Trimetazidine

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

NORTH HAMPTON, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 2002

Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: BNT), a specialty pharmaceutical and drug delivery company with a commercial presence in Europe, announced today that its subsidiary, Laboratorios Davur, has been granted approval by the Spanish Ministry of Health to market a generic equivalent of trimetazidine in Spain.

Bentley plans to launch the product during the second quarter of 2002.

This drug belongs to a class of orally administered cardiovascular compounds used for controlling chest pain associated with angina.

James R. Murphy, chairman and CEO, said, "We are pleased to be the only generic approved for this product in Spain, as it will complement our existing cardiovascular line of products. According to the IMS, there is only one reference product on the Spanish market accounting for approximately $12 million in annual sales and growing at a rate of 12%. Trimetazidine, as well as other recent and pending approvals are expected to contribute to short-term growth of our Spanish subsidiaries."

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 Spain for the treatment of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infectious and neurological 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 identifying suitable drugs for drug delivery technologies, expanding generic and branded drug operations, development and commercialization of our products, relationships with our strategic partners, uncertainty of clinical trials, regulatory approval process, product sales concentration, unpredictability of patent protection, technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties detailed in Bentley's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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