Cognet-X, Inc.: Novartis Account Personnel No. 1 with Key Managed Care Executives.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

FEASTERVILLE, Pa.--(BW HealthWire)--May 21, 2002

Influential managed care pharmacy directors selected Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. as having the most knowledgeable account personnel in the pharmaceutical industry, according to Cognet-X Inc. data.

Novartis ranked first in the first-quarter 2002 Knowledgeable Account Manager/Personnel category, one of seven included in the twice-yearly Corporate Assessments that are components of Cognet-X's PAR-Rx (Promotional Assessment Research) Report(TM).

In the previous assessment period, during the third quarter of 2001, Novartis ranked third in this category. PAR-Rx panelists, who are among the most influential pharmacy directors nationwide, found Novartis account managers often had years of experience, which helped make them very responsive and savvy about working with managed care customers.

Among PAR-Rx panelists' comments about Novartis' personnel were:

"The national account manager has been in this position for a number of years and understands the business very well."

"Professional attitude of experienced personnel; very responsive."

"Always makes sure our needs are satisfied."

"Understands the challenges we face and tries to work hard with managed care; rep has been with us over 3 years; solid relationship established. Very clinically oriented, very dependable..."

Merck & Co. Inc. maintained its second-place position from 3Q 2001. Merck also received 20% more "best" mentions than Novartis in the Knowledgeable Account Personnel attribute. However, using Cognet-X's proprietary Scale of Influence model. Novartis' score was 45 points higher, and thus put Novartis in first place.

Merck account personnel were lauded for their comprehensive understanding of managed care marketplace conditions and for their willingness to foster relationships with customers, often by working in tandem with other Merck personnel or with outside contacts.

"Very, very competent account manager who understands our plan and our market. Has helped me make connections with our pharmacy directors with similar projects," one panelist said of his Merck account executive.

"I continue to feel that our company is being well supported by the team approach that Merck utilizes. Our discussions are typically very productive and outstanding issues are resolved quickly," another pharmacy director commented.

GlaxoSmithKline ranked third in the most recent rating period, down from first place in the third-quarter 2001 assessment cycle. "Proactive" is a word several PAR-Rx panelists used to describe their GSK account manager. "He knows all there is to know about managed care and my business. If he doesn't, he learns about it. He has been a tremendous help to my organization," one panelist told Cognet-X.

Aventis Pharma AG held onto its fourth-place ranking; AstraZeneca PLC rose one ranking slot to fifth place in the 1Q 2002 assessment, up from sixth place in the previous cycle.

Like Novartis', Aventis' reps drew praise for their longevity in managed care and their dedication to maintaining strong relationships with customers. Said one panelist: "(My account manager is) Well committed to ensuring open communication between our organization and local sales managers and medical field reps. Dedicated resources and empowerment."

About the PAR-Rx Report

Cognet-X's PAR-Rx Report is a year-round service that provides the pharmaceutical industry with real-time, Internet-based competitive intelligence on pharmaceutical company promotion to influential managed care pharmacy directors.

The Report offers Cognet-X clients the ability to evaluate and analyze variable differences that are critically important to their decision-making process. The Report collects comprehensive data that can be segmented and analyzed to provide clients with "21st-Century solutions to their 21st-Century challenges."

About Cognet-X

Cognet-X offers the pharmaceutical industry market research, consulting and software development that help companies build and refine their relationships with numerous customer bases, including the managed care community. Based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Cognet-X is privately held and employee-owned.

For more information on the PAR-Rx Report or other valuable Cognet-X products, please contact Robert E. Houghton (extension 101) at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail].