MDS Pharma Services announces additions to European staff

(July 17, 2001; Montreal, Quebec) — MDS Pharma Services is pleased to announce the following additions to its European clinical research staff: Dr. Jean-Michel Andrieux as director of quality assurance, Europe, and Christian Buhlmann as director of business development, Germany.

As director of quality assurance, Dr. Andrieux will lead and develop the company’s quality assurance audit staff in Europe and integrate the group so that quality assurance support is optimized in all areas where studies are conducted.

Dr. Andrieux’s background includes more than twenty years of experience in the clinical research industry, the last ten in the area of quality assurance. Before joining MDS Pharma Services, Dr. Andrieux served as head of central quality assurance for Beaufour Ipsen R&D. He has also served with Fournier Laboratories and Therapharm Racherches.

Dr. Andrieux studied medicine at Saint Antoine University Hospital Centre, Paris. He is a member of numerous professional and scientific organizations, including the French Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians, the Drug Information Association, the British Association of Research Quality Assurance, and the French Society of Quality Assurance.

"Dr. Andrieux will be based in Paris, and he will bring seasoned leadership to the QA group in Europe" said Robert Munies, vice president, quality assurance and regulatory affairs, MDS Pharma Services. "His QA expertise will help us develop added value solutions for our clients."

As director of business development, Germany, Mr. Buhlmann will be responsible for developing contacts and building relationships with prospective and current clients — and for implementing strategies that will generate revenue growth for MDS Pharma Services.

Mr. Buhlmann’s background includes nearly ten years of marketing and sales perience in the pharmaceutical and clinical research industries. He studied biology at University Wurzburg and received his diploma in 1993.

"Christian Buhlmann is an experienced business development professional," said Simon Yaxley, general manager, northern Europe, MDS Pharma Services. "He has a strong network of contacts in the German marketplace. His appointment marks another important step in the development of our German client base and demonstrates once again our ability to attract high caliber people to our organization."

MDS Pharma Services is a global leader in clinical research services, from feasibility through regulatory submission and post-marketing studies, working diligently to customize these services. With facilities spanning four continents, each regional office is staffed with experts who bring their unique insights into the local healthcare system. MDS Pharma Services is a clinical research partner who thinks strategically about projects, anticipates clients’ needs, and rapidly delivers accurate results.

MDS Pharma Services offers a full spectrum of resources to meet the drug discovery and development needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With facilities in more than 18 countries, the company applies advanced scientific and technological expertise to each stage of the drug discovery and development process: discovery, preclinical, early clinical research (phases I-IIa), bioanalytical, global clinical research (phases IIb-IV), and central lab.

MDS Pharma Services is part of MDS Inc. (TSE: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), 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 10,000 highly skilled people in its global operations on five continents. Detailed information abut the company is available at the MDS Web site at www.mdsintl.com or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day.