BIOVAIL LAUNCHES GLUMETZA TO CANADIAN PHYSICIANS.

Biovail Corporation (NYSE:BVF)(TSX:BVF), Toronto, has officially launched Glumetza(TM) in Canada.

Developed in partnership with Depomed, Inc. (NASDAQ:DEPO) of Menlo Park, California, Glumetza(TM) is the first once-daily, extended-release formulation of metformin on the Canadian market. Glumetza(TM) is being launched by Biovail Pharmaceuticals Canada (BPC), the Canadian sales and marketing division of Biovail Corporation. This launch further validates BPC's position as the number-one independent pharmaceutical commercial organization in the country. "Hyperglycemia is a major cause of many of the complications for people who have diabetes, so keeping your blood sugar as close to normal as possible not only helps you to feel better, but will help to reduce the risk of long-term complications," said Doug Herman, vice-president and general manager of BPC. "Metformin is the most prescribed oral medication for the treatment of Type II diabetes. Providing Canadians with a once-daily metformin option to treat Type II diabetes is a great step toward enhanced patient adherence - and as a result, a great step forward toward helping to manage this disease."

Clinical data exists to show that reducing the frequency of daily dosing of oral diabetes medication can cause an improvement in patient compliance and metabolic control. Poor patient compliance to medications and dosing regimens represent a significant challenge to physicians in treating chronic disease - especially diabetes, due to the high number of medications that patients often have to take to control their disease. Glumetza(TM) offers a significant advantage to both physicians and patients by simplifying the dosage regimen of twice-a-day or three-times-a-day metformin to once a day. In addition to physician calls to introduce Glumetza(TM), launch elements include sampling, marketing and other promotional activities.

About Glumetza(TM)

Glumetza(TM) is a once-daily extended-release formulation of metformin HCl and is intended to control diabetes mellitus - a condition characterized by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin activity or both. Glumetza(TM) is indicated for the control of hyperglycemia in metformin-responsive, stable, mild, non- ketosis prone maturity onset type of diabetes (Type II) which cannot be controlled by proper dietary management, exercise and weight reduction and when insulin therapy is not appropriate. Glumetza(TM) will be available in a 500mg extended-release tablet.

Safety Precautions

Patients are advised not to take Glumetza(TM) if they have kidney problems, heart failure that is treated with medicine, or have a condition called metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis, which should be treated with insulin. Glumetza(TM) can cause a rare, but serious condition, called lactic acidosis. Patients should stop taking Glumetza(TM) and call their doctor right away if they feel very weak or tired, or have unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or feel cold - especially in their arms and legs - or if they feel dizzy or lightheaded, or have a slow or irregular heartbeat, or a medical condition suddenly changes.

The most common side effects of Glumetza(TM) include diarrhea, nausea, and upset stomach. In clinical trials, Glumetza(TM) has been shown to provide a similar tolerability profile to currently available metformin.

About Diabetes

Diabetes affects an estimated 2.25 million Canadians, and is increasing in epidemic proportions by approximately 60,000 new cases each year in Canada alone. Approximately 90% of diabetics suffer from Type II diabetes, the most common metabolic disease in the world and the seventh-deadliest disease in Canada. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, end-stage renal disease and non-traumatic loss of limb, and can also lead to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and other serious conditions. In Canada, the public health cost of diabetes is estimated to be more than C$9 billion per year.

About Biovail Corporation

Biovail Corporation is a specialty pharmaceutical company, engaged in the formulation, clinical testing, registration, manufacture, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products utilizing advanced drug-delivery technologies.

For more information, visit http://www.biovail.com or call 905/286-3000