In January of 2004, McKesson Canada announced the creation of the McKesson Specialty Pharmaceutical Solutions division, comprised of three operating units: McKesson Specialty Distribution Services, McKesson Specialty Prescription Services, and McKesson Specialty Patient Services. One year later, we are now ready to share some further developments within this division.
 
We are pleased to announce that, effective January 14 2005, McKesson Canada has acquired the assets of Phase 4 Health, a well established Canadian company that has been serving the needs of pharmaceutical manufacturers for over 8 years.
 
"This initiative was in support of our strategy to expand our service offering to manufacturers," stated Claudio Bussandri, President and Chief Executive Officer of McKesson Canada. "McKesson Canada will merge Phase 4 Health's service portfolio with McKesson Specialty Pharmaceutical Solutions' to provide a menu of options to manufacturers in the commercialization of their specialty products, specialty distribution services, direct to patient prescription services, patient support services as well as consulting and clinical trials."
 
 
From an operational viewpoint, Phase 4 Health's distribution and patient services teams will now operate under the McKesson Specialty Pharmaceutical Solutions umbrella, while its consulting and clinical trials services will continue to be offered under the Phase 4 Health name.
 
"With this acquisition," elaborated Dale Weil, Vice President Hospital and Specialty Pharmaceutical Solutions, "McKesson Canada will be positioned to respond to the evolving needs of manufacturers of specialty pharmaceuticals. The McKesson Specialty Pharmaceutical Solutions division has been commissioned to offer a full range of services that will recognize the unique handling, distribution, and patient support services required by high-value pharmaceuticals; and Phase 4 Health is the perfect partner to complete and complement the services we already offer."
 
 
Rose Fishman with Ravi Deshpande, co-owners of Phase 4 Health and now Vice Presidents, Specialty Pharmaceutical Solutions, added "we are delighted to join forces with McKesson Canada, and increase the value we can bring to the pharmaceutical industry in Canada.  In effect, we will be combining our expertise with McKesson Canada's  to create a unique package of solutions for Canadian manufacturers."
 
 
For additional information please contact:
Françoise Leblanc, Coordinator Communications, McKesson Canada: telephone 514.832.8287, via email communication@mckesson.ca, or through our Web Site www.mckesson.ca.
 
McKesson CanadaMission
To be the Canadian leader in health care supply management solutions by advancing the success of our partners.
 
About McKesson Canada
McKesson Canada is the leading provider of logistics as well as information products and services within the Canadian health care marketplace. McKesson Canada offers a range of integrated solutions through our five business units which are McKesson Pharmaceutical, McKesson Outsource Logistics, McKesson Automation, McKesson Health Solutions, and McKesson Information Solutions. 

McKesson Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of McKesson Corporation of San Francisco, one of the world's leading health care supply management and information technology companies.
 
About Phase 4 Health
Phase 4 Health is a multi-disciplinary firm specializing in health informatics and economics, therapeutics, reimbursement planning and strategy, clinical trial design and management and patient services including call centre support for reimbursement case coordination and direct-to-patient distribution.