CONTACT: 

Peggy C. Frank, MBA
VP, Public Relations
MCOL
(954) 385-2128
peggyf@mcol.com
Cathy Yarbrough
Communications
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
973-781-5385
cathy.yarbrough@pharma.novartis.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MCOL™ AND NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS form strategic partnership to exchange customized content

Managed care on-line™ paid members gain access to Novartis PHARMACEUTICALS’ State FactS at a glance; NOVARTIS gains customized, seamless entry into paid section of managed care on-line site

MODESTO, CA, May 10, 2001 ---- MCOL™  (mcol.com), the leading health care information technology company specializing in delivering business-to-business managed care knowledge resources, and the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation’s Virtual Information Network (V.I.N.), today announced their strategic partnership to offer detailed content and data for each other’s web sites, under the terms of a mutual site license arrangement. 

Says Claire Thayer, MCOL VP Research & Development, “Paid members of Managed Care On-Line now have access to a tremendous wealth of hard-to-find state level pharmaceutical data (pharmacy retail rates, expenditure, utilization and cost data; payor retail pharmacy data; utilization statistics for top drug class), population statistics, enrollment levels, along with data on medical benefits for major disease categories (asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease and stoke, diabetes), national health care expenditures and employer-sponsored health benefits, all nicely featured in the new ‘Novartis State Facts at a Glance’ menu within the Data Center.  The Novartis’ V.I.N. ‘State Facts at a Glance’ menu offers quick and easy access to key pharmaceutical data and utilization statistics that paid members can use for trend and benchmarking analysis.  Many of the data featured are available in easily downloadable spreadsheet or chart formats.”  

The Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation’s Virtual Information Network (VIN)   is a dynamic electronic resource for healthcare professionals.  Says Richard Sabatino, R.Ph, Pharm. D., Novartis’ Manager, National Managed Healthcare Marketing “We believe that the shared value added content between the VIN and Managed Care On-Line will enhance and provide greater utility and resources to our members. In addition to many of the healthcare resources found on the VIN, we now provide VIN members with customized access via a seamless entry way to the paid sections of MCOL through the VIN homepage.” 

About Novartis

Novartis (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in healthcare with core businesses in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care, and animal health. In 2000, the Group's ongoing businesses achieved sales of CHF 29.1 billion (USD 17.2 billion) and invested approximately CHF 4.0 billion (USD 2.4 billion) in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis employs about 67 600 people and operates in over 140 countries around the world. For further information please consult http://www.novartis.com. 

About MCOL

MCOL is a six-year-old health care Internet company delivering business-to-business managed care resources. MCOL has become the recognized Internet leader in the delivery of knowledge resources to professionals involved in managed care. MCOL business lines include: Membership-based services through Managed Care On-Line and Global Health Resources.Com; e-Commerce through the Managed Care Store; and Business e-Solutions. MCOL is based in Modesto, California, with additional offices in Portland, Oregon. For more information, please visit www.mcol.com/about.htm.           


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