CVS/pharmacy Launches 'ALS Stars' Campaign to Benefit Research into Cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease

CVS/pharmacy Launches 'ALS Stars' Campaign to Benefit Research
into Cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease
2004 campaign at CVS to build on last year's $1.7 million contribution in the
fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease



WOONSOCKET, R.I., June 15  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CVS/pharmacy (NYSE: CVS)
and the ALS Therapy Alliance have launched the 2004 "ALS Stars" campaign to
benefit Lou Gehrig's Disease research at Massachusetts General Hospital's
Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease in Boston, MA.  With a $1 donation
between now and June 26th, CVS/pharmacy customers nationwide can purchase an
ALS "Star" to be displayed at their local CVS/pharmacy.  Customers can also
personalize their ALS Star with their name or the name of a friend or loved
one.  As a result of the 2003 ALS Stars campaign, CVS customers and employees
donated $1.7 million to fund research at the Institute, and 100% of this year's
donations will go towards continuing this important work.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the degeneration of the motor neurons of the
central nervous system.  Although it does not impact intelligence or memory,
ALS leads to progressive paralysis of the limbs, the diaphragm and the muscles
needed for eating and speaking.  The disease is ultimately fatal.

"The 'ALS Stars' campaign was created because this devastating disease
profoundly impacts our community," said Jon Roberts, Senior Vice President of
Store Operations at CVS/pharmacy.  "As a healthcare company, we wanted to
provide the opportunity for our customers to help support research that will
lead to new treatments for ALS.  The work being done at Mass General is truly
exceptional, and we are proud to contribute to this cause."

This MGH-led initiative is a collaborative with the ALS Therapy Alliance, which
includes researchers from Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston
University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center, Brigham & Women's Hospital and the University of Massachusetts.

About CVS

With over 40 years of dynamic growth in the retail pharmacy industry, CVS is
committed to being the easiest pharmacy retailer for customers to use. With
4,191 stores in 32 states and the District of Columbia, CVS has created
innovative approaches to serve the healthcare needs of all its customers
through its online pharmacy, CVS.com, and its pharmacy benefit management and
specialty pharmacy subsidiary, PharmaCare Management Services. General
information about CVS is available through the Investor Relations portion of
the Company's website, at http://investor.cvs.com/.

On April 5, 2004, CVS announced it had entered into a definitive agreement
under which it will acquire approximately 1,260 Eckerd drug stores, located
mainly in the southern United States, in addition to Eckerd Health Services,
which includes Eckerd's mail order and pharmacy benefit management businesses.
The transaction is expected to be completed in July 2004. 

DATASOURCE: CVS/pharmacy



CONTACT: Mike DeAngelis of CVS/pharmacy, [phone]



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

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