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Lake Forest, IL - Hospira, Inc., a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company, announced that Sumant Ramachandra, M.D., Ph.D., has been named senior vice president and chief scientific officer. In this capacity, he will be responsible for Hospira's global research and development (R&D) and medical affairs organization. Dr. Ramachandra succeeds Edward Ogunro, Ph.D., who retired Dec. 31, 2007, and will report directly to Christopher Begley, chairman and chief executive officer.

"Sumant brings an extraordinary combination of scientific, clinical and business acumen to Hospira, with deep and broad experience across all phases of product development -- from preclinical programs through life-cycle management," said Begley. "He has a proven track record in developing the vision and strategies that not only lead to product approvals, but also to commercial success. We're thrilled to welcome Sumant to our team."

Dr. Ramachandra's innovative, results-driven approach to pipeline and portfolio development will advance Hospira's strategy to invest for growth through increased R&D and customer-inspired product design. His distinguished career includes work with small- and large-molecule drugs, drug/device combinations and drug delivery systems.

Most recently, Dr. Ramachandra, 39, served as vice president and senior project leader, Global Development, Schering-Plough Research Institute. There he led R&D strategy and implementation activities for the company's oncology portfolio and was a member of Schering-Plough's Global Leadership Team.

Prior to joining Schering-Plough, Dr. Ramachandra held various senior scientific and leadership positions at Pfizer, Inc. and Pharmacia Corporation. He began his career in the pharmaceutical industry at Merck & Co. He has been recognized with numerous awards for his leadership contributions, scientific advances and innovative approaches throughout his career and academic tenure.

Dr. Ramachandra trained as a scientist and teacher at Rutgers University, earning his bachelor's degree in biochemistry. A board-certified physician, he excelled in a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School, and fulfilled his internship and residency requirements at Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ramachandra is an avid speaker and publisher and holds a number of patents for his laboratory work. He is currently nearing completion of his master of business administration degree for executives at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness™. As the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has more than 14,000 employees.

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