Innovative Medical Services Announces Chain-Wide Use of Fillmaster Purification System at Walgreens; Fillmaster Enhances Efficiency and Customer Service

Business Wire, Nov 17, 1997

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 17, 1997--Innovative Medical Services (NASDAQ:PURE) today announced Walgreens Co.'s chain-wide implementation of the Fillmaster(R) pharmacy water purification and dispensing system in its pharmacies.

Walgreen stores often utilize multiple Fillmaster dispensers in a single pharmacy, including a system at the consultation window. This practice greatly enhances customer service by allowing the pharmacist to reconstitute an antibiotic while interacting with the customer. The Fillmaster(R) is currently in use in approximately 2,000 Walgreen stores.

"We are extremely pleased to have the Fillmaster(R) specified as standard equipment in new Walgreens pharmacies," stated Michael L. Krall, IMS President and CEO. "It validates our product and its ability to facilitate better customer service and increase efficiency."

Walgreen Co. is the nation's largest drug store chain with fiscal year 1997 sales of $13.4 billion. The company operates 2,363 drugstores in 34 states and Puerto Rico and plans to open 280 additional stores in fiscal 1998.

Innovative Medical Services is engaged principally in the business of manufacturing and marketing the Fillmaster(R), a water purification, measuring and dispensing apparatus used in pharmacies to reconstitute oral antibiotic suspensions. Innovative Medical Services has entered the consumer market with NutriPure, a residential water filtration system.

The company also markets, for both products, proprietary filters that require changing at intervals of nine to twelve months or whenever indicated by the water quality monitor. The filter replacements represent a significant continuing source of future sales and cash flow to the company. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: This news release contains forward-looking statements which are based largely on the company's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the company's control. Actual results could vary materially from these expected results due to a variety of factors, including the uncertainties of further studies and product developments.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT: Innovative Medical Services

Joleen Schultz Batstone, 619/236-1332, ext. 231

or

Walgreen Co.

Michael Polzin, 847/914-2925