Companies to introduce the Almus brand of generic medicines into the U.S. market
DUBLIN, Ohio, September 19, 2007 — Alliance Boots and Cardinal Health today announced a sourcing and marketing agreement for the sale of Almus generic prescription medicines.
Cardinal Health is a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care. Alliance Boots is an international, pharmacy-led health and beauty group.
The two companies have formed a marketing entity to serve as a platform for the introduction of the Almus brand of generic medicines into the U.S. market. Generic pharmaceuticals sourced through this agreement will over time be labeled under the Almus brand and will be distributed by Cardinal Health in the United States. The agreement will enable both companies to gain additional, global experience in an increasingly competitive marketplace for generic pharmaceuticals.
“This joint agreement brings us a step closer to making Almus a truly international brand. We are very pleased to be working with Cardinal Health, combining our strengths and competencies to deliver Almus to the largest pharmaceutical medicines market in the world,” said Ornella Barra, wholesale and commercial affairs director, Alliance Boots.
“This agreement will enable us to explore new ways to deliver additional value to our retail pharmacy and SOURCESM customers,” said Mark Parrish, CEO of Healthcare Supply Chain Services for Cardinal Health.
About Alliance Boots
Alliance Bootsis a leading, international pharmacy-ledhealth and beauty group and European market leader in its two core businesses, retail pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesale.Alliance Boots has a wholesale network serving more than 120,000 pharmacies, hospitals and health centers via around 380 depots (including associates), and operates Europe’s leading retail pharmacy business with around 3,100 retail outlets, of which approximately 2,800 have a pharmacy. It has around 100,000 employees in more than 15 countries with revenue of £14.6 billion for the year ended 31 March 2007.
About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is an $87 billion, global company serving the health-care industry with products and services that help hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies reduce costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and deliver better care to patients. With a focus on making supply chains more efficient, reducing hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful medication errors, Cardinal Health develops market-leading technologies, including Alaris® IV pumps, Pyxis® automated dispensing systems, MedMined® data mining software and the CareFusion™ patient identification system. The company also manufactures medical and surgical products and is one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies worldwide. Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500 and No. 1 in its sector on Fortune's ranking of Most Admired firms, Cardinal Health employs more than 40,000 people on five continents. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com.
