Merck Selects Cognizant as Strategic Partner

TEANECK, New Jersey, December 18 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Global, 3-Year Relationship Spans Cognizant's Full Suite of 
Services in IT, Infrastructure Management and Business Process Outsourcing
Services

Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), a leading provider of global IT and business 
process outsourcing services, announced today a multi-year, multi-million 
dollar engagement with Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK), a global research-driven 
pharmaceutical company.

Cognizant will extend its existing relationship with Merck, dating back
to 2005, to become a key technology partner and provide a full suite of
services encompassing applications outsourcing, IT infrastructure management
and business process outsourcing services.

"Over the past two years, Merck has leveraged Cognizant's extensive
pharmaceutical expertise to streamline operational efficiencies and to
consolidate our IT portfolio," said Rich Branton, vice president Global
Technology Solutions, Merck & Co. "We selected Cognizant as our ongoing
strategic partner for the full suite of IT services as a result of our
previous engagements and Cognizant's deep domain experience and leadership
position in our space."

"With Cognizant's expertise in the Healthcare and Life Sciences industry,
we are proud to be chosen by Merck as a trusted IT partner to deliver
services globally for them," said Francisco D'Souza, president and CEO of
Cognizant. "Our ability to integrate applications, infrastructure and
business processes, coupled with our global delivery model, enables us to
provide Merck with a strong platform for its global transformational
initiatives."

About Cognizant

Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology,
consulting and business process outsourcing services. Cognizant's
single-minded passion is to dedicate our global technology and innovation
know-how, our industry expertise and worldwide resources to working together
with clients to make their businesses stronger. With more than 35 global
delivery centers and over 54,000 employees, we combine a unique
onsite/offshore delivery model infused by a distinct culture of customer
satisfaction. A member of the NASDAQ-100 Index and S&P 500 Index, Cognizant
is a Forbes Global 2000 company and is ranked among the top information
technology companies in BusinessWeek's Info Tech 100, Hot Growth and Top 50
Performers listings. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com.

This press release includes statements which may constitute
forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are
necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future
events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general
economic conditions and the factors discussed in our most recent Form 10-K
and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cognizant
undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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