Accredo Health, Inc. Selected by CoTherix, Inc. for Ventavis Distribut

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

    MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2005--Accredo Health, Incorporated (NASDAQ: ACDO) announced today that one of its three primary divisions, Accredo Therapeutics, has been selected by CoTherix, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRX) as one of up to three specialty pharmacy providers of Ventavis(TM) (iloprost) Inhalation Solution. Ventavis, which was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (World Health Organization Group I), or PAH, in patients with New York Heart Association Class III or IV symptoms. Ventavis is an inhaled formulation of iloprost, a synthetic compound that is structurally similar to prostacyclins (naturally occurring molecules that cause blood vessels to dilate). PAH is a highly debilitating disease characterized by severe constriction of the blood vessels of the lungs.
    "Accredo, as the leader in the distribution of PAH treatments, is excited to add Ventavis to its product offerings," stated David D. Stevens, Accredo's chairman and chief executive officer. "With the addition of this product, we continue our strong commitment to the PAH patient and physician community by offering another alternative to the treatment of this condition."
    Accredo, with its 38 branch pharmacies nationwide, will exclusively provide call center and reimbursement support services for patients using Ventavis and their prescribing physicians and support staff. Patients and their physicians can call 1-877-483-6828, a dedicated hotline maintained by Accredo, to obtain benefit information available for Ventavis.
    Accredo Health, Incorporated provides specialized pharmacy and related services pursuant to agreements with biotechnology drug manufacturers relating to the treatment of patients with certain costly, chronic diseases. The Company's services include collection of timely drug utilization and patient compliance information, patient education and monitoring through the use of written materials and telephonic consultation, reimbursement expertise and overnight drug delivery.
    In addition to historical information, certain of the statements in the preceding paragraphs, particularly those anticipating future financial performance, business prospects and growth and operating strategies constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, predict, hope or similar expressions. Such statements, which include estimated financial information or results and the quoted comments of Mr. Stevens above, are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the loss of a biopharmaceutical relationship, our inability to sell existing products, difficulties integrating acquisitions, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation, the difficulty of predicting FDA and other regulatory authority approvals, the regulatory environment and changes in healthcare policies and structure, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products and new therapies, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the ability to obtain products from suppliers, reliance on strategic alliances, the ability to expand through joint ventures and acquisitions, the ability to maintain pricing arrangements with suppliers that preserve margins, the need for and ability to obtain additional capital, the seasonality and variability of operating results, the Company's ability to implement its strategies and achieve its objectives and the risks and uncertainties described in reports filed by Accredo with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including without limitation, cautionary statements under the heading "Risk Factors" made in Accredo's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its year ended June 30, 2004.

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CONTACT: Accredo Health, Incorporated, Memphis Financial Contact: Joel Kimbrough, 901-385-3621 or Investor Relations Contact: Kerry Finney, 901-381-7442

KEYWORD: TENNESSEE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCT SOURCE: Accredo Health, Incorporated

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