PHCC Priority Healthcare b (MM)

Priority Healthcare Corporation Announces Availability of Generic Ribavirin Hepatitis C Treatment LAKE MARY, Fla., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Priority Healthcare Corporation announced that generic ribavirin, approved yesterday by the FDA for the treatment of hepatitis C, will be available from the company's specialty pharmacy operation today. "Ribavirin, used in combination with interferon, is the leading treatment for hepatitis C. It is our hope that the launch of generic ribavirin will result in increased awareness and treatment options for the 4 million Americans who suffer from this disease. As the market leader in this disease area, we are very pleased that patients can obtain ribavirin combined with our customized care services," said Kim Rondeau, Executive Vice President, Pharmacy Sales & Marketing for Priority Healthcare. Priority Healthcare offers a supportive disease treatment management program for hepatitis C patients that includes: * One-on-one nurse counseling and educational information at the initiation of treatment * Caring Paths(TM) disease treatment management process, specific to hepatitis * Access to pharmacists and nurses 24 hours a day/7 days a week to answer patient questions * Monthly check-ins with patient care coordinators who follow up with physicians as needed * Ongoing educational disease information, support networks, chats with disease specialists, and research and treatment updates available as a free community resource at Priority Healthcare's Hepatitis Neighborhood at http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/ About Hepatitis C According to the National Institutes of Health, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease in the United States and is the leading indication for liver transplants. Since 80% of hepatitis C patients have no signs or symptoms, it is important to increase awareness and education of the disease. Hepatitis C affects 4 million Americans, or 1.8% of the population, and causes an estimated 10,000-12,000 deaths annually in the United States. Hepatitis is transmitted by blood and blood products. People most at risk are those who have had blood transfusions before 1992, injection drug users, infants born to HCV-infected mothers, healthcare workers who suffer needle sticks, and people exposed to blood products, including patients with hemophilia, solid-organ transplants, chronic renal failure, or cancer requiring chemotherapy. Currently, the optimal treatment appears to be a 24- or 48-week course of combination pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin. (The information on hepatitis C is from the National Institutes of Health available online at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/chronicchepc/index.htm) About Ribavirin Ribavirin is an anti-viral drug known as a nucleoside analogue. Ribavirin disrupts viral RNA and DNA synthesis, which slows down or stops the virus from replicating. Ribavirin is prescribed in combination with interferon for hepatitis C. It is not effective or approved as a monotherapy against HCV. For people who have medical conditions that would not allow the use of ribavirin, such as heart disease and anemia, interferon medication may be used alone (monotherapy). Patients should talk with their physician to learn more about ribavirin and interferon therapies. About Priority Healthcare Corporation Priority Healthcare Corporation is a national specialty pharmacy and distributor that provides biopharmaceuticals, complex therapies, and related disease treatment services. Priority Healthcare provides comprehensive programs for patients, payors, physicians, and pharmaceutical manufacturers for a growing number of disease states including cancer, hepatitis C, respiratory and pulmonary conditions, infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, multiple sclerosis, and macular degeneration. Additional information regarding Priority Healthcare is available online at http://www.priorityhealthcare.com/ Certain statements included in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent our expectations or beliefs and involve certain risks and uncertainties, including those described in our public filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; also including, but not limited to, changes ininterest rates, competitive pressures, changes in customer mix, changes in third party reimbursement rates, financial stability of major customers, changes in government regulations or the interpretation of these regulations, changes in supplier relationships, growth opportunities, cost savings, revenue enhancements, synergies and other benefits anticipated from acquisition transactions, difficulties relative to integrating acquired businesses, the accounting and tax treatment of acquisitions, and asserted and unasserted claims, which could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond our control, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date herein. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030417/PHCLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Priority Healthcare Corporation CONTACT: Stephen Saft, Chief Financial Officer, +1-407-804-6700, or Media, Kirsten Ayars, Public Relations Manager, +1-407-804-5826, both of Priority Healthcare Corporation Web site: http://www.priorityhealthcare.com/ http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/

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