EXHIBIT 99.1

                              COVALENT GROUP, INC.
                TO CONDUCT $4 MILLION CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT STUDY

WAYNE, PA, December 17, 1998:  Covalent Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CVGR) today
announced that it has been awarded a $4 million contract from a leading
pharmaceutical firm to conduct a major, multi-year, clinical development study.
The contract also provides for Covalent to administer and manage an additional
$8 million in investigator grants, clinical development fees, and other related
expenses.

"This new study, which is in a major therapeutic area, interfaces with our core
competency in advanced clinical research and will utilize our integrated
electronic centralized patient randomization, drug dispensing and drug tracking
system, TeleTrial.  This system will cost-effectively accelerate the achievement
of the sponsor's clinical research milestones in this study," commented Bruce
LaMont, Chief Executive Officer.  "Covalent will continue to deliver quality
services and innovative solutions to its expanding client base.  Our experience
and expertise are affording us the opportunity to help ensure the success of our
clients' products in the marketplace."

Covalent provides drug development and health management solutions to
pharmaceutical and device manufacturers as well as managed care organizations.
To aid its pharmaceutical and managed care customers, Covalent has developed
several currently available proprietary products utilizing interactive speech
recognition technology including TeleTrial, a clinical trial management system,
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and Virtual HouseCall, a disease assessment system.
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This press release contains forward looking statements.  Actual results might
differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
Additional information concerning factors and could cause actual results to
materially differ from those in forward-looking statements is contained in
Covalent's SEC filings, including periodic reports under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, copies of which are available upon request from
Covalent's investor relations department.

Company Contact:  William Robinson, CFO  610-975-9533
Contact us on-line:  http://www.cracorp.com/