IMS HEALTH Awarded Five-Year Services Contract by U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Business Editors and Medical/Health Writers

WESTPORT, Conn.--(BW HealthWire)--March 14, 2001

FDA Uses IMS HEALTH's Comprehensive Market Research Services for

Fuller Understanding of Drug Use and Patient Impact

IMS HEALTH (NYSE: RX) reported today that it has expanded its long-standing business relationship with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Under a new five-year contract, the FDA will use an array of IMS HEALTH market research services to improve its knowledge of drug use and the impact of pharmaceutical products on patient outcomes. IMS HEALTH is the world's leading provider of information solutions to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

"We're extremely pleased to broaden our relationship with the FDA, supporting vital medical product development and evaluation that benefits public health," said Elizabeth Coyle, vice president, Market Research, IMS HEALTH. "Our near-100 percent coverage of prescription sales into U.S. retail and non-retail channels provides the most accurate and comprehensive data available to supplement the FDA's safety and effectiveness review."

Among the services IMS HEALTH supplies to the FDA are Retail and Provider Perspective(TM), the industry's only pharmaceutical sales tracking service that covers all channels of distribution; National Prescription Audit (TM) (NPA), which tracks pharmaceutical products dispensed from retail, mail order and long-term care channels; The National Disease and Therapeutic Index(TM) (NDTI), which provides data on diagnoses, patients and treatment patterns; and Integrated Promotional Services, which measure professional and consumer promotional activity within the pharmaceutical industry, including sales representative detailing, drug sampling, medical journal advertising and direct-to-consumer advertising.

The FDA works with pharmaceutical companies to assure that all drugs marketed in the United States - prescription and over-the-counter - meet specifications for identity, strength, quality, purity and potency. Through the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), the FDA evaluates new drugs before they are sold, ensuring that safe and effective drugs are available to improve the health of U.S. consumers.

Divisions within the FDA that use IMS HEALTH data include the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research's (CDER) Office of Postmarketing Drug Risk Assessment (OPDRA), Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications (DDMAC) and the Office of the Commissioner.

IMS HEALTH has been providing research services to the FDA since 1966.

IMS HEALTH is the world's leading provider of information solutions to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. With $1.3 billion in 2000 revenue, IMS HEALTH operates in more than 100 countries. IMS HEALTH is the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer information partner, with over 45 years of experience in the industry. Key products and services integral to customer day-to-day operations include market research for prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products and sales management information to optimize sales force productivity. Additional information is available at http://www.imshealth.com.