MedVantx Forms Strategic Alliance With Aetna to Sponsor Its Generic Delivery Network on a National Basis; First National Benefits Company to Join the MedVantx Generic Delivery Network, Providing Free Generic Samples at the Point-of-Care

Business Wire, Oct 12, 2005

SAN DIEGO -- MedVantx, a company that specializes in promoting the use of generic medications with doctors and their patients in concert with health plans, secured Aetna (NYSE:AET) as the first national sponsor of its Generic Delivery Network. Aetna will sponsor MedVantx' current Network with Philadelphia serving as a pilot test market to evaluate the program's innovative approach. This approach encourages the consideration of generic medication at the point-of-care and promotes appropriate and cost-effective health care.

"After a thorough review of the MedVantx system, it was evident the program aligns with our commitment to find innovative solutions to combat the increasing costs of medications for our members," said Jeff Taylor, Pharmacy Director of Aetna. "The MedVantx Network enables health plans to participate in a cost-effective program that provides participating physicians with immediate access to generic samples, providing more treatment options for our members. In cooperation with MedVantx, we will work to identify additional services, enabling growth of the Network and expanded program services for physicians and patients."

The MedVantx Network began as a two-state, pilot program -- and within two years, it has expanded to six states, securing partnerships with more than 19 health plans. The MedVantx Network offers generic medications via an ATM-like Sample Center(TM), as well as evidence-based therapeutic programs, patient education materials and educational detailing materials. The Network results secured to date demonstrate the program's ability to reduce costs and improve patient care:

--On average, a patient saves $150 annually per prescription when using a generic medication compared to an alternative brand therapy.

--To date, more than 100,000 samples across nine therapeutic classes have been given to patients, resulting in an estimated $15 million savings in patient out-of-pocket costs.

--The Network significantly increases the use of generic medications above existing market trends. Participating doctors demonstrate an increase greater than five share points in the use of target medications, representing a positive return on investment for the sponsoring health plan Network.

"Our alliance with Aetna underscores the value of our program to demonstrate sustainable patient and health plan benefits," said Robert Feeney, chief executive officer of MedVantx. "As our first national contract, this alliance represents a significant stride in our goal to provide patients across the U.S. with affordable health care, and we invite other health plans to join in our efforts."

In 2003, consumers in the United States spent $216 billion on prescription medications.

While generic medications accounted for 51 percent of all prescriptions, they accounted for less than eight percent of the costs(1).

MedVantx' Network is strategically designed to help manage these growing health care expenditures, ultimately starting more patients on generic medications when clinically appropriate, reducing expenses and maintaining access to clinically effective prescription medication.

About MedVantx

MedVantx has created the first Generic Delivery Network that benefits payors, physicians and patients by providing first-line generic medication therapy free to patients at the point of care. The national MedVantx network builds regional payor sponsorships, encourages the use of lower-cost generic medications, and gives physicians convenient access to generic samples for all of their patients. The MedVantx Generic Delivery Network is now active in North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Minnesota, including the following health plans: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Regence, Highmark, UPMC Health Plan, Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. and Medica with further nationwide expansion in 2005. To learn more about MedVantx and the Generic Delivery Network, go to www.medvantx.com.

About Aetna

As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 14.435 million medical members, 12.976 million dental members, 9.117 million pharmacy members and 13.662 million group insurance members to help them make better informed decisions about their health care and protect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provides easy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide network of more than 684,000 health care professionals, including over 405,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 4,135 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of June 30, 2005)

(1) Generic Pharmaceutical Association, "Generic Pharmaceutical Facts at a Glance."