February 1, 2001 Press Release

21st Century Solutions Designed To Meet 21st Century Challenges

SmithKline Beecham's Pull-Through Programs No. 1 with Pharmacy Directors, Cognet-X, Inc. Announces

FEASTERVILLE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2001--SmithKline Beecham's pull-through programs were ranked "Very Best" by many of the nation's leading managed care pharmacy directors, according to a recent Cognet-X, Inc. survey.

Pharmacy directors who participated in the pilot phase of Cognet-X's PAR-Rx (Promotional Assessment Research) Report™ singled out SmithKline Beecham's effort to strategically increase the market share of the oral anti-diabetic Avandia, the antidepressant Paxil, and the cholesterol-reducer Baycol.

Pharmaceutical companies usually design pull-through programs for products in highly competitive, multi-product therapeutic classes. Such programs may be more important to managed care plans than even disease management initiatives.

While disease management programs may positively impact managed care plans' pharmacy budgets over the long term, a well-designed, effective pull-through program can have a more immediate impact on a plan's bottom line.

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

Among the numerous comments about SmithKline Beecham's pull-through initiatives were the following:
"They have used our utilization data to try to get Avandia used correctly."

"SmithKline's team worked hard to produce a Baycol market conversion to 76%. They have also been successful at coordinating provider meetings and targeting physician detailing using Paxil versus [Eli Lilly's] Prozac market share data."

"SKB has assisted with pull-through programs to help accomplish mutual goals and objectives, i.e., increase market share and decrease costs in certain therapeutic categories."

Since the PAR-Rx Report pilot, SmithKline Beecham has officially merged with Glaxo Wellcome to form Glaxo SmithKline. Glaxo Wellcome ranked ninth in pull-through programs during the PAR-Rx Report's initial fielding. Panelists gave Glaxo high marks for its "well-designed" asthma and migraine pull-through programs and "good follow-up."

American Home Products' Wyeth-Ayerst division, Merck & Co., Novartis Pharmaceuticals and TAP Pharmaceuticals rounded out the top five honors in the pull-through program rankings.

Wyeth-Ayerst's programs included initiatives for the company's line of women's health care products and the new proton pump inhibitor Protonix. One pharmacy director called Wyeth's programs "focused and well-managed."

Third-place Merck won favorable reviews for its "professionally designed" and "excellently executed" pull-through programs for such products as the osteoporosis agent Fosamax and the cholesterol-reducer Zocor. Cognet-X recently reported that PAR-Rx Report panelists ranked Merck first for overall disease management programs.

The assessment of pull-through programs was one of 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 client with real-time, Internet-based competitive intelligence on pharmaceutical company promotion to managed care pharmacy directors.

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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