HDMA HONORS LEADING PHARMACEUTICAL AND CONSUMER PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS AT INAUGURAL BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

ARLINGTON, Va., June 8, 2010 – The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) recognized leading pharmaceutical and consumer product manufacturers with the presentation of 10 Distribution Industry Awards for Notable Achievements in Healthcare (DIANA). The winners were announced at the Association’s inaugural Business & Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida.

“The 2010 DIANA winners demonstrate an abiding commitment to innovation and collaboration,” said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. “These winning companies have shown creativity in introducing new products and services and establishing successful partnerships with their distributor peers in a way that benefits not just the healthcare supply chain but also the patient.”

Since 1959, HDMA has awarded the DIANA to manufacturers for developing innovative new product introductions and product promotions for the healthcare distribution industry. The awards also are presented to companies that continually build stronger partnerships with the Association’s primary healthcare distributor members by establishing novel, results-oriented business practices that bolster trade relations and benefit the entire healthcare supply chain.

The 2010 DIANA judging panel is made up of HDMA distributor members. Best Overall Manufacturer winners were judged on such criteria as developing collaborative trading partner relationships to creating marketing programs that benefit the supply chain and an overall commitment to excellence. Best New Product Introduction or Promotion winners were selected based on such criteria as innovative marketing programs, market performance, promotional support and operational excellence.   

2010 DIANA Winners:

Best New Pharmaceutical Product Introduction or Product Promotion Awards

Branded Pharmaceutical Products: Novo Nordisk Inc., for Victoza® Expedited Distribution
Generic Pharmaceutical Products: Sandoz, for Tacrolimus
Rx Support Systems, Supplies and Service Products: Rexam PLC, for its Lightweight Sustainable Prescription Package

Best New Consumer Product Introduction or Product Promotion Award

Over-the-Counter Products: Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., for Prevacid®24HR

Best Overall Manufacturer Awards:

Consumer Product Manufacturer with Sales to HDMA Distributors of Less Than $10 Million:
Winner: Broadway Industries
First Merit Finalist: Silarx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consumer Product Manufacturer with Sales to HDMA Distributors of More Than $10 Million:
Winner: Merck Consumer Care
First Merit Finalist: Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.
Second Merit Finalist: Novartis Consumer Health, Inc.

Generic Product Manufacturer with Sales to Healthcare Distributors of Less Than $100 Million:
Winner: Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
First Merit Finalist: Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Second Merit Finalist: Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

Generic Product Manufacturer with Sales to Healthcare Distributors of More Than
$100 Million:
Winner: Watson Laboratories, Inc., a subsidiary of Watson Pharma, Inc.
First Merit Finalist: Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Second Merit Finalist: Covidien-Mallinckrodt

Branded Pharmaceutical Product Manufacturer with Sales to HDMA Distributors of Less Than
$300 Million:
Winner: Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.
First Merit Finalist: Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Second Merit Finalist: ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Branded Pharmaceutical Product Manufacturer with Sales to HDMA Distributors of More Than
$300 Million:
Winner: Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
First Merit Finalist: Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Second Merit Finalist: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

About HDMA
HDMA is the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, the vital link in the healthcare system. Each business day, HDMA member companies ensure that more than nine million prescription medicines and healthcare products are safely delivered to more than 165,000 pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, clinics and others nationwide. HDMA and its members work daily to provide value and contain costs, saving the nation’s healthcare system an estimated $32 billion per year.