Ventrus Announces Two Studies Addressing Hemorrhoid Disease to be Presented at Digestive Disease Week Conference

NEW YORK, March 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ventrus Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:VTUS) announced today that two abstracts submitted to the Digestive Disease Week conference (DDW), to be held in San DiegoMay 19-22, were accepted for presentation. Both abstracts present data from the omnibus patient survey commissioned by Ventrus of 10,202 consumers and 1,125 hemorrhoid disease (HD) patients, which studied the epidemiology, natural history and treatment of HD in the US. The first abstract, "History of Treatment of Hemorrhoid Disease," was selected for an oral platform presentation. The second abstract, "Epidemiology and Natural History of Hemorrhoid Disease," was selected for poster presentation. 

Lead author on both abstracts, Dr. Philip Miner of the Oklahoma Foundation for Digestive Research, stated: "These data represent a significant step forward in understanding the magnitude of hemorrhoid disease, the degree of suffering and the treatments currently being utilized." He added, "These data show hemorrhoid disease to be highly prevalent and symptomatic, with a great number of patients actively seeking solutions."

About Ventrus

Ventrus is a development stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of late-stage prescription drugs for gastrointestinal disorders. Our lead products are: Iferanserin (VEN 309) for the topical treatment of hemorrhoids, for which the first Phase 3 clinical trial began in August 2011 and is ongoing, and topical diltiazem (VEN 307) for the treatment of anal fissures for which the first Phase 3 trial was initiated in November 2010, and is ongoing. Our product candidate portfolio also includes topical phenylephrine (VEN 308) intended to treat fecal incontinence. VEN 307 and VEN 308 are two molecules that were previously approved and marketed for other indications and that have been formulated into our in-licensed proprietary topical treatments for these new gastrointestinal indications. VEN 309 is a New Chemical Entity (NCE).

Please Note: The information provided herein contains estimates and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such statements are just predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the unpredictability of the size of the markets for, and market acceptance of, any of our products, including VEN 309; the timing, cost and results of clinical trials and other development activities involving our product candidates; the unpredictability of the clinical development of our product candidates and of the duration and results of regulatory review of those candidates by the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities; our anticipated capital expenditures, our estimates regarding our capital requirements, and our need for future capital; our ability to retain and hire necessary employees and to staff our operations appropriately; and the possible impairment of, or inability to obtain, intellectual property rights and the costs of obtaining such rights from third parties. The reader is referred to the documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT: Ventrus Biosciences, Inc.David Barrett

         646-706-5208

         dbarrett@ventrusbio.com



         Argot PartnersDavid Pitts

         212-600-1902

         david@argotpartners.com

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