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PHARMACEUTICAL R&D FACTBOOK PROVIDES UNIQUE STUDY OF TRENDS WITHIN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Findings Reveal New Molecular Entities Output Lifts From 20 Year Low

 

Philadelphia, PA USA, London UK — September 26, 2006 — The Centre for Medicines Research International Ltd (CMR), a Thomson business, (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC), today announced it has published its 2006/2007 Pharmaceutical R&D Factbook which distils its data and commentary in a single, indispensable reference and strategic planning tool. Among the findings, research by CMR International suggests that the output of new molecular entities (NME) is rising for the first time since 1999. The turnaround lifts NME output from a 20 year low and may point toward a long-awaited upturn in fortunes for pharmaceutical R&D.

"This startling finding is only one of the many trends found in this year's study and is the type of information that is vital to pharmaceutical companies' research & development efforts," notes Peter Joshua, Vice President and General Manager, CMR International. "In fact, our research can help users make informed decisions that can reduce development times, improve efficiency, implement more accurate performance target-setting and predictive modeling, and gauge internal performance against competitors."

Presented in the Factbook is a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of emerging trends in worldwide pharmaceutical R&D, enabling users to use this valuable data in their presentations and reports. Each finding is presented in a clear, easily-understood chart, accompanied by a succinct commentary highlighting the key message together with an explanation of the methodology used and the definitions applied.

Provided by the world leader in pharmaceutical R&D performance metrics knowledge management, the CMR International 2006/2007 Pharmaceutical R&D Factbook is an indispensable reference and business planning tool for decision makers in R&D, corporate finance, business strategy, marketing planning and corporate communications. The underlying data are exclusively from primary sources that include all major pharmaceutical companies who account for approximately 80% of the industry's global R&D spend. The Factbook condenses the latest learnings from CMR's uniquely comprehensive and robust industry-wide databases, with insights that are available from no other provider.

The CMR International 2006/2007 Pharmaceutical R&D Factbook is available as a hard copy report, or in single-user or enterprise-wide electronic formats supplied on CD. The CD contains the Factbook as both a PDF document and in PowerPoint format, consisting of full-screen versions of each of the charts with the commentary as speaker's notes. The enterprise-wide license equips users to distribute the complete Factbook throughout an organization and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and to use it freely in internal reports and presentations.

More information, sample data and order request form The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com ), with 2005 revenues of approximately $8.40 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to more than 20 million users in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate e-learning and assessment, scientific research and healthcare. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson has approximately 40,500 employees and provides services in approximately 130 countries. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).

Thomson Scientific is a business of The Thomson Corporation. Its information solutions assist professionals at every stage of research and development—from discovery to analysis to product development and distribution. Thomson scientific information solutions can be found at www.scientific.thomson.com .

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