Bentley Pharmaceuticals Receives Second Approval To Manufacture And Market Generic Omeprazole In Spain; Plans to Launch By the 1st Quarter of 2001.

Business Editors & Health and Medical Writers

NORTH HAMPTON, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2000

Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: BNT), a drug delivery company with a commercial presence in Europe, announced today that it has been granted a second approval by the Spanish Ministry of Health to manufacture and market a generic version of omeprazole in Spain.

The company plans to launch the product through its subsidiary, Laboratorios Belmac, by the first quarter of 2001. In July, Bentley announced that its Spanish subsidiary, Laboratorios Davur, had been granted approval by the Spanish Ministry of Health to manufacture and market its generic version of omeprazole in Spain.

Bentley's Omeprazole Belmac 20mg capsule presentation is the generic version of AstraZeneca's, Prilosec(R) and Losec(R) brands, the largest selling drug product worldwide. Prilosec(R) sales in 1999 exceeded $5.9 billion; the drug belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds, called "proton pump" inhibitors, used for treating gastrointestinal ulcers as well as disorders associated with gastric acid secretion, blocking the final step of acid production. The drug, to be manufactured in Bentley's Spanish manufacturing facility in Zaragoza, Spain, will be produced in enteric-coated pellet-form to protect the active ingredient from acidic degradation in the stomach and allow for absorption in the small intestine.

James R. Murphy, chairman and CEO, said, "We are pleased to have a second generic equivalent of omeprazole to complement our branded Omeprazole product, Belmazol, to market in Spain. The Spanish market for the therapeutic group of drugs treating ulcers is approximately $369 million and is growing at an annual rate of eight percent whereas the market for controlling acid secretion is approximately $245 million and is growing at an annual rate of approximately 20 percent."

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.

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