A.D.A.M. Acquires Nidus Information Services, Inc., Publisher of the Well-Connected Patient Report Library.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2002

Acquisition Creates Robust, In-depth Health Information Solution for

Consumers, Patients and Healthcare Providers

A.D.A.M., Inc. (Nasdaq: ADAM) a leading developer and distributor of interactive health content, announced today that it has acquired New York-based Nidus Information Services, Inc., publishers of the Well-Connected(R) patient report library of disease and wellness topics.

Under terms of the transaction, A.D.A.M. will issue 260,000 shares of its common stock for the outstanding shares of Nidus. The Company expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings in 2002.

Nidus will provide A.D.A.M. increased depth of content and a synergistic base of customers. The A.D.A.M.-Nidus combination will extend the capabilities of providing their respective customers with comprehensive consumer-patient information, including actionable content solutions for their web and eBusiness initiatives.

A.D.A.M. already creates an integrated health information solution that combines its Health Illustrated Encyclopedia with related health news, wellness centers, drug information, and alternative medicine. In addition, A.D.A.M.'s advanced delivery platform allows healthcare organizations flexibility in selecting, organizing, and presenting the information to consumers.

"The acquisition of Nidus is a strategic complement to our product offering that expands our ability to deliver a comprehensive, content-rich solution for hospitals, physicians, and health-related organizations," said Bob Cramer, A.D.A.M.'s Chairman and CEO. "Together, we can help these organizations optimize their ability to better educate patients, inform consumers, and create actionable points that guide them to the appropriate healthcare service while giving them unique, best of breed content from a single provider."

The Well-Connected reports are written by experienced medical writers and are reviewed for accuracy by a board of physicians who have faculty positions at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. The reports are distinguished from other information sources by their detail of information, quality and currency that includes a rigorous editorial review schedule. The reports are available through subscriptions and online licensing agreements to major healthcare providers and web portals, health content resellers and medical libraries. The library spans a broad range of important disease and wellness topics, ranging from common conditions such as coronary artery disease to less frequently diagnosed, but equally important topics such as scleroderma and sickle-cell disease. A full report example is available at www.adam.com/well-connected for a limited time.

"The Well-Connected report library offers a consumer or a recently diagnosed patient the in-depth information they need to better understand their condition. We believe a well-informed patient is able to make better collaborative decisions with their healthcare provider and take better advantage of their available healthcare services," said Carol Peckham, Founder and Publisher at Nidus. "Hospitals and healthcare providers developing online strategies are able to translate these better informed patients into programs that drive healthcare encounters and increase loyalty."

The Internet has become an important source for consumers to turn to for health-related information. According to a recent survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, it is estimated that over 50 million U.S. residents have gone online in search of health information. Interestingly, the online health-seeker is becoming more representative of the larger U.S. population in terms of race, age, income and educational standing. The survey also points out that among online health-seekers, more than 70% report the information they find influences a decision about treatment.

A.D.A.M. will move quickly to enhance the Well-Connected library with its medical illustrations and interactive media. A.D.A.M. also expects the Well-Connected content to be certified immediately under the new URAC guidelines. URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission, is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1990 to establish standards for the health care industry. A.D.A.M. was one of the first companies to receive the URAC accreditation seal for its Health Illustrated Encyclopedia. For more information on URAC, visit www.urac.org.

About A.D.A.M., Inc.

For more than a decade, A.D.A.M. has been a leading developer of interactive health and medical information for consumers, students and healthcare professionals. A.D.A.M.'s products combine physician-reviewed text, medical illustrations, multimedia, and interactive tools and technology that explain complex medical and health information in a consumer-friendly manner.

Forward-Looking Statements 

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially. Factors that could affect the company's actual results, performance or developments include general economic conditions, development of the Internet as a source of health information, pricing actions taken by competitors, demand for the company's health information, regulatory changes, and other laws that impact how the company conducts its business.