management in determining these non-GAAP financial measures. In order to compensate for these limitations, Vanda presents its non-GAAP financial guidance in connection with its GAAP guidance. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

SOURCE Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

COMPANY CONTACT:

Cristina Murphy

Senior Communications Manager

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(202) 734-3414

cristina.murphy@vandapharma.com

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