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Guidant Corporation's Cardiac Rhythm Management Division Deploys eResearchTechnology's EDC and eResearch Community Solutions Enhances Data Collection and Investigator Relationship Management Capabilities And is Critical to Accelerating Time to Market and Driving Collaboration PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- eResearchTechnology, Inc. (eRT), , a leading e-research technology and services provider, announced today that Guidant Corporation's (Guidant) Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) division has deployed eRT's Enterprise Electronic Data Capture (EDC) and eResearch Community solutions to accelerate time to market and enhance investigator relationship management. The combined eRT Enterprise EDC/eResearch Community solution has been implemented as of November 24, 2003 for Guidant's CRM division. eRT's Enterprise EDC has enabled Guidant CRM for the first time to collect multi- site electronic data directly into its clinical data management environment, accelerating time to data lock and regulatory submission. In addition, the eResearch Community, which Guidant has deployed to more than 100 users, including site personnel, monitors and field engineers, provides role-based access to a variety of collaboration and communication resources, featuring: -- Key trial metrics, such as enrollment, monitoring activities, and data collection/quality/locking status -- Trial documents, such as protocols, case report forms, informed consent forms and investigator agreements "In deploying the eResearch Community, Guidant seized an opportunity to provide live access of key data assets and related information to investigators and support staff while they are collecting trial data with patients," said Dale DeVries, Vice President Clinical Programs and Regulatory Affairs for Guidant's CRM division. "The Community complements eRT's Enterprise EDC solution. Experienced users are impressed by the improvement in the ease of use delivered by eRT's form follows function approach, which we think is among the most important attributes in an EDC tool, especially in a market where many have experienced the pitfalls of past efforts. Guidant is implementing eRT's response to our ongoing input into the continued evolution of its solution. Guidant CRM is targeting its eRT Enterprise EDC/eResearch Community platform for multiple studies during the next 12 months." "eRT's Enterprise EDC platform as deployed by Guidant balances the need for a sophisticated, yet crisp, user interface with requirements necessary to scale EDC to the enterprise, such as tight integration with back office data management capabilities and support for multiple trials from a single instance of the system, which facilitates effective program level analysis and administrative management," said Scott Grisanti, senior vice president of business development and chief marketing officer at eRT. "The unique capabilities of the eResearch Community provide the missing link to deliver on several key promises of EDC, including more timely feedback to sites on data collection efforts, along with an environment to foster an electronic research network that extends beyond data collection to a variety of collaboration and communication activities designed to enrich the clinical experience for investigators, provide valuable input to sponsors, and enhance patient care." Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to seven million cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The CRM division of the company, driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 6,500 employees, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad array of Cardiac Rhythm Management products and services that enable less invasive care for some of life's most threatening medical conditions. Based in Philadelphia, PA, eResearchTechnology, Inc. (http://www.ert.com/) is a provider of technology and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries on a global basis. The company is a market leader in providing centralized core-diagnostic electrocardiographic (ECG) technology and services to evaluate cardiac safety in clinical development. The company is also a leader in providing technology and services to streamline the clinical trials process by enabling its customers to automate the collection, analysis, and distribution of clinical data in all phases of clinical development. 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. As a result, actual results may differ materially from any financial outlooks stated herein. Further information on potential factors that could affect the company's financial results can be found in the company's Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. DATASOURCE: eResearchTechnology, Inc. CONTACT: Joan Sterlacci of eResearchTechnology, +1-908-203-6473, or Matt Hayden of Hayden Communications, +1-760-487-1137, for eResearchTechnology Web site: http://www.ert.com/

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