26 June 2006 - Washington University and Berlex Collaborate on Research Fellowship
Wayne , NJ, June 26, 2006 - Today Berlex, Inc., announced a collaboration with the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis that includes the creation of a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of diagnostic imaging contrast agents. Berlex will sponsor the three-year collaboration through an educational grant. "We are very excited about this grant from Berlex, which will allow a post-doctoral scientist to conduct full-time research exclusively in the area of diagnostic imaging contrast agents," said Dr. Jeffrey Brown, Professor of Radiology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Principal Investigator for this fellowship initiative. Washington University School of Medicine's full-time and volunteer faculty physicians are also the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the country's leading medical research, teaching, and patient care institutions, currently ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliation with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospital, the school is linked to BJC HealthCare. BJC HealthCare is one of the largest nonprofit healthcare organizations in the U.S. Berlex, Inc. markets Magnevist® (gadopentetate dimeglumine) injection and Ultravist® (iopromide) injection. Magnevist is the leading MRI contrast agent with the broadest range of adult and pediatric clinical indications. The product received FDA approval in 1988, and extended the power of MRI to help diagnose disease. Since its introduction, Magnevist has been used in over 70 million procedures worldwide. As with all paramagnetic agents, caution should be exercised in patients with deoxygenated sickle erythrocytes and renal insufficiency with or without hepatic impairment. As with all contrast media, the possibility of a reaction, including serious, life-threatening, fatal, anaphylactoid or cardiovascular reactions or other idiosyncratic reactions should always be considered. Safety and efficacy in children under the age of 2 years have not been established. Ultravist is a nonionic, iodinated, low osmolar radiological contrast agent for intravascular administration. Introduced in Europe in 1985, and in the US in 1995, Ultravist is being used today in over 100 countries worldwide. All nonionic, iodinated contrast media currently available inhibit blood coagulation in vitro less than ionic contrast media. Therefore, meticulous intravascular administration technique is necessary to minimize thromboembolic events. As with all iodinated contrast agents, serious or fatal reactions have been associated with their use. Ultravist injection is not indicated for intrathecal use. Package inserts for both Magnevist and Ultravist are available at www.berlex.com About Berlex Berlex, a U.S. affiliate of Schering AG, Germany (FSE: SCH; NYSE: SHR), is committed to addressing unmet medical needs through research and development in the areas of oncology, gastroenterology, women's health, diagnostics and neurology. Berlex also markets diagnostic imaging agents, innovative treatments in the areas of female health care and oncology, as well as specialized therapeutics for life-threatening and disabling diseases of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. Berlex has business operations in New Jersey, California and Washington. For more information, please visit www.berlex.com Certain statements in this press release that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results and Berlex's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Berlex, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise. Berlex Contacts
Heather Levis
973-305-5313
