eResearch Technology Announces Agreement with Three of the Top 20 Pharmaceutical Companies

eRT's Digital ECG Community offers Large Pharmaceutical Companies access to cardiac safety data for US, European, and International clinical trials. eResearch Technology has provided integrated software and technology consulting services to the life science industries for over 20 years. eRT's Digital ECG Community provides ready access to cardiovascular data that will allow the companies to quickly identify potential adverse events, halt the study if necessary, ultimately helping to streamline the clinical trials process. The Pharmaceutical companies will utilize eRT's technology to begin proactively detect and monitor participants ECG data to bring safer drugs to market in a cost-effective, timelier manner.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, March 11, 2002 -- eResearch Technology, Inc. (eRT), (NASDAQ: ERES), a leading provider of centralized electrocardiographic (ECG) collection and interpretation services, announced today that three top 20 pharmaceutical companies will deploy eRT's Digital ECG Community for a combined eight clinical trials. The Digital ECG Community is a hosted subscription service that extends the reach of eRT's ECG collection and interpretation services by providing sponsors and investigators access to near real-time clinical cardiac safety data, extensive reporting capabilities on key study metrics, and a broad array of resources for use throughout the clinical trial process.
In response to the industry's intensified emphasis on cardiovascular safety, these major pharmaceutical companies are deploying the Digital ECG Community to proactively detect and monitor any changes in the ECGs that will be analyzed throughout the course of these clinical trials. eRT's Digital ECG Community will provide ready access to cardiovascular data that will allow the companies to quickly identify potential adverse events, adjust the clinical protocol as necessary, and ultimately streamline the study process.

``The rapid market acceptance of the Digital ECG Community validates eRT's vision regarding the growing importance of near real-time access to cardiac safety data harvested during clinical trials,'' explained Robert Brown, eRT's senior vice president of diagnostics technology and services. ``We are excited to deliver eRT's enhanced value proposition to thought leaders in the drug and device development arena anxious to extend the reach of eRT's core laboratory services.''
The Digital ECG Community is provided as a hosted, monthly subscription, eliminating the need to purchase any hardware or software. Furthermore, The Digital ECG Community can easily accommodate other clinical databases and trial management software, including eRT's electronic data capture, and eResearch Network applications.

Based in Philadelphia, PA, eResearchTechnology, Inc. (www.eRT.com) is a provider of integrated software applications and technology consulting services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company is a market leader in providing centralized core-diagnostic electrocardiographic services on a global basis. The Company also offers Internet and other technology-based solutions designed to streamline the clinical trial process by enabling its customers to automate and integrate many parts of the clinical trial.

Statements included in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties such as competitive factors, technological development, market demand, and the Company's ability to obtain new contracts and accurately estimate net revenues due to variability in size, scope and duration of projects, and internal issues in the sponsoring client. Further information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results can be found in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 and in its Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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