December 15, 2003

News Release: Covalent Announces $2.3 Million in New Business Awards

Covalent Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CVGR) today announced the awarding of multiple new business contracts with an aggregate value of $2.3 million. The contracts represent a mix of new projects and expansion of current studies with several different clients. The scope and therapeutic areas covered by the studies include diabetes, vaccines and cardiovascular diseases. The terms of the contracts extend over the next 12 months.

On the year-to-date basis, Covalent has announced new business awards totaling approximately $13.6 million. Kenneth M. Borow, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, 'We are encouraged by recent signs that we are emerging from a slow period with respect to market conditions and new business production. We have some very exciting opportunities in front of us and hope to convert these and announce them over the next several months.'

Covalent Group, Inc. is a clinical research organization that is a leader in the design and management of complex clinical trials for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company's mission is to provide its clients with high quality, full-service support for their clinical trials. Covalent offers therapeutic expertise, experienced team management and advanced technologies. The Company has clinical trial experience across a wide variety of therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, endocrinology/metabolism, diabetes, neurology, oncology, immunology, vaccines, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, dermatology, hepatology, womens'health and respiratory medicine. Covalent believes that its leadership in the design of complex clinical trials, its application of innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and commitment to quality offer its clients a means to more quickly and cost effectively develop products through the clinical trial process. In addition, the Company's use of its proprietary TeleTrial(R) technology to support its drug development services creates consistency in the way it conducts clinical trials globally. With its wholly-owned international subsidiary, Covalent Group, Ltd., Covalent is able to meet many of the global drug development needs of its clients.

This press release contains forward-looking statements identified by words such as 'estimate,''project,''expect,''intend,''believe,''anticipate'and similar expressions. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in, expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's future operating results and financial condition include, without limitation: (i) our success in attracting new business and retaining existing clients and projects; (ii) the size, duration, and timing of clinical trials; (iii) the termination, delay or cancellation of clinical trials; (iv) the timing difference between our receipt of contract milestone or scheduled payments and our incurring costs to manage these trials; (v) outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries; (vi) the ability to maintain profit margins in a competitive marketplace; (vii) our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; (viii) the sensitivity of our business to general economic conditions; and (ix) other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in forward-looking statements is contained in Covalent Group's SEC filings, including its Registration Statement on Form S-3, Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and other periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, copies of which are available upon request from Covalent Group's investor relations department.

Company contact:
Jorge A. Leon, (610) 975-9533
Investor relations contact:
Theresa M. Kelleher (646) 536-7010
Media contact:
Gregory Q. Tiberend, (646) 536-7005
Contact us on-line: www.covalentgroup.com

SOURCE Covalent Group, Inc.

Jorge A. Leon of Covalent Group, Inc., +1-610-975-9533; or Investor - Theresa M. Kelleher, +1-646-536-7010; or Media - Gregory Q. Tiberend, +1-646-536-7005, all for Covalent Group, Inc.

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