FDA and WebMD Expand Consumer Health Information Partnership

Collaboration expands ability to reach key populations at critical times

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration and WebMD Health Corp. today announced an expansion of their
partnership to provide increased access to FDA's consumer health information.
This second phase of the partnership includes expanded content and multimedia
tools at www.webmd.com/fda. WebMD is personalizing FDA health information for
consumers with five new online FDA sections that will initially focus on
allergies and asthma, children's health, diabetes, heart health and vitamins
and supplements.

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"We see partners like WebMD as critical to helping us reach the public with
important health information," said Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of
Food and Drugs.

Launched in December 2008, this joint effort has already proven effective in
reaching consumers with important safety information. The FDA's information is
also located within WebMD's homepage, www.webmd.com, WebMD Health News, WebMD
Health Search, RSS feeds, and targeted WebMD Newsletters and Special Reports.
Since the launch, over 150,000 consumers have accessed the FDA destination on
WebMD for health and wellness information on issues ranging from egg safety to
contact lens safety to medicine safety. The FDA's consumer information is also
available through WebMD the Magazine, distributed ten times a year and
reaching an additional 11 million consumers with each issue.

"WebMD is proud to partner with the FDA to help Americans live healthier
lives," said Wayne Gattinella, WebMD president and chief executive officer.
"This collaboration provides health-minded consumers with access to the FDA as
a source of timely health information focusing on daily issues such as food
safety and the safe use of prescription drugs, over the counter medications,
and cosmetics."

In May, the FDA's joint partnership center on WebMD's site increased the reach
of the agency's warning to stop using an over-the-counter weight loss product
after reports of serious health problems associated with the product. A
special WebMD email alert with the warning reached almost 3 million consumers
interested in weight, fitness and health issues--providing the right audience
with the right information at the right time.

FDA Media Inquiries: Shelly Burgess, 301-796-4651,
shelly.burgess@fda.hhs.gov
WebMD Media Inquiries: Kate Hahn, 212-624-3760, khahn@webmd.net
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration; WebMD Health Corp.

Shelly Burgess, FDA, +1-301-796-4651, shelly.burgess@fda.hhs.gov; or Kate
Hahn, WebMD, +1-212-624-3760, khahn@webmd.net