QED International Associates Announces Changes to the HealthShares(TM) Respiratory Pulmonary Index and the HealthShares(TM) Comp

NEW YORK, April 3, 2008  /PRNewswire/ -- QED International Associates Inc, administrator for the HealthShares(TM) Indexes, a series of 20 underlying indexes for the HealthShares(TM) Exchange-Traded Funds, today announced that effective at the opening of trading on Monday April 7, 2008 Perrigo Company (NASDAQ:PRGO) will replace Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENCY) in the HealthShares(TM) Respiratory/Pulmonary Index. Sepracore, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEPR) will replace Encysive in the HealthShares(TM) Composite Index. Encysive is being acquired by Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE:PFE).

Companies included in the HealthShares(TM) Respiratory/Pulmonary Index are engaged in the research, development, and/or commercialization of therapeutic agents treating various respiratory and/or pulmonary diseases including, but not limited to, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, tuberculosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The HealthShares(TM) Composite Index consists of the 80 largest companies, by market capitalization, that are engaged in healthcare, life sciences and/or biotechnology that are part of the 16 underlying HealthShares(TM) Indexes, selecting the top 5 companies in market capitalization from each of the Composite Eligible Indexes.

About QED International Associates

QED International, based in New York, is a leading financial industry consulting firm specializing in quantitative modeling and the design, development and maintenance of indexes and Exchange Traded Funds. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.qedinternational.com/ 

DATASOURCE: QED International Associates Inc



CONTACT:  Ed Matluck, CEO, Michael Carty, Senior Advisor, Senior Vice

President, [phone], both for QED International Associates Inc



Web site:  http://www.qedinternational.com/ 

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