VIVIMIND Sales Expand into Italy

LAVAL, QuebecBELLUS Health (International) Ltd., a subsidiary of BELLUS Health Inc. (TSX: BLU), signed a license and supply agreement with FB Health related to BELLUS VIVIMIND, a nutritional formula based on homotaurine that has been shown to positively affect the hippocampus in the brain. Under terms of the agreement, FB Health receives exclusive distribution rights for VIVIMIND in Italy, for a consideration consisting of an upfront payment and up to 3 million (approximately CAN$5 million) in commercial milestone payments should certain mutually agreed upon sales targets be achieved. Regulatory approval for the sale of VIVIMIND in Italy for memory function protection and the maintenance of cognitive health was granted in 2009.

We are pleased with this first international transaction, which enables us to expand VIVIMINDs market abroad," said Roberto Bellini, president and CEO of BELLUS Health. This transaction fits within our strategy of identifying strong partners to develop and/or commercialize our key products. The FB Health team has a deep knowledge of the Italian market and we are looking forward to collaborating with them. This partnership is a model for VIVIMIND that we are looking to reproduce in other territories worldwide."

FB Health intends to move rapidly to launch VIVIMIND and make the product available to Italian consumers before the end of the year. FB Health aims at establishing a dominant position in cognitive health nutraceuticals in Italy," said Federico De Grossi, director of sales and marketing, FB Health. VIVIMIND, which is scientifically proven to have positive effects on brain structure and memory functions, is an ideal addition to our product portfolio. We are looking forward to bringing VIVIMIND to Italian consumers in the near future and achieve full commercialization in Italy."