Bergen Brunswig Announces Agreement With AdvancePCS; Agreement Builds on Momentum of Previous Contracts.

Business Editors

ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2001

Bergen Brunswig Drug Company (BBDC), a subsidiary of Bergen Brunswig Corporation (NYSE: BBC), today announced a $3.5 billion agreement to provide brand-name pharmaceuticals to AdvancePCS (Nasdaq: ADVP), the nation's leading health improvement company.

Under terms of the agreement, which is intended to span a period of three years, Bergen will provide $3.5 billion in brand-name pharmaceuticals to AdvancePCS' mail order pharmacy operations over the agreement's proposed term.

"We are very pleased to be selected by AdvancePCS and receive validation for our quality service, customer satisfaction and distribution capabilities," said Brent Martini, president, BBDC. "AdvancePCS completed analysis of various proposals and concluded that Bergen offered outstanding value and procurement expertise. It is gratifying to be partnered with such a dynamic organization in a market segment with such strong demographics."

AdvancePCS will also utilize various capabilities of iBergen(SM) and Interlinx(TM), web enabled portals for ordering pharmaceuticals, and will be one of the first major customers to use Bergen's newest receiving technology, iScan.

David D. Halbert, chairman and CEO of AdvancePCS commented, "We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Bergen Brunswig to serve our growing mail order pharmacy business. Our selection was based on the company's commitment to provide value and quality service. Of particular note is Bergen's senior management's commitment to implement the programs and initiatives that will make this partnership extremely successful."

This agreement builds on the momentum of other contracts Bergen recently has announced, including Costco Wholesale, CVS ProCare, Comprehensive Pharmacy Services, Inc. and InSource Health Services.

AdvancePCS (www.advancepcsrx.com) is the nation's largest independent provider of health improvement services, touching the lives of more than 75 million health plan members and managing more than $20 billion annually in prescription drug spending. The company offers health plans, a wide range of products and health improvement services designed to improve the quality of care delivered to health plan members. Its capabilities include integrated mail service and retail pharmacy networks, innovative clinical services, customized disease management programs, clinical trials and outcomes research, information management, and prescription drug services for the uninsured.

Bergen Brunswig Corporation, headquartered in Orange County, California, is a leading supplier of pharmaceuticals and specialty health care products, as well as information management solutions and consulting services. Bergen's customers include the nation's health care providers (hospitals, nursing homes and physicians), drug stores, manufacturers and patients. Through its subsidiaries, Bergen provides product distribution; logistics; pharmacy management programs; and Internet fulfillment strategies designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes across the entire health care spectrum.

Except for historical information, all other information set forth in this press release, such as earnings forecasts and earnings rate projections, consists of "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Such statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "think," "continue" or the negatives or other variations thereof or other similar terminology. Such risks and uncertainties include the risks described in exhibit 99(a) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000 and in other reports and exhibits filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the costs and difficulties related to the integration of acquired businesses, the loss or disruption of one or more key customer or supplier relationships, changes in the distribution outsourcing pattern for pharmaceutical products and/or services, the ability to obtain general financing or financing rates that would be compatible with the Company's business operations, and the costs and other effects of governmental regulation and legal and administrative proceedings. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in the release.

Bergen Brunswig press releases are available on the company's Web site at www.bergenbrunswig.com.