RESP Respironics (MM)

NEW YORK, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- QED International Associates, Inc, administrator for the HealthShares(TM) Indexes, a series of 20 underlying indexes for the HealthShares(TM) Exchange-Traded Funds, today announced that effective at the opening of trading on March 11, 2008, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ALNY) will replace Respironics Inc. (NASDAQ:RESP) in the HealthShares(TM) Composite Index. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd (NYSE:RDY) will replace Respironics in the HealthShares(TM) Respiratory/Pulmonary Index. Respironics is being acquired by Koninklijke Phillips Electronics NV (NYSE:PHG). The HealthShares(TM) Composite Index consists of the 80 largest companies by market capitalization that are engaged in healthcare, life sciences and/or biotechnology that are part of the 16 underlying HealthShares Indexes, selecting the top 5 companies in market capitalization from each of the Composite Eligible Indexes. Companies included in the HealthShares(TM) Respiratory/Pulmonary Index are engaged in the research, development, and/or commercialization of therapeutic agents treating various respiratory and/or pulmonary diseases including, but not limited to, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, tuberculosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension. About QED International Associates QED International Associates, based in New York, is a leading financial industry consulting firm specializing in quantitative modeling and the design, development and maintenance of indexes and Exchange Traded Funds. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.qedinternational.com/ DATASOURCE: QED International Associates CONTACT: Ed Matluck, CEO, , or Michael Carty, Senior Advisor, both for QED International Associates, +1-212-953-4058 Web site: http://www.qedinternational.com/

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