Pharmaceutical Industry Provides Relief
To Peruvian Earthquake Victims

Washington, D.C. (November 13, 2007) — In the aftermath of the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that hit near Pisco, Peru on August 15th, the pharmaceutical industry has stepped in to provide critical aid to the victims affected by the disaster.

“Emergency health workers in the Pisco region need help to win the battle against a potential public health crisis,” said Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) President and CEO Billy Tauzin. “Many of our member companies are helping to make sure doctors and nurses throughout the affected region have the medical supplies and medicines they need to treat sick and injured earthquake victims.”

PhRMA member company contributions have included:

• Johnson & Johnson, who provided monetary contributions and multiple donations of the Company’s over-the-counter, wound care and medical products. Its regional companies have contributed to the purchase of basic needs to assist those without shelter and are discussing options to assist in rebuilding hospitals, orphanages or schools damaged by the earthquake.
  

• Merck & Co., Inc., a member of PQMD, made a donation of medicines and vaccines valued at $1,840,000 to Direct Relief International. Its Peruvian counterpart, MSD Peru, also made a donation of medicines valued at $10,000 to Promotora de Obras Sociales y de Instruccion Popular (PROSIP) – a Peruvian organization that sent volunteer physicians into the affected disaster area. MSD Peru employees also donated a total of $2,000 in food, water and clothing to support the relief efforts. Finally, the Merck Company Foundation donated $75,000 to Real Medicine Foundation to help establish a free medical clinic that will service the needs of earthquake victims in the impoverished communities around Pisco and Ica, Peru.
  

• Schering-Plough Corporation, who provided DIPROSPAN (an injectable corticosteroid), DESENFRIOL, DESENFRIOLITO (regional brands of cold medicines for adults and children), 88 cases of Claritin and 30 cases of sharps collectors. These medicines were distributed through local health authorities and a local HMO.

• GlaxoSmithKline, who promised to the Peruvian government to make donations of vaccines to protect against Hepatitis B by donating 20,000 doses of Engerix B and against rotavirus by donating sufficient doses of Rotarix to protect 2,000 infants under six months of age. They, along with AmeriCares and CONFIEF, provided needed supplies for those that lost their home.

• Abbott, who, as a member of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, has provided $470,000 in nutritional and pharmaceutical products through key relief partners AmeriCares and Direct Relief International.

• Wyeth, who is making a major donation of pneumococcal vaccine (valued in excess of $1 million) to inoculatesome 8,000 children. The donation is awaiting approval by the Peruvian Minister of Health.
  

• Bristol-Myers Squibb, who donated much needed antibiotics through several humanitarian relief partners, including Project HOPE, Americares and Direct Relief International.

• Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, who, as a member of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, provided over $380,000 in pharmaceutical products through partners including AmeriCares and Direct Relief International.

• Eli Lilly and Company, who arranged a three-month supply of insulin.
  
  
• sanofi-aventis and Novo Nordisk, who both shipped diabetes medication.
  

Direct Relief would sincerely like to thank all donors to the Peru relief effort, especially the above corporate donors for making their materials available for the relief effort.”

---

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $43 billion in 2006 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $55.2 billion in 2006.

PhRMA Internet Address: www.phrma.org

PhRMA en Español: www.nuestraphrma.org

For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: www.innovation.org

For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: www.pparx.org

For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: www.buysafedrugs.info