5 Medical Wholesalers to Set Up Joint Web Site

Five of the largest U.S. wholesalers of drugs and medical supplies said they agreed to form a joint venture to sell their products on the Internet. McKesson HBOC Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., AmeriSource Health Corp., Owens & Minor Inc. and Fisher Scientific International Inc. have committed about $100 million to found NewHealthExchange.com, which will allow their customers to use one site to access each company. On the New York Stock Exchange, share prices of all five companies rose. McKesson closed up 44 cents at $19.25; Fisher Scientific, up $2 at $43; Cardinal, up $1.75 at $47.75; AmeriSource, up 56 cents at $17.94; and Owens & Minor, up 50 cents at $12.