New health information website launched in the United Kingdom by WebMD Health

Oct 21 2009

WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD), the leading source of health information, and Boots UK, the UK's leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, today announced the launch of a new health information website in the United Kingdom. The strategic partnership with Boots UK expands WebMD's presence internationally and will engage British consumers on the health and wellness issues that are most relevant to them.

WebMD brings to the partnership more than ten years of experience helping consumers better manage their health through engaging and personalized online health information and Boots is the leading healthcare resource and pharmacy provider in the UK. Together both leading health brands are delivering the first comprehensive online health information site to UK consumers.

The new co-branded Boots WebMD site at www.Boots.WebMD.com features 44 condition and healthy living centers, daily health and wellness news, interactive health tools, WebMD's symptom checker, specialized health search, health videos and interactive slide shows.

More than 70% of the UK population is online, and there are an estimated 20 million health-related searches every month in the UK. Boots WebMD is leveraging the power of the Internet to change health services for consumers in the UK.

"There is a large opportunity in the UK with over 20% of the estimated $30 billion of annual advertising expenditures in the UK spent online," said Wayne Gattinella, President and Chief Executive Officer, WebMD. "Sponsors will now be able to reach health-involved consumers in the UK in a highly engaging and targeted fashion."

"The new Boots WebMD health site is good for the consumer and good for healthcare in the UK," said Alex Gourlay, Chief Executive, Health & Beauty, Alliance Boots. "A more informed healthcare consumer leads to a more productive physician interaction."

Boots will launch a national marketing and consumer education effort to its large UK customer base to promote the new site, through in-store marketing, in its health and beauty magazines, on its heavily trafficked e-commerce site and to its large base of loyalty program members. In addition, Boots UK has engaged its thousands of pharmacists to create awareness of the site and its offerings during their frequent patient interactions.