VIVIMIND(TM) granted certificate of free sale as food supplement in Italy - Premarket notification filed in the U.S.

    ECUBLENS, SWITZERLAND, July 16 /CNW Telbec/ - BELLUS Health
(International) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of BELLUS Health Inc.
(BELLUS Health, TSX: BLU), today announced that the Italian Ministry of Health
has granted a certificate of free sale for VIVIMIND(TM) (homotaurine) as a
food supplement. A certificate of free sale in Italy permits the commercial
sale of the product in that country. This certificate opens up means by which
to pursue marketing and sales authorization in the other member states of the
European Union.
    VIVIMIND(TM) is a patented, amino acid, present in some species of algae,
to support cognitive function and memory. VIVIMIND(TM) is now available in
Canada. Recently published data in a peer-reviewed journal show that
homotaurine slows the loss of volume in the hippocampus, a region of the brain
associated with memory, and has a beneficial effect on cognition(1).

    U.S. Regulatory Update

    With respect to the United States, OVOS Natural Health Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of BELLUS Health Inc., has filed a premarket notification of
a New Dietary Ingredient for homotaurine with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, and is pursuing mandatory associated regulatory activities to
obtain marketing approval for homotaurine as a dietary supplement.

    About BELLUS Health Inc.

    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 Inc.

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

    (1) S. Gauthier, P. S. Aisen, S. H. Ferris, D. Saumier, A. Duong,
    D. Haine, et al. (2009). Effect of Tramiprosate in Patients with
    Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: Exploratory Analyses of the MRI
    Sub-group of the Alphase Study. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging,
    Volume 13, Number 6/June 2009, 550-557.

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jurisdictions in which the BELLUS Health Group does business, stock market
volatility, 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
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For further information: Michelle Stein, Specialist, Corporate
Communications, (450) 680-4573, mstein@bellushealth.com

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