Covalent Group Initiates Global Counter-Bioterrorism Vaccine Program

WAYNE, Pa., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Covalent Group, Inc. today announced the formation of a global Counter-Bioterrorism Initiative to focus on the development of vaccines against biologic agents with potential military and terrorism applications.

A highly experienced group of clinical development professionals at Covalent has been designated to work on this initiative. For the past year, the team has established partnering opportunities with industry and government in order to develop counter-bioterrorism vaccines. The team's Senior Scientific Director and leader is Dr. Patricia Cleveland, Covalent's Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Cleveland is an internationally recognized specialist in biologics and recombinant technology. She has provided hands-on operational and regulatory guidance for recombinant DNA vaccines and immunotherapy products in the United States and internationally. Dr. Cleveland will be responsible for strategy formulation as well as execution of the Company's new initiatives in this important area.

Kenneth M. Borow, M.D., Covalent Group's President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "Covalent's establishment of a global Counter-Bioterrorism Vaccine Initiative reflects our longstanding commitment, interest, and experience in the fields of biologics and gene therapy. This inter- disciplinary program includes in-house experts in medical consulting, regulatory affairs, project management, data services, field monitoring, medical writing, safety surveillance, and information technologies. With our recently announced Strategic Partnerships we are now well positioned to conduct vaccine trials throughout the world."

Dr. Borow continued, "Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, there has been heightened public concern and anxiety about biological agents. We hope that our efforts will ultimately result in the development of vaccines that protect military personnel and civilian populations around the globe against the terror associated with weaponization of biologic agents."

About Covalent Group

Covalent Group is a clinical research organization that is a leader in the design and management of complex clinical trials for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company's mission is to provide its clients with high quality, full-service support for their clinical trials. Covalent offers therapeutic expertise, experienced team management and advanced technologies. The Company has clinical trial experience across a wide variety of therapeutic areas such as vaccines, biologics, gene therapy, immunology, cardiovascular, endocrinology/metabolism, diabetes, neurology, oncology, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, dermatology, hepatology, womens' health and respiratory medicine. Covalent believes that its leadership in the design of complex clinical trials, its application of innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and commitment to quality offer its clients a means to more quickly and cost effectively develop products through the clinical trial process. In addition, the Company's use of its proprietary TeleTrial(R) technology to support its drug development services creates consistency in the way it conducts clinical trials globally. With its wholly-owned international subsidiary, Covalent Group, Ltd., as well as its Strategic Partners based in Sydney, Australia and Moscow, Russia, Covalent is able to meet many of the global drug development needs of its clients.

This press release contains forward-looking statements identified by words such as "estimate," "project," "expect," "intend," "believe," "anticipate" and similar expressions. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in, expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's future operating results and financial condition include, without limitation: (i) our success in attracting new business and retaining existing clients and projects; (ii) the size, duration, and timing of clinical trials; (iii) the termination, delay or cancellation of clinical trials; (iv) the timing difference between our receipt of contract milestone or scheduled payments and our incurring costs to manage these trials; (v) outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries; (vi) the ability to maintain profit margins in a competitive marketplace; (vii) our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; (viii) the sensitivity of our business to general economic conditions; and (ix) other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in forward-looking statements is contained in Covalent Group's SEC filings, including its Registration Statement on Form S-3, Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and other periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, copies of which are available upon request from Covalent Group's investor relations department.

Investor contact: Jill T. Meleski, (646) 536-7032 Media contact: Gregory Q. Tiberend, (646) 536-7005 Contact us on-line: http://www.covalentgroup.com/

CONTACT: Investor, Jill T. Meleski, +1-646-536-7032, or Media, GregoryQ. Tiberend, +1-646-536-7005, both for Covalent Group, Inc.

Web site: http://www.covalentgroup.com/