Apricus Biosciences CEO is Interviewed on CDTV.Net (AcT)

Apricus Metamorphoses From a Clinical Stage Development Company to a Commercial Stage Specialty Pharmaceuticals Company

SAN DIEGO, March 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apricus Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:APRI) (www.apricusbio.com) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bassam Damaj said in an interview on CDTV.net that his company has acquired its own sales force, has nearly $25 million in cash, and is moving in 2012 into a potentially high-growth phase.

Dr. Damaj covered the importance of the recent partnership with Abbott for Vitaros in Canada because not only does it put Apricus' lead product Vitaros in the hands of a Global Pharma, but also raises the profile of the company significantly for future partnerships. Additionally, the financial terms of the deal were significant because the upfront revenue and expected royalties the company is recording this year moves the company to be a diversified pharmaceutical company.

Dr. Damaj also spoke about the importance of the partnership with Sandoz, a division of Novartis (NVS) in Germany for Vitaros, stating that regaining Novartis as a partner adds a great deal of credibility to the core technology as well as being the best partner possible for the German market itself.

Covering the recent acquisition of Topotarget and pending acquisition of PediatRx, Dr. Damaj spoke to the company's direct and clear focus on becoming a commercially based company with a mix of products that include products that would need large sales forces to effectively sell them and others products that we feel that the company could commercialize directly. Topotarget and PediatRx infrastructure and marketed drugs reflect that strategy and growth. Apricus sees its oncology supportive care sales force and focus as a first step into the growth of additional therapeutic areas.

Mr. Hana also asked Dr. Damaj what was the key goal behind the recent $20M offering. The company's goals, he responded, were three-fold. The first was to continue to advance the products towards commercialization by filing for approval in several key territories this year. The second was to provide capital for the re-launch of many of the recently acquired products and again drive more revenue and value to the company. From a use-of-proceeds standpoint raising money to raise the value of assets and revenue makes sense, he said. The final reason was to expand the shareholder base to include institutions and broaden our analyst coverage. The company felt it would never be able to make the transition to the next level with no institutional ownership and limited analyst coverage.

Finally, Mr. Hana asked about the outlook for 2012 and the future for the company. In summary, Dr. Damaj reiterated that the company feels "2012 will be its most important to this point. Going from a development company with something always on the horizon to a commercial company with almost 5 products on the market and selling by the end of the year is a monumental and permanent shift. Each year after that will just advance the company further into direct value as more and more of the partnered and self-sold products go onto the market."

Dr. Damaj also noted that Apricus Bio will ring the closing bell at Nasdaq on Friday, March 9.

About Apricus Biosciences, Inc.

Apricus Bio is a San Diego-based revenue-generating specialty pharmaceutical company, with commercial products and a broad pipeline across numerous therapeutic classes.

Revenues and growth are driven from the sales of the Company's commercial products through its Apricus Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and NexMed (USA), Inc. subsidiaries and throughout-licensing in certain territories of its product pipeline and NexACT® technology. Apricus Bio currently markets Totect® (dexrazoxane HCl), the only drug approved in the US for the treatment of anthracycline extravasation. Apricus Bio's current pipeline includes Vitaros®, approved in Canada for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, as well as compounds in development from pre-clinical through pre-registration currently focused on Sexual Dysfunction, Oncology, Dermatology, Autoimmune, Pain, Anti-Infectives, Diabetes and Consumer Healthcare.

The Company also expects to develop and/or acquire and then bring to market additional pharmaceutical products in areas of care that will benefit patient needs worldwide.

For further information on Apricus Bio, visit http://www.apricusbio.com, and for information on its subsidiary please visit http://www.nexmedusa.com. You can also receive information at http://twitter.com/apricusbio.

Apricus Bio's Forward-Looking Statement Safe Harbor

Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended: with the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may individually or mutually impact the matters herein described for a variety of reasons that are outside the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, its ability to further develop its and their products and product candidates, to have its products such as Vitaros®, Femprox® and MycoVa™ and product candidates approved by relevant regulatory authorities, to successfully commercialize such NexACT® products and product candidates, to achieve its development, commercialization and financial goals such as the booking of $4 million for Vitaros® partnerships to date and the further commercialization of Totect®, Granisol™ and Aquoral™ and to achieve its other regulatory, commercial and financial goals in the U.S. and in other countries. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Readers are urged to read the risk factors set forth in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q and other filings made with the SEC. Copies of these reports are available from the SEC's website or without charge from the Company.

CONTACT: Apricus Bio Investor Relations:
David Pitts
Argot Partners
212-600-1902
david@argotpartners.com