Press Releases

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 17, 2005 – Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH), a leading provider of products and services supporting the health care industry, has signed a two-year dual-source agreement with HealthTrust Purchasing Group (HPG), a leading healthcare group purchasing organization, for its Alaris^® products. This first-time agreement covers the Alaris^® System* and the Alaris^® SE pump** including Guardrails^® error reduction software, related modules and dedicated sets. It will provide Cardinal Health access to more than 750 HPG member acute care facilities.

 

Sixty-one percent of the most serious and life threatening adverse drug events (ADEs) are intravenous (IV) drug related. Alaris^® products help health-care facilities address this patient safety concern.

 

“Adverse drug events are the most common cause of patient injury in hospitals and one of the critical problems addressed by the Alaris^® System,” said Jake St. Philip, president of the Alaris^® Products business of Cardinal Health. “We’re pleased HPG has selected Cardinal Health to provide medication safety solutions to its members.”

 

The Alaris^® System with Guardrails^® safety software has demonstrated measurable improvements in patient safety and clinical performance in managing IV medications at the point of care. The system is the first and only of its kind to offer an integrated modular platform that has the ability to include infusion therapy and patient monitoring for enhanced patient safety at the bedside.

 

Over-sedation and respiratory depression represent the most serious potential adverse effects associated with opioid delivery, and patient monitoring is critical in this area. For the first time on the Alaris^® System, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is included with pulse oximetry (SpO2) and capnography (EtCO2) monitoring on a common technology platform, providing the ability to pause a PCA infusion based on hospital-defined monitoring parameters. This platform provides an additional safety net for patients and clinicians at the point of care and is included in the agreement.

 

The Alaris^® SE pump with Guardrails^® safety software, supports broad clinical applications, superior IV-set performance and is designed for maximum reliability and ease of use.

 

*Alaris^® System formerly known as the Medley^® System.

**Alaris^® SE Channel Pump formerly known as Signature Edition^® GOLD Infusion System.

 

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $75 billion, global company serving the healthcare industry with a broad portfolio of products and services.  It manufactures and distributes pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, offers a range of clinical services and develops automation products that improve the management and delivery of supplies and medication for hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies.  Through this diverse offering, Cardinal Health delivers integrated health-care solutions that help customers reduce their costs, improve efficiency and deliver better care to patients.  Ranked No. 16 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 55,000 people on six continents.  More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com.

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Except for historical information, all other information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied.  The most significant of these uncertainties are described in Cardinal Health's Form 10-K, Form 8-K and Form 10-Q reports (including all amendments to those reports) and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not limited to) the following: the costs, difficulties, and uncertainties related to the integration of acquired businesses; the loss of one or more key customer or supplier relationships or changes to the terms of those relationships; changes in the distribution patterns or reimbursement rates for health-care products and/or services; the results, consequences, effects or timing of any inquiry or investigation by any regulatory authority or any legal and administrative proceedings; the impact of previously announced restatements; difficulties or delays in implementing its global restructuring program; difficulties in opening new facilities or fully utilizing existing capacity; difficulties and uncertainties associated with business model transitions, including the conversion of margin generated from branded pharmaceutical manufacturers to non-contingent consideration; and general economic and market conditions.  Cardinal Health undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.