Bentley Pharmaceuticals Receives Approval to Market Generic Versions of Prozac through Its European Subsidiaries; Plans to Launch in the 4Th Quarter.

Business/Health Editors

NORTH HAMPTON, NH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2000

Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: BNT), a drug delivery company with a commercial presence in Europe, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Laboratorios Belmac S.A. and Laboratorios Davur S.L., have each been granted approval by the Spanish Ministry of Health to market generic versions of fluoxetine in Spain in dosage forms of 20mg capsules. The products are planned for launch during the 4th quarter of 2000.

These presentations of fluoxetine are the generic equivalent of Eli Lilly's world-leading antidepressant, marketed under the brand name, Prozac(R). The drug belongs to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class of antidepressants. Laboratorios Belmac and Laboratorios Davur will package and distribute the products from their newly renovated manufacturing facility in Zaragoza, Spain.

James R. Murphy, Chairman and CEO, said, "This is an important and highly recognized product that will contribute to our generic portfolio. According to marketing data of IMS, the Spanish market for antidepressants is approximately $267 million and is evolving at an annual rate of 16%. Fluoxetine products account for approximately 25% of these sales in the Spanish market."

Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a drug delivery company focused upon improving the absorption of a wide range of drugs and peptides through proprietary drug delivery technologies which it intends to commercialize in the U.S. and other major markets by licensing to other pharmaceutical companies. Bentley also manufactures and commercializes branded and generic products in Europe for the treatment of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological and infectious diseases through its subsidiaries Laboratorios Belmac S.A. and Laboratorios Davur S.L.

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 the uncertainty of future financial results, additional financing requirements, the ability to find effective market distribution channels, development of new products, regulatory approval processes, the impact of competitive products or pricing, unpredictability of patent protection, technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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