GHX Announces 2008 Best In Class Awa...( Awards recognize medical-surgica...),Health

Awards recognize medical-surgical market leaders across 35 product

categories and five market segments

CHICAGO, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- GHX today announced the winners of the fifth annual Best In Class Awards, recognizing 29 medical-surgical manufacturers that have achieved significant market share positions for distributed products through the end of 2007. Awards were presented to companies that achieved the highest year-over-year market share growth in 35 different product categories and those that achieved the top share position in five specific markets. The awards were presented on Friday, April 18, 2008 during a recognition ceremony in Chicago at the 8th Annual GHX Supply Chain Summit, the largest forum in the U.S. focused on both the buy and sell side of the healthcare supply chain.

Best In Class winners were determined using GHX Market Intelligence reports that analyze national distributed sales transaction data provided by 23 U.S. distributors. While manufacturers are not required to be GHX customers in order to qualify for or win the Best In Class awards, many of this year's award winners leverage GHX Market Intelligence to gain market share.

"The struggling U.S. economy, increased foreign competition and decreased provider resources have converged to make this an extremely challenging environment for medical-surgical manufacturers," said Ed McCauley, general manager, GHX Business Intelligence. "This year's Best In Class Awards recognize manufacturers that have achieved substantial growth despite these challenges by employing business critical information to uncover emerging market trends and capitalize on new opportunities."

The 2008 GHX Best In Class market segment award winners were selected based on the highest sales volumes for 2007. They are as follows:

Category Company

Hospital B Braun Melsungen AG

Long-Term Care Ar
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