Press Release May 13, 2002

21st Century Solutions Designed To Meet 21st Century Challenges

Cognet~X Inc.: Merck Once Again Best at Meeting Pharmacy Executives Overall Needs, Cognet~X, Inc. Reports

FEASTERVILLE---(May 13, 2002)---For the third consecutive ranking period, leading managed care pharmacy directors rated Merck & Co. as the pharmaceutical corporation that best met their overall needs, Cognet~X, Inc. announced today.

Merck ranked No. 1 in the first-quarter 2002 ranking period of the twice-yearly Corporate Assessment Total Rankings component of Cognet~X's PAR-Rx (Promotional Assessment Research) Report™.

The company had placed first in Overall Needs during the 3Q 2001 and 1Q 2001 ranking periods as well.

Numerous panelists mentioned Merck's success in meeting their needs and requests, whether for clinical information, insight into marketplace trends or simply to partner with managed care organizations.

Among the comments PAR-Rx panelists offered about Merck were:

"Company is supportive of our organization's goals and objectives. Understands managed care."

"Specific[ally] able to meet our requests and needs. Extremely responsive and positive."

"Easy to get along with, offers alternative programs to improve patient care."

"They are very managed care-oriented, they work hard to get your business and keep your business [and are] very partnership-focused for the long term."

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. placed second in the 1Q 2002 Overall Needs ranking, up from third place in the previous ranking cycle. PAR-Rx panelists cited Novartis' clinical programs and its commitment to excellent customer service. Pharmacy directors told Cognet~X the following about Novartis:

"The company is very good at understanding the needs of their partners. Provide many value-added support services to their managed care partners such as the Novartis Report and fellowship programs."

"Strong relationship with our providers-can coordinate and sponsor provider meetings/seminars."

Third-place Aventis Pharma AG moved up from fourth place in the third quarter of 2001; American Home Products Co. followed Aventis, placing fourth in the most recent ranking period. AHP had been seventh in the previous period. GlaxoSmithKline rounded out the top five corporations in this assessment category, down from second place in 3Q 2001.

After finishing outside of the top 10 in the previous assessment period, Pharmacia Corp. placed ninth in the 1Q 2002 cycle, with comments from panelists indicating the company has earned its place among the top pharmaceutical firms. One pharmacy director said, "Willing to put together clinical programs that are always best for the patient without a lot of marketing behind specific Pharmacia products. Great people to work with. Very knowledgeable in all aspects of managed care."

Sankyo Co. Ltd. made its first showing on the top 10 corporations' list this past quarter, finishing 10th in Overall Needs, according to PAR-Rx findings. "I have just begun working with this company…[and] have really enjoyed working with them. I think this is going to be a very valuable company over the next few years," one panelist commented.

About the PAR-Rx Report

Cognet~X's PAR-Rx Report is a year-round service that provides the pharmaceutical industry with real-time, Internet-based competitive intelligence on pharmaceutical company promotion to influential managed care pharmacy directors.

The Report offers Cognet~X clients the ability to evaluate and analyze variable differences that are critically important to their decision-making process. The Report collects comprehensive data that can be segmented and analyzed to provide clients with "21st-Century solutions to their 21st-Century challenges."

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 valuable Cognet~X products, please contact Robert E. Houghton (extension 101) at (215) 396-8300 or via e-mail at robh@cognetx.com.

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