Novartis Ophthalmics Selects CommonHealth Units for Visudyne Marketing; Noesis Healthcare Interactions to Develop Professional Advertising for the Drug.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 10, 2004

The Xchange Group to Handle Customer Relationship-Marketing

Programs

CommonHealth today announced that Noesis Healthcare Interactions, its Morristown-based professional advertising and promotion agency, and The Xchange Group, its relationship-marketing unit, have been awarded professional and customer relationship-marketing responsibilities, respectively, for Novartis Ophthalmics' Visudyne, an FDA-approved therapy for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

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.

An infusion drug treatment activated by a non-heat-producing laser, Visudyne therapy alters the course of AMD, slowing abnormal vessel growth and progression of vision loss.

"This new assignment is the continuation of a long-standing, highly successful relationship between Noesis and Novartis," noted Bruce Epstein, president of Noesis Healthcare Interactions. "We look forward to working in conjunction with the Novartis team to increase professional awareness of the benefits of Visudyne for patients affected by AMD."

"Each year, 200,000 people are diagnosed with AMD -- the leading cause of severe vision loss among the elderly," added Nancy Barlow, president of The Xchange Group. "We're thrilled to have been selected by Novartis to develop and execute relationship-building initiatives for this effective therapy."

CommonHealth comprises Noesis Healthcare Interactions, The Xchange Group, Thomas Ferguson Associates, Adient, The Quantum Group, Carbon Healthcare Communications, Solara, 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) and PDI.