SECOND ANNUAL KIDS CREATE. PARENTS RELATE. NATIONAL DRAWING AND COLORING CONTEST KICKS-OFF TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF PEDIATRIC GERD

-Winners to Receive Educational Scholarships and Art Supplies-

LAKE FOREST, Ill., June 14, 2006 – When it comes to a child's health, understanding how they feel through words alone can be challenging. The second annual Kids Create. Parents Relate. National Drawing and Coloring Contest for Tummy Aches is based on the idea that it may be easier for a child to communicate how they feel through drawing rather than words. The contest encourages children to draw or color how they feel when experiencing frequent stomachaches or other possible symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

"At times, it can be difficult for parents to recognize a child's symptoms," said pediatric gastroenterologist Susan Maisel, M.D. "This contest gives parents, children and healthcare providers a tool to facilitate communication about health issues. It is important to raise awareness about the symptoms of pediatric GERD, a common yet frequently overlooked condition in children."

To enter the Kids Create. Parents Relate. National Drawing and Coloring Contest visit www.prevakids.com, download an entry form, and submit it by Sept. 5, 2006. Children will have the opportunity to submit their drawings that depict their experience with pediatric GERD to the contest.

Prevacid® (lansoprazole) and the Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association (PAGER) created the Kids Create. Parents Relate. National Drawing and Coloring Contest in 2005 to help educate parents and healthcare professionals about pediatric GERD and to help children communicate health issues to their parents. For the 2006 program, two of the most prominent online resources for parents, Kaboose and ClubMom, have joined as partners.

Last year, more than 480 children submitted paintings, sketches and drawings that showed what they felt when they had a stomachache or other symptoms of pediatric GERD. Four children were awarded more than $35,000 in educational scholarships and art supplies for their school or a non-profit organization of their choice.

"There was such a great response to last year's contest, and parents really appreciated the opportunity to communicate with their children about what their symptoms such as tummy aches feel like," said Beth Anderson, director for the PAGER Association. "We're looking forward to working with new partners ClubMom and Kaboose to help educate even more parents about pediatric GERD."

For 2006, 12 winners will be selected with six winners from the ages of three to nine years and six winners from the ages of 10 to 15. Two first place winners will receive a $10,000 educational scholarship and $1,500 in art supplies donated to the school or non-profit organization of his or her choice. Two second place winners will receive a $2,500 educational scholarship and $1,000 in art supplies. Two third place winners will receive a $1,000 educational scholarship and $500 in art supplies. Six participants will receive honorable mentions, three from each age group, and will receive a $500 educational scholarship and $250 in art supplies.

There are many causes of stomachaches; sometimes they are not serious and sometimes they are. The most frequent symptom of pediatric GERD is stomachache. Other symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, belching, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, heartburn and weight loss. If you think your child might have GERD, speak with his or her physician immediately. Only a doctor can diagnose pediatric GERD and determine what treatments are best.

About PAGER

The Pediatric Adolescent Gastreosophageal Reflux Association (PAGER) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides information and support to parents and children (infants to teens) dealing with gastroesophageal reflux. PAGER has been helping parents and children deal with acid reflux and related disorders since 1992. For more information, visit www.reflux.org.

About Prevacid® (lansoprazole)

Prescription Prevacid is approved for GERD in children aged 1-17 years. Individual results may vary. Prevacid Capsules, Prevacid for Oral Suspension, and Prevacid SoluTab™ (lansoprazole) Orally Disintegrating Tablets may not be right for everyone. Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions. Prevacid has a low occurrence of side effects in adults and children including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, constipation and headache. Please see the full prescribing information and visit www.prevakids.com.

About TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.

TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., located in Lake Forest, Ill., is a joint venture between Abbott, headquartered in Abbott Park, Ill., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, of Osaka, Japan. TAP markets Prevacid® (lansoprazole) and Lupron Depot® (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension). For more information about TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., and its products, visit the company's Web site at www.tap.com.