Bentley Pharmaceuticals Receives Approval to Market a Generic Version of Simvastatin in The U.K. EXETER, N.H., May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on advanced drug-delivery technologies, which also manufactures and markets generic and branded products in Europe, announced today that its Spanish subsidiary has been granted approval to market a generic equivalent of simvastatin in the United Kingdom through a company focused in the UK. Simvastatin belongs to a class of cardiovascular products used as a lipid-lowering agent in the treatment of high cholesterol disorders. The product is marketed by Merck & Co. Inc. in the United States under the trade name Zocor(R). According to IMS, the market size of this product in the UK is approximately $480 million and growing at an annual rate of approximately 30%. James R. Murphy, Bentley's Chairman and CEO, commented, "We are pleased to receive our first regulatory approval in the UK, which is one of the most developed generic markets in the world, and we anticipate receiving additional product approvals in the UK, Spain and other European Union countries in the near future. Statins are one of the most widely prescribed classes of drugs in the world and this latest approval further increases our presence in this important area." Dr. Adolfo Herrera, VP and COO of the Company's European operations, commented, "The UK market is the most dynamic and established generic market in the European Union. We are pleased to take this major step in our expansion beyond Spain." Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on advanced drug delivery technologies and pharmaceutical products. Bentley's proprietary drug technologies enhance or facilitate the absorption of pharmaceutical compounds across various membranes. Bentley also manufactures and markets a growing portfolio of generic and branded pharmaceuticals in Europe for the treatment of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infectious and neurological diseases through its subsidiaries, Laboratorios Belmac, Laboratorios Davur and Laboratorios Rimafar; and manufactures and sells active pharmaceutical ingredients through its subsidiary, Bentley API. Copies of Bentley Pharmaceuticals' press releases and other information may be obtained through Bentley's web site at http://www.bentleypharm.com/. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward looking statements, including without limitation, statements regarding planned product releases, future market expectations of existing pharmaceutical products, future product approvals and the growth of our business. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to risks associated with expanding generic and branded drug operations, changes in third-party reimbursement and government mandates which impact pharmaceutical pricing, development and commercialization of our products, the effects of economic conditions, risks associated with international operations, competition from other manufacturers of generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals and other uncertainties detailed in Bentley's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other subsequent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bentley cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this document, and Bentley undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements, except as may be required by law. DATASOURCE: Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Michael D. Price, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-603-658-6100; Investors - Jonathan Birt or Lanie Marcus, or Media - Sean Leous, all of Financial Dynamics, +1-212-850-5600, for Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Web site: http://www.bentleypharm.com/

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