Bentley Pharmaceuticals Completes Clinical Evaluation of New Acetaminophen Products in Europe; European Regulatory Filing Expected in Third Quarter.

Business Editors & Medical Writers

- Bentley Added to Russell 2000 Index -

Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: BNT), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on advanced drug-delivery technologies, which also manufactures and markets generic and branded products in Europe, announced today that it has completed its European clinical development program for its improved acetaminophen products in Europe.

In the first of two studies, Bentley previously reported that it evaluated its powder sachets and tablets in comparison to a European commercial market leader, Panadol(R) tablets, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline and a USA market leader, Tylenol(R) caplets, marketed by McNeil Consumer Healthcare. After a single oral dose of 1000 mg. in healthy volunteers, both Bentley formulations tested in this study, powder sachets and solid tablets, were absorbed to maximum blood concentration significantly faster (approximately half the time) than the other market leading tablets, Panadol(R) and Tylenol(R).

The second study assessed the pharmacokinetic differences in the absorption rate of Bentley's new tablet formulation compared to another popular European tablet: Termalgin(R), marketed by Laboratorios Novartis Farmaceutica. This study demonstrated that the Bentley product had a very significant and higher rate of absorption than Termalgin(R). The average time to reach the maximum blood concentration was 25 minutes for Bentley's tablets versus 45 minutes for Termalgin(R).

Bentley's patent filing will encompass new galenic formulations of acetaminophen (granulated powder and pill forms) with application for analgesia, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory indications. The formulations are highly dispersible and rapidly soluble in cold water delivering a more rapid onset of action. These characteristics give Bentley's formulation superior properties over other currently marketed products, which do not dissolve easily in water, but instead form suspensions, which result in undesirable bitter taste and flatulence. In addition to an improved palatable dosage form, the formulations can be dissolved in a glass of water or conventionally swallowed.

James R. Murphy, Chairman and CEO, commented, "Acetaminophen has been a market-leading product throughout the world for many years, both in the prescription and over-the-counter markets. Our new products provide a more rapid absorption in addition to eliminating the less desirable qualities of other formulations. We are proceeding with the European registration of these improved products, beginning in Spain, and then seeking licensing partners for the United States and other major markets around the world."

The company recently announced it has been added to the Russell 3000(R) index. The Russell 3000 index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies, based on total market capitalization. In addition, the company is pleased to announce that it has also been included in the Russell 2000(R) index. More than $250 billion is invested in funds that rely on Russell's U.S. indexes as investment models.

Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on advanced drug delivery technologies and pharmaceutical products. Bentley's proprietary drug technologies enhance or facilitate the absorption of pharmaceutical compounds across various membranes. Bentley also manufactures and markets a growing portfolio of generic and branded pharmaceuticals in Spain for the treatment of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infectious and neurological diseases through its subsidiaries Laboratorios Belmac and Laboratorios Davur.

Copies of the company's press releases and other information may be obtained through Bentley's web site at www.bentleypharm.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements which are not historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties including but not limited to risks associated with identifying suitable drugs for drug delivery technologies, expanding generic and branded drug operations, development and commercialization of our products, relationships with our strategic partners, uncertainty of clinical trials, regulatory approval process, product sales concentration, unpredictability of patent protection, technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties detailed in Bentley's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission