Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services Expands Operations

Pittsburgh, PA November 22, 1999: Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services, a leading provider of Phase I clinical research services to the generic, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries, is pleased to announce the expansion of its topical products operation. Novum has been designing a clinic to specifically address the requirements of both the topical corticosteroid and noncorticosteroid studies. Their efforts were rewarded this weekend with the opening of a new 22-bed clinic in Pittsburgh.

Chris Hendy, Ph.D., President and CEO said, "The addition of this unique clinic will allow Novum to provide even faster development times to our clients who formulate generic and innovative topical medications. Our goal is to assist sponsor companies in making prompt and informed product decisions. We plan to achieve this by completing studies more quickly while maintaining our rapid turnaround of high quality data. To support these efforts, we have also expanded our recruiting and statistical departments."

Since 1995, Novum has conducted sixty-eight vasoconstrictor studies with topical corticosteroids, covering twenty-four different products and formulations and involving the participation of over two thousand study participants. The FDA has approved ten products based on studies conducted at Novum. Data generated from studies conducted at Novum has also been used to support marketing applications in Canada, Europe, and Israel.

For more information on Novum's Phase I research capabilities, including topical product development, contact Michelle Strausbaugh, Manager, Client Services, Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services, 5900 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Tel: (412) 363-3300 ext. 541, Fax: (412) 362-5783, E-mail: mstrausb@nprsinc.com.