BELLUS Health Reports Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal 2008 and on E...( LAVAL QC Nov. 10 / BELLUS Health ...),Health

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - BELLUS Health Inc. (NASDAQ: BLUS; TSX: BLU) reports results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2008, the net loss amounted to $11,095,000 ($0.22 per share), compared to $13,889,000 ($0.29 per share) for the corresponding period the previous year. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008, the net loss amounted to $36,703,000 ($0.74 per share), compared to $65,389,000 ($1.54 per share) for the same period last year.

The net loss for the current third quarter included net sales of $153,000 which represents one month of sales of VIVIMIND(TM), the Company's first natural health brand launched in Canada and on the Internet on September 2, 2008. The net loss for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, included a non-cash accretion expense under Canadian GAAP of $10,430,000 relating to the $40 million 5% senior subordinated convertible notes issued in May 2007.

Research and development expenses, before research tax credits and grants, amounted to $5,208,000 for the current quarter ($21,111,000 for the nine-month period), compared to $11,964,000 for the same period the previous year ($43,533,000 for the nine-month period). The decrease in the current periods compared to the same periods the previous year is mainly attributable to a reduction in expenses incurred in relation to the development of tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM); homotaurine) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, following the Company's decision in November 2007 to terminate the tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) pharmaceutical drug development program.

As at September 30, 2008, the Company had available cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $20,595,000, compared to $58,672,000 at December 31, 2007. The decrease is primarily due to funds used in operating activities.

Eprodisate (KIACTA(TM)) for the treatment of Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis

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