CDC And Medco Study Showed Americans Stockpiled Tamiflu Over Fears Of Avian Flu Pandemic

Despite cautions to the
contrary, news media reporting of avian flu and concerns about pandemic
spread were followed by hoarding of the antiviral medication Tamiflu (R)
(Oseltamivir) by Americans according to a collaborative study by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Medco Health
Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS). The findings from the first national study of
personal Tamiflu stockpiling were presented at the annual meeting of the
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).



The research reveals that the number of prescriptions filled for
Tamiflu jumped more than 300 percent from 2004 to 2005 during the fall
months when there was little or no influenza activity in the United States.
Tamiflu prescriptions filled during September and October rose to 133.6 per
100,000 insured Medco enrollees in 2005, up from 27.3 prescriptions per
100,000 enrollees during that same time period in 2004. When extrapolated
to the U.S. population, that's 305,000 more Tamiflu prescriptions filled in
2005 than would have been expected based on 2004 prescribing rates. The
largest proportion of Tamiflu prescriptions filled in 2005 was by those
categorized as the healthiest patients.



The investigation also found that the number of prescriptions written
per doctor increased substantially. Since Tamiflu is recommended for use
within 48 hours after flu symptoms appear and virtually no cases of the
illness had been reported during this time period, it is likely that the
medication was not prescribed to treat the flu; instead it was probably
stockpiled by patients over fears of a possible bird flu outbreak. The rise
in Tamiflu prescriptions also corresponded closely to increased media
coverage of avian flu.



"The correlation between the heightened U.S. media coverage around
Tamiflu and the prescription activity for the drug between September and
November in 2005 is uncanny -- nearly a five-fold increase in prescribing
rates among physicians occurred over this typically low influenza time
period," said Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco's chief medical officer and
co-author of the presentation.



Further findings of the study showed that among age groups, the highest
prescription rates in 2005 were for persons aged 50-64 years, despite the
fact that those 65 years and older experience more annual influenza
disease; and there was a seven-fold increase in Tamiflu prescriptions for
children under 18 from 2004 to 2005.



Another finding of the investigation revealed a correlation between a
physician's years out of medical school and his or her rate of Tamiflu
prescribing. Older, more experienced physicians, regardless of specialty,
prescribed more Tamiflu than younger, more recently trained physicians.
















Tamiflu in Brief



Tamiflu is an oral antiviral treatment, not a vaccine for influenza.
The medicine can reduce the severity and duration of the illness if started
within two days of the onset of flu symptoms. To prevent the flu, Tamiflu
must be started within two days of the contact with someone who has the
flu. When administered according to its approved dosage, Tamiflu delivers a
38 percent reduction in the severity of symptoms, a 67 percent reduction in
secondary complications and a 37 percent reduction in the duration of the
influenza illness. Tamiflu has been used by about 42 million people
worldwide since its launch and mortality in patients taking Tamiflu both in
adults and children is lower than in influenza patients who are not treated
with Tamiflu. While laboratory studies have shown Tamiflu somewhat
effective in treating avian flu, drug studies in humans are still needed to
determine treatment efficacy and the best therapy regimen.



Pandemic Influenza



Three conditions must be met for a pandemic to occur: first a new
influenza virus subtype must emerge for which there is little or no human
immunity, second it must infect humans and cause illness, and third it must
spread easily and continue without interruption among humans. In its
current state, the H5N1 virus does not meet the third condition.



Government Action



Federal, state and local health agencies are making plans to prepare
for, respond to, and contain an outbreak of pandemic flu. Actions include
developing a national stockpile of antiviral drugs to help treat and
control the spread of the disease should an outbreak occur; testing
possible vaccines, preparing communities, business, and organizations for
an influenza outbreak; and working with the World Health Organization (WHO)
and other nations to help contain and detect outbreaks and providing
current accurate information on pandemic flu issues at
pandemicflu.



About Medco



Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is the nation's leading
pharmacy benefit manager based on its 2005 total net revenues of nearly $38
billion. Medco's prescription drug benefit programs are designed to drive
down the cost of pharmacy health care for private and public employers,
health plans, labor unions and government agencies of all sizes, and for
individuals served by the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program.
Medco's technologically advanced mail-order pharmacies and award-winning
Internet pharmacy have been recognized for setting new industry benchmarks
for pharmacy dispensing quality. Medco serves the needs of patients with
complex conditions requiring sophisticated treatment through its specialty
pharmacy operation, which became the nation's largest with the 2005
acquisition of Accredo Health, Incorporated. Medco is the highest-ranked
pharmacy benefit manager on the 2006 Fortune 500 list. On the Net:
medco.



This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term
is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ
materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking
statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from
those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release
should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect
our business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission


Medco Health Solutions, Inc

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