January 24, 2001 Press Release

21st Century Solutions Designed To Meet 21st Century Challenges

Merck's Disease Management First With Pharmacy Directors, According to Cognet-X

FEASTERVILLE, Pa.--(BW HealthWire)--January 24, 2001--Merck & Co.'s disease management programs are voted Best Overall by many of the nation's leading managed care pharmacy directors, according to the results of a resent Cognet~X, Inc. survey.

In the initial piloting of Cognet~X's PAR~Rx (Promotional Assessment Research) Report™, pharmacy directors said Merck offered the highest quality programs and were willing to "custom-tailor" components to meet the needs of individual managed care organizations.

One panelist commented: "Merck is willing to partner as a consortium to look a health outcomes around workplace productivity."

Pharmacy directors ranked Glaxo Wellcome second, followed by Astra Zeneca, Novartis, and Abbott in terms of the overall quality of their disease management programs.

Panelists who participated in the month-long PAR~Rx Report pilot survey represented managed care organizations that provide prescription drug benefits to more than 100 million Americans.

PAR~Rx Report panelists overwhelmingly reported the most useful disease management programs supported the appropriate use of selected medications. They also provided solid clinical education for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists and could be customized to meet the individual needs of both MCOs and employers.

As one panelist said: "If designed and implemented appropriately, DSM programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies offer drug companies, employers, and MCOs a unique opportunity to work in partnership toward mutual goals."

Among individual therapeutic categories, panelists ranked Merck's cholesterol-reduction disease management program as best in the therapeutic category. Glaxo Wellcome received a No. 1 ranking for their asthma-focused disease management program. Pfizer's depression programs garnered the company top honors with a composite score that was twice that of the second-place company, SmithKline Beecham.

Among disease management programs specifically geared toward Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) AstraZeneca's programs ranked first with a composite score that was seven times greater than second-ranked TAP Pharmaceuticals.

The disease management assessment was one of the six specific assessment categories included in the initial fielding of the PAR~Rx Report. Cognet~X is currently fielding the year-long PAR~Rx Report. This report provides the pharmaceutical company promotion to managed care pharmacy directors.

Disease management program rankings, both overall and by specific therapeutic category are among several assessment categories offered in the PAR~Rx Report.

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 Cognet~X products, please contact Robert E. Houghton at 1-866-cognetx (866-264-6389) or robh@cognetx.com

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