MDS Pharma Services announces appointments to leadership team

(May 30, 2001; Montreal, Quebec) — MDS Pharma Services today announced key appointments to its leadership team, in response to the tremendous growth and opportunity facing the organization.

MDS Pharma Services, a global contract research organization (CRO) serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, was formed in early 2000 when MDS Inc. acquired Phoenix International and subsequently merged Phoenix with MDS Harris, MDS Panlabs, and other MDS drug discovery and development companies. Since then, MDS Pharma Services has become one of the world’s largest CROs with 34 facilities and offices in 17 countries, providing fully integrated, comprehensive drug discovery and development services.

MDS Pharma Services today announced the appointment of Doug Squires as president. The current president, Ian Lennox, who for the past year has been acting as interim president of MDS Pharma Services during the transition and integration, will continue as president and CEO of the MDS Drug Discovery and Development Sector.

"We are pleased with the positive response we have received from the industry," said Lennox, "and it’s now time to take the next step in our evolution. I am pleased to appoint Doug Squires to the role of president, MDS Pharma Services. I am confident that under Doug’s leadership, MDS Pharma Services will continue to grow and achieve our goal of becoming the best CRO in the world."

Squires will assume his new post on June 1. As president of MDS Pharma Services, he will be responsible for the strategic application of the organization’s collective resources, the enhancement of global capacity and capabilities, and a continued dedication to provide innovative research practices with an emphasis on lead optimization and lead discovery.

Squires has been with MDS since 1998. His background includes more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including 22 years with Pharmacia & Upjohn where he served as president of Upjohn Canada, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, and vice president, Infectious Disease Business.

"We are dedicated to being a great global company, and I believe we will achieve that goal by meeting the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities that exist in the dynamic drug discovery and development environment," Squires said. "We’ve made enormous progress, thanks to Ian and to the commitment and efforts of all our employees. We will continue to align our service offerings to meet the changing needs of our clients and to maximize the opportunity to create sustainable high-value relationships."

Additional appointments to the leadership team at MDS Pharma Services were also announced. Judith Nicholas has been appointed president, discovery and preclinical development. Gilbert Godin has been appointed president, early clinical research and bioanalysis. Susan Thornton has been appointed president, clinical research and central lab. They, too, will assume their new posts on June 1.

Nicholas, with the company since 1998, most recently served as senior vice president, drug discovery services. Godin, with MDS since 1999, most recently served as vice president, strategic business planning and development. Thornton, with the company since 1992, most recently served as president and COO, global clinical research.

MDS Pharma Services is organized into three operating units: discovery and preclinical, early clinical research and bioanalysis, and clinical research and central lab. The organization provides comprehensive drug discovery and development services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, conducting and managing research studies that cover virtually all drug categories and disease conditions.

MDS Inc. (TSE: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), parent company of MDS Pharma Services, is an international health and life sciences company. In many of its products and services, it is among the largest and most respected companies in the world. At MDS, the focus is on fighting disease. It does this by providing laboratory testing, imaging products, research services to speed discovery and development of new drugs, therapy systems for planning and delivery of cancer treatments, analytical instruments to assist in the development of new drugs, and medical/surgical supplies. MDS employs more than 11,000 highly skilled people in its global operations on five continents. Detailed information about the company is available at the MDS Web site at www.mdsintl.com or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day.