The Industry's Leading Executives to Address Commercialization Options for Emerging Pharma

Steve Budd, President of PDI, Inc., a diversified sales andmarketing services provider to the biopharmaceutical industry, isleading four industry colleagues in a workshop exploring the state ofthe industry and how those influences are driving commercializationstrategies. Jeremy Goldberg, Managing Director of CorporateDevelopment, Endo Pharmaceuticals; Jay Bua, CEO, Ascend Therapeutics;Bill E. Yelle, VP Business Development, Sepracor Inc.; and BillCollins, CEO, Align Pharmaceuticals are sharing how they approachedcommercialization and the best practices pursued to a successfullaunch.

The workshop, "Small and Mid-size Company Promotional Alliances:Going-it-Alone vs. Partnering," is being held, today, Monday, March27, from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. The topics being addressed provide anexcellent opportunity for emerging biotech's leadership to learn fromexperts in the filed who have successfully brought their product tomarket.

Steve Budd is setting the stage for the workshop with a 30-minutepresentation that explores the industry changes in drug developmentand how that has impacted emerging pharma, broadening their options.Today, companies who choose to license their product to big pharma ora mid-size specialty company, can do so without giving up allcommercialization rights and still others find it more lucrative andfitting to their company objectives to go-it-alone. Mr. Budd willdelve into the forces driving partnership decisions as well as theopportunities to go-it-alone, including discussion of such questionsas:

-- Why does a company decide to go-it-alone or partner?

-- What are the infrastructure needs of an emerging company with a Phase III/pending approval product?

-- What are the decisions that need to be made when beginning the partnering process?

-- How can a partnership be used most strategically?

-- What do you ask for in a licensing/co-promotion deal?

-- Under what circumstances would an established company look for a co-promotion partner?

-- What are the options in creating a sales force? How much will it cost?

A panel presentation and question and answer period is followingwhere attendees will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how theymight move forward with their own commercialization strategies.

Later in the conference, senior management from emergingpharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will determine optimalcommercialization solutions in an interactive roundtable entitled"Best Practices for Commercializing Your Product Alone or with aPartner." Led by Carl Sailer, Vice President of Marketing and BusinessDevelopment at PDI, Inc., the roundtable is exploring options to bestleverage core competencies thus maximizing product performance andreturn on investment. It is being held Tuesday, March 27, 2006 from5:00-6:00 PM.

About PDI

PDI, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDII) is a diversified sales and marketingservices provider to the biopharmaceutical industry. PDI'scomprehensive set of sales and marketing solutions is designed toincrease its clients' strategic flexibility and enhance theirefficiency and profitability. Headquartered in Saddle River, NJ, PDIalso has offices in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

PDI's sales and marketing services include Performance Sales Teams(dedicated contract sales), Select Access(TM) (targeted salessolutions that leverage an existing infrastructure), clinical salesteams, marketing research and consulting, and medical education andcommunications. The company's experience extends across multipletherapeutic categories and includes office and hospital-basedinitiatives.

PDI's commitment is to deliver innovative solutions, unparalleledexecution and superior results for its clients. Through strategicpartnership and client-driven innovation, PDI maintains some of thelongest standing sales and marketing relationships in the industry.Recognized as an industry pioneer, PDI remains committed to continuedinnovation.

For more information, visit the Company's website atwww.pdi-inc.com.