Zyrtec Patients Report Better Symptom Relief Than Allegra Patients 5-12 Hours
                           After Taking Medication

    BOSTON, Mass., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New data show that
Zyrtec(R) (cetirizine HCl 10 mg) provides on average 14 percent greater
symptom relief than Allegra(R) (fexofenadine 180 mg) during the entire period
of five to 12 hours after dosing in patients who suffer from seasonal allergic
rhinitis and documented ragweed sensitivity. In addition, at the end of the
12-hour dosing period, Zyrtec patients reported even greater total relief as
compared to Allegra patients. The difference in efficacy achieved statistical
significance at 5.5 hours, and Zyrtec provided statistically significant
allergy relief compared to Allegra at 11 of the 15 time points measured.
Study results were presented at the 62nd annual meeting of the American
College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The study was funded by Pfizer Inc.
    These results are consistent with the findings of a similar environmental
exposure unit (EEU) study published earlier this year in Allergy and Asthma
Proceedings that showed 33 percent greater symptom relief for Zyrtec patients
compared with Allegra patients at 21-24 hours after dosing.  "The data
presented coupled with the results of the previous study provides the
clinician with a more complete picture of how these two products will perform
over the 24-hour dosing period," said James H. Day, M.D., the study's
principal investigator and Head, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Kingston
General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario.

    Study Results
    The current study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
parallel group study that examined 599 subjects.  Each subject was randomly
assigned to receive either Zyrtec (n=249), Allegra (n=250), or placebo
(n=100).  Subjects were exposed to ragweed pollen in an environmental exposure
unit, which is designed to actively manage levels of the allergen to ensure
controlled contact.  In this way, pollen levels comparable to concentrations
observed during peak ragweed season can be consistently maintained, and the
course of exposure can be monitored to determine whether there is symptomatic
variability over the exposure period, which can last for hours.
Participants' symptoms were assessed using the total symptom severity complex
(TSSC) score, defined as the sum of self-assessed severity scores for the
following four rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms: runny nose, sneezing, itchy
nose/palate/throat, and itchy/watery eyes.

     The results show that:

     * For total symptom improvement at 12 hours, the primary efficacy
       endpoint, patients treated with Zyrtec had 26 percent greater relief
       than those who received Allegra.
     * Overall relief during the entire period from five to 12 hours following
       dosing was 14 percent greater in Zyrtec-treated patients than in those
       treated with Allegra.
     * In addition, patients in the Zyrtec group had greater reductions in
       TSSC scores than those in the Allegra group at all time points from
       five through 12 hours post-dose.
     * Zyrtec scored better on all four TSSC scores than Allegra at 12 hours:
       runny nose (P=0.003 at the 12-hour post-dose endpoint and P=0.001 at
       the overall endpoint), sneezing (P=0.001 at the 12-hour post-dose
       endpoint, and P=0.024 at the overall endpoint), itchy
       nose/palate/throat (P=0.058 at the 12-hour post-dose endpoint and
       P=0.049 at the overall endpoint), itchy/watery eyes (P=0.045 at the 12-
       hour post-dose endpoint and P=0.149 at the overall endpoint).
     * Both Zyrtec and Allegra were well tolerated with low levels of
       discontinuation because of treatment-related adverse events.

    Study Design
    The primary objective of the study was to compare the relative efficacy of
cetirizine HCl 10 mg daily, fexofenadine HCl 180 mg daily, and placebo in
controlling the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis at 12 hours post dose.
The study involved 599 subjects 16 years of age and older who suffered from
seasonal allergic rhinitis to ragweed pollen for the last two consecutive
allergy seasons.  Specifically, subjects with documented seasonal allergy to
ragweed pollen as confirmed by a recognized skin test within the previous 15
months were qualified for the study.

    Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis and Ragweed
    Seasonal allergic rhinitis, or seasonal allergy, describes nasal and
ocular allergies caused by pollen from plants that change with the seasons.
Nearly 36 million Americans are affected by seasonal allergic rhinitis.
People with allergies are often sensitive to more than one substance, and
common causes of seasonal allergies during the spring and fall months include
trees, pollens from weeds and grass, ragweed, and mold spores.  Pollen
released from ragweed, which blooms from mid-August to October in many parts
of the country, is the airborne allergen that causes symptoms for the majority
of allergy sufferers in the U.S. Allergy sufferers affected by seasonal
allergies experience many symptoms including watery eyes, postnasal drip,
coughing, sneezing, runny/itchy nose, and congestion. For consumers faced with
a wide range of allergies and treatment options, the findings from this study
comparing Zyrtec to Allegra may be significant for allergy sufferers seeking a
treatment that offers consistent, long-lasting allergy relief.

    About Zyrtec
    Zyrtec is a prescription antihistamine for the treatment of seasonal and
perennial allergies, as well as chronic hives in adults and children.  No
other antihistamine is approved to treat more allergies than Zyrtec.  Zyrtec
is available in tablet, syrup, and chewable tablet formulations and can be
used in adults and children down to two years old. Zyrtec syrup can even be
used in infants as young as 6 months old for indoor allergies. In infants six
to 23 months old, side effects were like those of a sugar pill.  Some were
being cranky, fussy, and not able to sleep. Others were feeling tired and
looking uncomfortable. In studies with children age 2-11 years old, side
effects included drowsiness, headache, sore throat, and stomach ache.  Most
were mild or moderate.  Most children weren't bothered by them enough to stop
taking Zyrtec. In studies with adults and children 12 years and older, the
most common side effect was drowsiness; other side effects included dry mouth
and tiredness.  Most were mild to moderate, but most people weren't bothered
enough to stop taking Zyrtec.

    For additional information about allergies and for a copy of Zyrtec's full
prescribing information, please visit the Zyrtec Web site at
http://www.zyrtec.com, or call 1-800-4-ZYRTEC.

    About Pfizer Inc and UCB Pharma
    Pfizer Inc is a research-based global pharmaceutical company that
discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medicines for humans
and animals.
    UCB Pharma is a global, research-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to
the development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products
for the treatment of diseases associated with the central nervous system and
allergy-immunology. The company's research activities aim to promote well-
being and quality of life. UCB Pharma, with U.S. headquarters in Smyrna,
Georgia, is a member of the UCB Group of Companies, which has core businesses
in pharmaceuticals and films. UCB employs approximately 10,000 people and
operates in more than 100 countries. Worldwide headquarters are located in
Brussels, Belgium.

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CONTACT:
Sri Ramaswami, +1-212-733-8734, for Pfizer
Inc

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