Acurian Certifies Under Safe Harbor to Comply with European Union Privacy Directives.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

HORSHAM, Pa.--(BW HealthWire)--June 19, 2001

Acurian Is One of Eight Health Services Companies to Certify;

Company Accelerates Launch of Clinical Trials for Biopharmaceutical

Partners in North America and Europe

Acurian Inc., the leader in accelerating clinical trial launches for the global biopharmaceutical industry, today announced its certification under the Safe Harbor directives, which offers guidance for U.S. companies on how to provide protection for personal data originating from Europe, as required by the European Union (EU) Directives on Data Protection.

The US and Europe have differing philosophies when it comes to regulating the privacy of personal data. To span these different approaches, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Union have adopted a "Safe Harbor" framework, which lays out guidelines to be followed by U.S. companies to ensure that they are in compliance with European privacy laws. In return, U.S. companies are guaranteed an uninterrupted flow of sensitive data from businesses and organizations based in EU member countries.

"Safeguarding data pertaining to Acurian's community of users is of the utmost importance," said Leslie Michelson, CEO of Acurian. "Our certification under Safe Harbor demonstrates that we take this commitment seriously."

To be assured of Safe Harbor benefits, an organization needs to self certify annually with the Department of Commerce in writing that it agrees to adhere to the Safe Harbor's seven principles designed to ensure the protection of privacy.

These principles include giving individuals clear notice on how their personal data will be used; disclosing information to third parties only under strict conditions; and giving individuals access to their personal information and a chance to correct that information.

"We are proud to join a select group of Safe Harbor members," said John Hollway, Acurian's Chief Privacy Officer. "As of June, there are only 48 member organizations, and only eight companies in the healthcare services sector. As we help our partners accelerate the launch of clinical trials and bring new drugs to market faster, our top consideration is to protect consumer confidentiality, and our certification reflects that goal."

Acurian has already helped accelerate 60 trials for the seven largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, as well as nearly two-dozen other leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The company recently secured $27 million in funding, which included the first investment from Merck Capital Partners, the venture capital fund established by Merck & Co. in November 2000.

About Acurian, Inc.

Acurian is the leading provider of clinical trial patient and investigator recruitment solutions for the global biopharmaceutical industry. Acurian's proprietary databases allow biopharmaceutical companies to identify qualified physicians and patients for clinical studies, allowing new drug therapies to reach patients more rapidly. To date, Acurian has worked with the seven largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. With a seasoned management team, innovative technology solutions, a Safe Harbor certification to serve biopharmaceutical clients in Europe, and more than $33 million in total funding from top technology and healthcare investors, Acurian is poised for long-term success. Additional information about Acurian is available at www.acurian.com.

Acurian is a trademark of Acurian, Inc. All other names and terms are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.