The award recognizes Talecris’ commitment to improving customer savings and customer satisfaction; filing reports and submitting fee schedules in a timely manner; and continuous growth in purchase volume. Seventy-one vendors were awarded the Platinum Vendor designation at the MedAssets Healthcare Business Summit in Las Vegas in March 2008, which was attended by more than 3,000 healthcare professionals. Talecris contracts with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems for the distribution of Gamunex^® (Immune Globulin Intravenous [Human], 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified) and a range of other commercial plasma products.

“We are honored that MedAssets Supply Chain Systems recognized our dedication to providing patients with safe, reliable supplies of our life-saving and life-enhancing protein therapies by awarding us with the Platinum Vendor award,” said Bill Zabel, Vice President, U.S. Sales, for Talecris. “We share their passion for helping healthcare providers operate more efficiently and effectively, and are committed to working with them to continue to deliver the highest quality patient care.”

Media Contact:       
Wendy Wilson
Tel.: 919.316.6316, Fax: 919.316.6377
E-mail: wendy.wilson@talecris.com

About MedAssets
MedAssets (NASDAQ: MDAS) partners with healthcare providers to improve their financial strength by implementing integrated spend management and revenue cycle solutions that help control cost, improve margins and cash flow, increase regulatory compliance, and optimize operational efficiency. MedAssets serves more than 125 health systems, 2,500 hospitals and 30,000 non-acute care healthcare providers. For more information, visit www.medassets.com.

About Gamunex
Gamunex is an IGIV therapy that contains antibodies purified from the donated blood plasma of thousands of people. Gamunex is indicated as replacement therapy of primary humoral immunodeficiency disease (PI) and as immunomodulatory therapy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Important Safety Information
Gamunex is contraindicated in individuals with known anaphylactic or severe systemic response to Immune Globulin (Human). Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) products have been reported to be associated with renal dysfunction, acute renal failure, osmotic nephrosis and death. Patients should be instructed to immediately report symptoms of decreased urine output, sudden weight gain, fluid retention/edema, and/or shortness of breath (which may suggest kidney damage) to their physicians. While these reports of renal dysfunction and acute renal failure have been associated with the use of many of the licensed IGIV products, those containing sucrose as a stabilizer accounted for a disproportionate share of the total number. Gamunex does not contain sucrose. Glycine, a natural amino acid, is used as a stabilizer. 

There have been reports of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, rare reports of hemolytic anemia, and very rare reports of aseptic meningitis in patients administered with IGIV. Thrombotic events have been reported in association with IGIV. Patients at risk may include those with a history of atherosclerosis, multiple cardiovascular risk factors, advanced age, impaired cardiac output, and/or known or suspected hyperviscosity. The most common side effects noted during clinical trials included headache, vomiting, fever, nausea, rash, and back pain.

As with all plasma-derived therapeutics, the potential to transmit infectious agents cannot be totally eliminated.

For additional information about Gamunex, please see www.gamunex.com for Full Prescribing Information.