Bergen Brunswig Partners with VHA to Advance Expense Reduction Initiatives at One of the Nation's Largest GPO's.

ORANGE, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 17, 1998--Bergen Brunswig Drug Company (BBDC), a subsidiary of Bergen Brunswig Corporation (NYSE:BBC), today announced the signing of a one-year contract under which the drug company's Intelligent Drug Information (I.D.I.(TM)) pharmacy program will provide specialized drug utilization data and clinical information management tools that will help hospital pharmacies in the VHA Inc. network to enhance services and reduce costs.

VHA's nationwide network of community-owned health care organizations, which includes hospitals and their affiliated physicians, comprises 24 percent of the nation's community hospitals.

I.D.I. a proprietary information system developed by BBDC, provides pharmacists with the clinical tools needed to manage a formulary and quantify their intervention measures, thereby contributing to pharmaceutical expense reduction while positively affecting patient outcomes.

"Through I.D.I., BBDC delivers unique and important services which result in improved drug utilization and selection as well as improved patient care," said Larry McComber, vice president of pharmacy for VHA. "We are embarking on a one-year plan to implement I.D.I and benchmark our clinical pharmacy services and the resultant impact on appropriate drug utilization. Our goal is to determine 'best practices' arising from this initiative and to replicate them throughout our membership."

The VHA agreement reflects our company's commitment to provide new, value-added products and services for its customers, according to Brent Martini, president of Bergen Brunswig Drug Company.

"VHA is an acknowledged leader in the provision of high quality health care services across the nation," Martini said. "As one of the largest suppliers to VHA, we are pleased to provide them with I.D.I.'s comprehensive programs and analyses which clearly focus on the client's drug utilization, patient outcomes and formulary needs."

Scott Iteen, director of I.D.I. for Bergen Brunswig Drug Company, commented, "I.D.I.'s portfolio of outcomes-based process improvement and formulary management techniques are achieved through an efficient blend of data systems technology tempered with the expertise of clinically trained pharmacy professionals who are experienced in pharmacoeconomics. The VHA agreement advances Bergen's commitment to play a vital role in linking the supply channel participants -- manufacturers, distributors, providers and patients."

For more information on I.D.I. services, call [phone].

Bergen Brunswig Corporation, a Fortune 500 company with annualized revenues in excess of $12 billion, is one of the nation's leading supply channel management companies. In addition to its diversified healthcare product offerings, the Company offers innovative logistics management programs in pharmaceuticals and medical-surgical supplies to all healthcare venues. These programs are designed to help customers grow efficiently, improve their cost-effectiveness and further support their focus on patient/consumer care. -0-

This press release, the Company's Annual Report to Shareowners, and Form 10-K or any Form 10-Q and 8-K of the Company or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company may include forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current view (as of the date such forward-looking statement is made) with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those made in such statements. Such uncertainties and factors are more fully described in the Company's reports (and the exhibits to these reports) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bergen Brunswig press releases are available at no charge through the company's Faxline. To receive a directory of available releases, call [phone] and follow the voice-prompt instructions. You may also view the Company's website at www.bergenbrunswig.com. For information about investing in Bergen Brunswig, please call the Investor Relations department at [phone].

CONTACT: Bergen Brunswig Corp., Orange

Lisa Riordan

Director, Investor Relations

800/840-5131