Cardinal Health, Prime Therapeutics Sign Primary Distribution Agreement

DUBLIN, Ohio, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardinal Health, a global
provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of
health care, today announced a three-year agreement with Prime Therapeutics,
one of the nation's leading pharmacy benefit managers, to serve as its primary
supply chain partner for branded and generic pharmaceuticals, effective
August 1.
Prime Therapeutics managed more than $8.2 billion in prescription drug
spend in 2007, and currently serves approximately 14.6 million members through
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups and third-party
administrators.
"We look forward to delivering the pharmaceutical supply chain services
that will help Prime Therapeutics continue to efficiently and effectively
serve its patients' medication needs," said Mike Kaufmann, group president of
Healthcare Supply Chain Services - Pharmaceutical for Cardinal Health. "This
agreement is an excellent example of our commitment to building flexible,
mutually beneficial partnerships with our customers that also enable us to
grow our pharmaceutical distribution business."
Cardinal Health will also offer Prime Therapeutics additional supply chain
optimization services to help improve its operational efficiency.
"This innovative new partnership will provide us with the benefits of
buying through a drug wholesaler and the insights and expertise of direct
generics buying," said Tim Dickman, Prime Therapeutics CEO. "Cardinal Health
was selected as our primary distributor because they offer the experience,
value-added services and flexibility that we need to continue to deliver
quality, cost-efficient prescription drug benefits to our customers."
About Prime Therapeutics
Prime Therapeutics is a pharmacy benefit management company dedicated to
providing innovative, clinically based, cost-effective pharmacy solutions for
clients and members. Providing pharmacy benefit services nationwide to
approximately 14.6 million covered lives, its client base includes Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups, and third-party
administrators. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Prime Therapeutics is
collectively owned by 10 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or
affiliates of those Plans. Learn more at http://www.primetherapeutics.com.
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(R) IV pumps, Pyxis(R) automated dispensing systems, MedMined(TM)
electronic infection surveillance service, VIASYS(R) respiratory care products
and the CareFusion(TM) 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, Cardinal Health employs more than 40,000 people on five
continents. More information about the company may be found at
http://www.cardinalhealth.com.
SOURCE Cardinal Health, Inc.

Media, Tara Schumacher, +1-614-757-6250, Tara.schumacher@cardinalhealth.com;
Investors, Jon Lyons, +1-614-757-3996, Jon.lyons@cardinalhealth.com, both of
Cardinal Health, Inc.