ERES East Resources Acquisition Company

SFBC International Selects eResearchTechnology to Provide Integrated Suite of Software for Managing Late-Stage Drug Development Services PHILADELPHIA and MIAMI, June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- eResearchTechnology, Inc. (eRT), (NASDAQ:ERES), a leading e-research technology and services provider, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to provide SFBC International, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFCC), a provider of specialized drug development services to global and specialty pharmaceutical, biotechnology and generic drug companies, with an integrated technology and services solution that includes an end-to-end clinical research platform, electronic data capture and a web portal for clients' access to real-time data. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The integrated suite of software and technology that eRT will provide to SFBC will include its eResearch Network, Enterprise EDC platform and eResearch Community web portal. eRT's eResearch Network integrated suite of applications for clinical data management, trial management and monitoring, and adverse event management and reporting will be deployed to support development of harmonized processes across all key aspects of clinical development for SFBC, a rapidly expanding provider of comprehensive services for all phases of clinical development. eRT's Enterprise EDC platform will be implemented to support SFBC's ability to provide sponsors with an electronic data capture solution that can scale from a single trial to an entire development program. In addition, SFBC will deploy eRT's eResearch Community web portal for overall command and control, real-time analysis and decision support, and collaboration and communications across its clinical research network. SFBC anticipates that the software implementation will commence in the third quarter of 2004 and be completed in the first quarter of 2005. In April 2003, the companies announced a non-exclusive alliance for providing integrated solutions for thorough Phase I ECG studies, which monitor cardiac safety and a drug's impact on the QTc interval. Under this alliance, SFBC conducts thorough QTc interval trials at its Phase I/II facilities in the U.S. and Canada, while eRT performs digital collection, measurement, interpretation, review and distribution of cardiac safety data through its EXPeRT workflow-enabled data handling technology. "We are delighted to have been selected by SFBC to provide a clinical data technology infrastructure that will support harmonization of activities across all phases of clinical development for an expanding network of locations," said Joe Esposito, eRT's president and chief executive officer. "This agreement to provide eRT's Enterprise EDC, end-to-end eResearch Network, and eResearch Community portal, in combination with the existing alliance to provide turnkey solutions in the mission critical Thorough Phase I ECG Study arena, illustrates eRT's unique capabilities to provide the technology and services required for new drug development industry leaders to achieve best practices." Dr. Gregory B. Holmes, executive vice president of clinical operations for SFBC International, commented, "Based on the rapid growth of our business and our business outlook, we believe it is the right time to implement a comprehensive suite of software and services for our late-stage development business that will enable us to enhance the level of service we currently provide to our clients through the integration of data management, electronic data capture and real-time data access. We selected eRT for our new software implementation because of its user-friendly and cost-effective integrated clinical data technology solution." About SFBC International, Inc. SFBC International, Inc. is a contract research organization, providing a range of specialized drug development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and generic drug companies. The company is a provider of early clinical development services, specializing primarily in the areas of Phase I and Phase II clinical trials and bioanalytical laboratory services. SFBC also provides a range of complementary services to its clients, including early clinical pharmacology research, biostatistics and data management, and regulatory and drug submission as well as Phase III and Phase IV clinical trial management services in select therapeutic areas. Additional information is available at the Company's website, http://www.sfbci.com/ or contact Evan Smith or Erica Pettit, KCSA Worldwide, at 212-682-6300. About eResearchTechnology, Inc. 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 in this release including the implementation and completion of installation of the eRT software 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 technological development and available personnel. As a result, actual results may differ materially from any financial outlooks stated herein. Further information on potential factors that could affect the realization of the forward-looking statements can be found in each company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including their Forms 10-K and 10-Q. DATASOURCE: eResearchTechnology, Inc.; SFBC International CONTACT: Joan Sterlacci of eResearchTechnology, +1-908-203-6473; or Matt Hayden of Hayden Communications, +1-858-456-4533, for eResearchTechnology; or Ana Lopez of SFBC International, +1-305-895-0304; or Evan Smith, CFA, +1-212-896-1251, or Erica Pettit, +1-212-896-1248, both of KCSA Worldwide Web site: http://www.ert.com/ http://www.sfbci.com/

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