Class Action Commenced by Reinhardt & Anderson.

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 1998--

The following was today issued by

Reinhardt & Anderson:

To: All Persons or Institutions Who Purchased Common Stock of Vivus, Inc., between May 15, 1997 and December 9, 1997.

You are hereby Notified that, on March 4, 1998, a class action lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California County of San Mateo, on behalf of all purchasers of Vivus, Inc. (Nasdaq:VVUS) common stock between May 15, 1997 and December 9, 1997, inclusive (the "Class Period").

The Complaint asserts claims for violation of Section 25400 and 25500 of the California Corporate Code and Sections 1709 and 1710 of the California Civil code. Plaintiff seeks to recover losses suffered by investors who purchased Vivus common stock. The lawsuit alleges that Vivus and certain of its officers and directors engaged in false and misleading statements about Vivus' business, finances and future prospects -- specifically, concerning the demand for and efficacy of Vivus' only product, the MUSE (which purports to treat erectile dysfunction) - - while at the same time certain of the individual defendants sold over 200,000 shares of their Vivus stock without disclosing material adverse inside information. Due to misconduct during the class Period, Vivus stock traded as high as $41-7/8 per share. However, before the open of the stock market on December 10, 1997, defendants publicly revealed an earnings shortfall, due, they said, to problems in moving to a new plant and increases in distributors' inventory. In response to these disclosures, the market price of Vivus plummeted 34% on December 10, 1997 to as low as $12.59 per share. Moreover, Vivus had engaged in improper revenue recognition practices in prior quarters. Inventory had increased because Vivus was "parking" inventory at distributors in order to hide from the investing public a deterioration in demand for its product.

As a result of defendants' misconduct, plaintiff and other members of the Class have suffered substantial damages because, in reliance on the integrity of the market, they paid artificially inflated prices for Vivus shares caused by defendants' misrepresentations and omissions.

Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of himself and all other purchasers of Vivus common stock during the Class Period, excluding the defendants and their affiliates, and are represented by, among other firms, Reinhardt & Anderson. Reinhardt & Anderson devotes its practice to securities, antitrust and consumer class actions and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors and consumers in class actions throughout the United States.

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests, please contact Randall H. Steinmeyer, Reinhardt & Anderson, E-1000 First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101, by telephone at [phone] or [phone], by facsimile at [phone], or by e-mail at [e-mail].

CONTACT: Reinhardt & Anderson

Randall H. Steinmeyer, 612/227-9990

[e-mail]