BELLUS Health provides financing update 

    LAVAL, QC, March 24 /CNW Telbec/ - Further to the press release issued on
February 26, 2009, BELLUS Health Inc. (TSX: BLU) reports that, notwithstanding
the expiration of the previously announced financing commitments of up to $20
million on March 23, 2009, it remains in discussions regarding the financing
in respect of which the commitments were made by FMRC Family Trust and
Victoria Square Ventures Inc. The commitments are subject to the conditions
announced on February 26 and discussions have taken place with a number of the
Company's other stakeholders. These conditions have not yet all been met.
While progress has been made with these stakeholders, there can be no
assurance that any transaction will proceed and the Company is reviewing all
of its alternatives.

    About BELLUS Health

    BELLUS Health is a global health company focused on the development and
commercialization of products to provide innovative health solutions to
address critical unmet needs.

    To Contact BELLUS Health

    For additional information on BELLUS Health, please call the Canada and
United States toll-free number 1-877-680-4500 or visit the Web Site at
www.bellushealth.com.

    Certain statements contained in this news release, other than statements
of fact that are independently verifiable at the date hereof, may constitute
forward-looking statements. Such statements, based as they are on the current
expectations of management, inherently involve numerous risks and
uncertainties, known and unknown, many of which are beyond BELLUS Health
Inc.'s control. Such risks include but are not limited to: the ability to
obtain financing immediately in the current markets, the impact of general
economic conditions, general conditions in the pharmaceutical and/or
nutraceutical industry, changes in the regulatory environment in the
jurisdictions in which the BELLUS Health Group does business, stock market
volatility, the availability and terms of any financing, fluctuations in
costs, and changes to the competitive environment due to consolidation, that
actual results may vary once the final and quality-controlled verification of
data and analyses has been completed, as well as other risks disclosed in
public filings of BELLUS Health Inc. Consequently, actual future results may
differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in the
forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance, if
any, on any forward-looking statements included in this news release. These
statements speak only as of the date made and BELLUS Health Inc. is under no
obligation and disavows any intention to update or revise such statements as a
result of any event, circumstances or otherwise, unless required by applicable
legislation or regulation. Please see the Annual Information Form of BELLUS
Health Inc. for further risk factors that might affect the BELLUS Health Group
and its business.

For further information: Lise Hébert, Ph.D., Vice President, Corporate
Communications, (450) 680-4572, lhebert@bellushealth.com

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