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June 18, 1999

Dear Health Care Professional:

Janssen Pharmaceutica would like to inform you that we have decided to voluntarily discontinue the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of HISMANAL^® (astemizole) 10 mg Tablets. We have informed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. HISMANAL is an antihistamine indicated for relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. The company is taking this action after careful consideration of the antihistamine class, which includes multiple alternative medications.

Physicians who currently have patients taking HISMANAL should consider future alternative treatment. Pharmacists who receive prescriptions for patients taking HISMANAL should contact the prescriber to discuss alternative treatment.

Please see full Prescribing Information enclosed including Box Warning. If you or your patients require additional medical information, please contact our Health Care Professionals at Janssen One to One™ Customer Action Center at 1-800-JANSSEN (526-7736) 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Sincerely,

Jan Gheuens, M.D.
Vice President, Medical Affairs
Janssen Pharmaceutica

JPI-HS-286