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Chemical Structure Searching Now on Dialog®

CARY, NC, USA (March 16, 2005) — Dialog, a Thomson (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) business and a leading worldwide provider of online-based information services and integrated information solutions, said today that it is now offering graphical chemical structure searching of research databases, including drug pipeline and patent files, through its Dialog® online service. More than 10 million chemical compounds are searchable, the company said.

Other leading information services providers do not offer chemical structure searching of pipeline drug files.

The graphical chemical structure searching tool, launched as part of a portfolio of new and enhanced features available through the DialogLink 5 software package used by information professionals worldwide, allows researchers to use their preferred chemical structure drawing software to launch a Dialog search.

Chemical structure and substructure searching on Dialog includes several unique features, including substructure highlighting in retrieved records, as well as the ability to edit retrieved structures. Multiple databases may be searched simultaneously.

DialogLink 5 features an array of tools to help users integrate information retrieved through Dialog searches into reports and enterprise information-sharing systems, such as portals and intranets.

"We've added powerful new graphical chemical structure searching functionality to help our users leverage and then integrate our deep and growing collection of scientific and medical content into the workflows of their organizations," said Cynthia Murphy, Dialog senior vice president, strategic marketing. "The flexibility, ease of use and affordable pricing structure of this new feature make Dialog the ideal starting point when conducting chemical structure searches for life sciences and drug pipeline applications."

Databases on Dialog now available for chemical structure searching include Beilstein Facts (File 390), Derwent Chemistry Resource (File 355), Prous Drug Data Report (File 452) and Pharmaprojects (Files 128 and 928), among others.

Murphy noted that researchers, competitive intelligence specialists, scientists and others in the chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural and related industries will benefit from the ability to search Dialog databases by chemical structures.

Murphy also said researchers are now able to conduct chemical structure searching at a lower cost than has been available through other services. There is no chemical structure search charge for initial screenings or "knock-out" searches that produce no results. The chemical structure search charge for simultaneous searching across multiple databases is USD $20.

Once a chemical compound is identified using DialogLink 5, users may quickly link to related research sources, such as patent documents, articles published in scholarly journals, news reports about manufacturers and an extensive range of other content options.

The recently introduced DialogLink 5 software (now available for free download) is designed to help enhance the role of information professionals within their enterprises. The software has a new and more intuitive interface that streamlines the process of finding, retrieving and distributing information found through Dialog.

More information is available at www.dialog.com/products/dialoglink/.

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About Dialog and The Thomson Corporation
Dialog, a pioneer in developing the technology behind electronic information retrieval, is the world leader in providing online-based information services to organizations seeking competitive advantages in such fields as business, science, engineering, finance and law.

Today, the online services provided by Dialog — offered through the Dialog®, Dialog Profound®, Dialog DataStar®, Dialog NewsEdge® and Dialog Intelliscope® brands — give users the ability to precisely retrieve data from more than 1.4 billion unique records, accessible via the Internet or through delivery to enterprise intranets. Searchable content includes articles and reports from thousands of real-time news feeds, newspapers, broadcast transcripts and trade publications, plus research reports and analyst notes providing support for financial decision-making, as well as in-depth repositories of scientific and technical data, patents, trademarks and other intellectual property data. Information professionals and end-users at business, professional and government organizations in more than 100 countries prize Dialog services for their depth and breadth of content, precision searching and speed.

Based in Cary, N.C., USA, Dialog has operations in 27 other countries. Dialog (www.dialog.com) is a business of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). With 2004 revenues of US$8.1 billion, Thomson (www.thomson.com) is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers.

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All designated trademarks used herein are the property of The Dialog Corporation or its subsidiaries. Registered marks are registered by The Dialog Corporation or its subsidiaries with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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