Bentley Pharmaceuticals Receives Approval to Market New Dosage Levels of Enalapril in Spain; Launch Planned for September 2001.

Business Editors

NORTH HAMPTON, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2001

Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: BNT), a drug delivery company with a commercial presence in Europe, announced today that it has been granted approval by the Spanish Ministry of Health to market new dosage levels of enalapril in Spain.

Laboratorios Belmac has received authorization for 2.5 mg. and 10 mg. dosage forms and simultaneous authorizations were granted to Laboratorios Davur for the same. Bentley plans to launch the products through each subsidiary during the month of September.

This drug belongs to a class of ACE inhibitor compounds used for treating cardiovascular disease and hypertension and is commonly known under the trade name of Vasotec(R), which is marketed by Merck & Co.

James R. Murphy, chairman and CEO, said, "We have been looking forward to approval of these dosages of enalapril because they will be the first launched into the Spanish market. The 2.5 mg. and 10 mg. dosage forms have never been sold in Spain, although the 10 mg. is the largest selling dosage in Europe and in the United States, accounting for more than 35% of the U.S. market and 37% of the European enalapril market."

Murphy continued, "We are pleased to be the first approved to market these products and be able to fill an important need in the Spanish prescription market. According to the IMS, the annual market of enalapril for Spain is approximately $70 million and growing at a rate of 4.5% annually. These products are expected to contribute to Laboratorios Belmac's growth as well as growth of our Laboratorios Davur subsidiary."

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 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 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.