CommonHealth's Quantum Group to Co-Sponsor 2003 DTC National Conference and Exposition; Quantum President Stuart Klein to Debate Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2003

The Quantum Group, CommonHealth's agency dedicated exclusively to building consumer healthcare brands, today announced it will be a co-sponsor of the 2003 DTC National Conference and Exposition, taking place March 25-27 in Boston.

CommonHealth (www.commonhealth.com) is the world's leading healthcare-communications resource and a WPP Group (LSE: WPPL.L; NASDAQ/ADR: WPPGY; www.wpp.com) company.

This year's conference will feature a lineup of nationally recognized keynote speakers. Stuart Klein, president of The Quantum Group, will join fellow DTC (direct-to-consumer) industry advocates to debate consumer advocate Ralph Nader on the topic, "Is DTC in the Consumer's Best Interest?" The DTC National Advertising Awards and Top 25 DTC Pharmaceutical Marketers Awards recipients will also be honored at the conference.

"We're thrilled to be a sponsor of this event, as it has emerged as the leading forum in the industry," noted Mr. Klein. "We look forward to participating in this conference with other leaders in the pharma industry. It promises to be a very productive and worthwhile meeting of some of the best minds in DTC," he added.

"We are proud to have a major sponsor like The Quantum Group, a leader in their field, support the DTC National," said Bob Ehrlich, CEO of Rx Insight. "We're delighted to have such a powerful lineup of presenters and sponsors. Each year we strive to present best-in-class content at our DTC National Conference. This quality of content is what makes the DTC National the best-attended event in the industry," he added.

The DTC National Conference and Exposition (www.dtcnational.com) has quickly become the largest pharmaceutical direct-to-consumer marketing event in the industry by delivering top-quality content and unprecedented networking opportunities to its delegates. The 2002 DTC National Conference drew 425 attendees, and more than 500 professionals are expected to participate in the 2003 conference.

CommonHealth comprises The Quantum Group, Thomas Ferguson Associates, Adient, Noesis Healthcare Interactions, The Xchange Group, Health Learning Systems, ProCom International, The Conectics Group, MBS/Vox, Enterprise IG Health, EinsonHealth, MD/Salud, Shire Health New York, CommonHealth Europe, CommonHealth Australia and CommonHealth Kyowa.

CommonHealth also has partnerships with the following companies: Ogilvy Healthcare Network, Media Marketing Solutions, Medical Broadcasting Company (MBC), Pedagogue Solutions and PDI.