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GelStat Corporation Launches Direct-to-Consumer Sales of New OTC Arthritis Pain Reliever

Posted on: Monday, 18 April 2005, 09:00 CDT

MINNEAPOLIS, April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GelStat Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: GSAC - News), a leading innovator in OTC health care products, today announced the introduction of GelStat(TM) Arthritis, a new and entirely unique arthritis pain medication. GelStat Arthritis is the Company's second over-the-counter (OTC, non-prescription) product and, like GelStat Migraine, utilizes the Company's patent pending formulation in combination with a sublingual (under the tongue) delivery system.

"GelStat is committed to the development and commercialization of advanced OTC medications for the safe and effective treatment of pain and inflammation," said Stephen Roberts, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of GelStat. "Since inception, our research has focused on developing a novel formulation of natural active ingredients that, when combined with advanced delivery systems, offers improved efficacy, safety, and convenience over existing pain relievers. We believed there was a need for such a product, as existing pain relievers often fail to provide sufficient relief and are associated with frequent, serious side effects. Recent events have confirmed our initial assessment, as the side effects of many products have increasingly been recognized, with some having been withdrawn from the market entirely. There has never been a greater need for a safe and effective OTC pain reliever."

"We chose to address the migraine market as the first application of GelStat research and product development," said Richard Ringold, vice president of GelStat. "The severe and often debilitating pain of migraine was a difficult first challenge for a new pain reliever, but the product has proven itself well. In response to the recent crisis in the treatment of arthritis, we have accelerated the final development and launch of GelStat Arthritis. Like the pain of migraine, arthritis is thought to result from localized inflammation. GelStat Arthritis utilizes the same active ingredients as those found in GelStat Migraine -- reformulated to better suit the needs of arthritis sufferers -- as a daily use, sublingual dissolving tablet."

Arthritis and chronic joint symptoms are among the most common medical complaints in the United States. The Center for Disease Control estimates that, in its many forms, arthritis affects up to 70 million Americans, causing significant, often long-term pain and disability. The over-the-counter arthritis medication market is estimated to be approximately $5 billion annually. Two of the more common forms of arthritis, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, have been treated predominately with NSAIDs (aspirin-type drugs) for many years with limited success. These products are associated with serious gastrointestinal and other side effects.

A class of prescription drugs, the COX-2 inhibitors, are NSAIDs thought to have a lower risk of gastrointestinal side effects compared to other NSAIDs. Three drugs of this class, Celebrex ($2.7 billion sales), Vioxx ($1.3 billion sales), and Bextra ($1.2 billion sales) have until recently been the prescription drugs of choice for the treatment of arthritis pain. However, both Vioxx and Bextra have now been withdrawn from the market. Celebrex, along with a number of OTC NSAIDs, will now be required to include warnings on the increased risk of cardiovascular events, potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding, and potentially life-threatening skin reactions associated with their use. As a result, an increasing number of consumers are now in search of alternate pain relief medications.

GelStat Arthritis will initially be available to consumers through its website, at http://www.gelstat.com/arthritis.asp

The Company plans to drive trial and initial sales of GelStat Arthritis by means of aggressive sampling combined with Internet and newspaper advertising. The Company plans eventually to introduce GelStat Arthritis into retail distribution.

About GelStat Corporation

GelStat Corporation is a consumer health care company dedicated to the cost-effective development and marketing of advanced OTC health care products. Development efforts are focused on large markets where GelStat products can offer improved efficacy, safety, and/or convenience over existing OTCs. GelStat is committed to building a portfolio of products with significant commercial potential.

In addition to GelStat(TM) Migraine and GelStat(TM) Arthritis, the Company has initiated early marketing efforts for "GelStat(TM) Sinus" and "GelStat(TM) Sleep", and believes that each of these products performs well and is effective for its intended use. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease estimates that 37 million Americans are affected by sinusitis every year, with at least 20 million more suffering from allergies. Approximately 70 million Americans are reported to be "problem sleepers". For more information, visit http://www.gelstat.com/

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement other than a statement of historical fact should be considered a forward- looking statement. Such forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, or other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on those forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation and does not intend to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect unanticipated events or developments.

Contact:

Yvonne L. Zappulla

Managing Director

Wall Street Consultants Corp.

212-681-4108

Yvonne@WallStreetIR.com

or

Stephen Roberts, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer

GelStat Corporation

952-881-4105

investorrelations@gelstat.com

GelStat Corporation

CONTACT: Yvonne L. Zappulla, Managing Director, Wall Street ConsultantsCorp., +1-212-681-4108, Yvonne@WallStreetIR.com, for GelStat Corporation;Stephen Roberts, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, GelStat Corporation,+1-952-881-4105, investorrelations@gelstat.com

Web site: http://www.gelstat.com/http://www.gelstat.com/arthritis.asp

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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