Pro Hockey Player Fernando Pisani Looks to Shoot and Score against Ulcerative Colitis

As Part of “In the Zone for UC” Campaign, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. Will Donate $5,000 To the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Of America For Each Point Pisani Scores During 2008-2009 Season

Horsham, PA .– Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. announced today a partnership with professional hockey player Fernando Pisani to raise awareness of ulcerative colitis (UC) and funding to support continued education and research for the disease.

As part of the program, entitled In the Zone for UC, Centocor Ortho Biotech will make a donation of $5,000 to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) for each point Pisani scores during the 2008-2009 hockey season, with a minimum contribution of $100,000.

Sidelined from his career due to the painful symptoms of UC in 2007, Pisani returned to the ice following an effective treatment plan that helped control his symptoms. Now, Pisani is committed to furthering his career, while raising awareness of UC. More information about the program can be found at www.UCintheZone.com, where visitors can also track Pisani’s scoring progress throughout the season. UC, and Crohn’s disease, another disorder of the digestive tract, are inflammatory bowel diseases that affect more than one million Americans combined.

“When I was diagnosed with UC, I faced the harsh reality that I might not be able to continue my career as a professional hockey player,” said Fernando Pisani. “But with the support of my doctor and my family, and with treatment, I fought my way back to the ice. I’m excited to participate in the In the Zone for UC program to help raise awareness of UC, which can have truly devastating effects for people like me living with and trying to manage the disease.”

Centocor Ortho Biotech launched a similar program, In the Zone for Crohn’s (www.CrohnsintheZone.com), during the 2008 football season in partnership with professional quarterback, David Garrard. Garrard’s efforts on the field resulted in a donation of $170,000 to the CCFA. The funds raised from In the Zone for Crohn’s will help support continued Crohn’s disease research and disease awareness programs.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Centocor Ortho Biotech and collaborating with Fernando Pisani on the In the Zone for UC program,” said Richard Geswell, President of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. “We are confident that Fernando’s success on the ice and in his everyday life will help inspire people living with inflammatory bowel diseases to join the fight in raising awareness and funds for these debilitating and often misunderstood diseases"