Santarus to Expand ZEGERID Sales Team.

Provides 2007 and 2008 Financial Outlook

Conference Call to Begin Today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time

SAN DIEGO -- Santarus, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNTS), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on therapies for gastrointestinal diseases and disorders, today announced that it plans to expand its commercial presence by adding approximately 150 sales representatives to its current selling efforts to promote ZEGERID([R]) brand immediate-release omeprazole products in the U.S. To facilitate the expansion, the company intends to enter into an agreement with a contract sales organization during the fourth quarter of 2006 and expects the new sales representatives to be trained and in place by the end of the first quarter of 2007.

Santarus, and co-promotion partner Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., currently deploy a combined sales force of 370 representatives who promote ZEGERID (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) Capsules and ZEGERID (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) Powder for Oral Suspension, the first and only immediate-release oral proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) available in the U.S. The addition of approximately 150 sales representatives will increase the total number of sales representatives promoting ZEGERID products in the first detail sales position to over 500.

"Feedback from physicians who have used ZEGERID products has been very positive, with weekly prescribers growing by 135% since the launch of ZEGERID Capsules. Moreover, our experience indicates that the frequency in delivering a consistent message about ZEGERID's clinical benefits is key to increasing awareness and positively impacting physician prescribing behavior. With the sales force expansion, we will have the opportunity to increase that frequency with the targeted 26,000 gastroenterologists and primary care physicians who accounted for approximately $4.4 billion in 2005 PPI sales," said Gerald T. Proehl, president and chief executive officer of Santarus. "Further, we believe the timing of this commercial expansion is advantageous in light of the growth in capsule prescriptions, as well as our recently negotiated improved formulary positions with managed care customers."

Financial Outlook for 2007 and 2008

The company anticipates that the increased sales force will have a positive impact on revenue, primarily beginning in the second half of 2007 and to a greater extent in 2008. Santarus expects to report revenue of more than $200 million in 2008 and to achieve breakeven in the second half of that year. The company expects that the financial impact of expanding its commercial presence with the addition of approximately 150 sales representatives will be to increase selling, general and administrative expenses by approximately $30 million to $35 million annually.

Santarus plans to release third quarter financial results and hold an investment community conference call on November 7, 2006.

Today's Sales Force Expansion Conference Call

Santarus has scheduled an investor conference call regarding this announcement at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. Pacific Time) today, October 24, 2006. Individuals interested in participating in the call may do so by dialing 888-803-8275 for domestic callers, or 706-643-7736 for international callers. A telephone replay will be available for 48 hours following conclusion of the call by dialing 800-642-1687 for domestic callers, or 706-645-9291 for international callers, and entering reservation code 9419538. The live conference call also will be available via the Internet by visiting the Investor Relations section of the company's Web site at www.santarus.com, and a recording of the call will be available on the company's Web site for 14 days following the completion of the call.

About ZEGERID

ZEGERID Capsules and ZEGERID Powder for Oral Suspension are indicated for the treatment of heartburn and other symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the short-term treatment (four to eight weeks) of erosive esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy and active benign gastric ulcers, the short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcers and for maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis (controlled studies do not extend beyond 12 months). ZEGERID Powder for Oral Suspension is also indicated for the reduction of risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients.

ZEGERID offers a unique pharmacological profile - rapidly reaching maximal plasma levels (in approximately 30 minutes) and providing strong acid control, with a median 24-hour gastric pH of greater than 4 ranging from 12.2 hours to 18.6 hours, depending on the strength and dosage form, after repeated once-daily dosing. ZEGERID can be conveniently taken once-a-day on an empty stomach, at least one hour before a meal.

PPIs are widely prescribed for a variety of diseases and disorders of the upper digestive tract. All currently marketed oral PPIs, other than ZEGERID, are delayed-release formulations that utilize an enteric coating to protect the PPI from acid degradation, thereby delaying absorption and initial acid suppression. Unlike delayed-release PPIs, ZEGERID Capsules and Powder for Oral Suspension utilize sodium bicarbonate in lieu of an enteric coating. The sodium bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid and protects the PPI, omeprazole, from gastric acid degradation and allows for its rapid absorption and suppression of gastric acid.

Important Safety Information

ZEGERID (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) Capsules and Powder for Oral Suspension contain a combination of omeprazole, a PPI, and sodium bicarbonate, an antacid, which raises the gastric pH and thus protects the omeprazole from acid degradation.

The most frequently reported adverse events with ZEGERID are headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In critically ill patients treated with ZEGERID, adverse events generally reflected the serious, underlying medical condition of the patients, and were similar for patients treated with ZEGERID and with the comparator (acid-controlling) drug. Symptomatic response to therapy does not preclude the presence of gastric malignancy. Atrophic gastritis has been noted occasionally in gastric corpus biopsies from patients treated long term with omeprazole.

ZEGERID Capsules contain 300 mg of sodium per dose in the form of sodium bicarbonate (1100 mg/13 mEq), and ZEGERID Powder for Oral Suspension contains 460 mg of sodium per dose in the form of sodium bicarbonate (1680 mg/20 mEq). This should be taken into consideration for patients on a sodium-restricted diet. Sodium bicarbonate is contraindicated in patients with metabolic alkalosis and hypocalcemia. ZEGERID is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation.

About Santarus

Santarus, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing proprietary products that treat gastrointestinal diseases and disorders and enhance the quality of life for patients. The company's products are immediate-release formulations of omeprazole, a widely prescribed PPI. The company's marketed products include ZEGERID Capsules (launched in late March 2006) and ZEGERID Powder for Oral Suspension. Santarus received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its third dosage form, ZEGERID with Magnesium Hydroxide Chewable Tablets, in March 2006. More information about Santarus is available on the company's Web site at www.santarus.com.

Santarus cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements, including the potential to retain a contract sales force and Santarus' achievement of future performance and financial results, should not be regarded as a representation by Santarus that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Santarus' business, including, without limitation: risks related to Santarus' ability to enter into an arrangement with a contract sales organization on favorable terms or in a timely manner, as well as the potential for termination of the arrangement; the contract sales organization's performance under any arrangement, including its ability to timely recruit additional sales representatives; Santarus' ability to drive increased market demand for, and generate increased sales of, ZEGERID Capsules, ZEGERID Powder for Oral Suspension and any other products that may be marketed; the scope and validity of patent protection for ZEGERID products and the ability of Santarus and its strategic partners to commercialize ZEGERID products without infringing the patent rights of others; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of ZEGERID products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization, or that could result in recalls or product liability claims; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; other difficulties or delays relating to the development, testing, manufacturing and marketing of ZEGERID products; fluctuations in quarterly and annual results; Santarus' ability to obtain additional financing as needed to support its operations; and other risks detailed in Santarus' prior press releases as well as in public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Santarus undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Santarus([R]) and ZEGERID([R]) are trademarks of Santarus, Inc.