A further reduction in MedDRA subscription fees for 2008

The International Conference on Harmonization's Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) management board has approved the proposed annual subscription rates for 2008. It says that, with a rapidly growing subscriber base, the actual cost of maintaining MedDRA continues to be shared across a larger number of subscribers. Consequently, for the third consecutive year, there will be a significant reduction for lower revenue subscribers, as well as no increases to other subscription levels.

In addition, access to MedDRA is now free for academic organizations, hospitals, health care providers and other users involved in non-commercial activities. Free MedDRA training for all new Basic, Core 0, and Core 1 subscribers is also being offered.

For 2008, for Core 1 subscribers ($1.0-$10.0 million in annual revenue) subscriptions are reduced 28% to $850 and Core 2 subscribers ($10.0-$500.0 million revenue a year) these are cut 5% to $5,850. The complete MedDRA subscription rates for 2008, which illustrates the significant decrease across all subscription levels since 2005, can be viewed on the ICH's web site at: www.ich.org.