AmerisourceBergen Corporation announced that the US Court of Federal Claims issued a ruling rejecting the protest filed by the company's wholly owned subsidiary, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, concerning the recent award of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor Contract to McKesson Corporation.

Under the Court's previously issued consent order, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation will continue to service the VA for a transition period of 45 days. Further, beginning April 1, 2004 the Drug Corporation will service the VA account using McKesson's new contract price. At the end of the 45-day period, McKesson will begin servicing the VA's entire Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor contract.

On January 21, 2004, the Company filed a complaint with Court of Federal Claims asking that the award of the VA's Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor contract to McKesson be overturned and instead awarded, in whole or in part, to AmerisourceBergen. In its complaint, the Company asserted that the VA made improper evaluations and determinations concerning the offers it received for the new contract.