Zila Adds Four Major European Markets for Its Proprietary Oral Cancer Screening Product, ViziLite Plus.Company Names Dentaid Marketing Partner for Spain, France, Germany and Portugal PHOENIX -- Zila, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ZILA) today announced that it has selected Dentaid to be the exclusive distributor of ViziLite([R])Plus with TBlue[TM], Zila's proprietary oral cancer screening product, in Spain, France, Germany and Portugal. Dentaid is the market leader among dental distributors in France and Spain, and has recently established a significant presence in the German market. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. ViziLite([R])Plus with TBlue[TM] is now available to 55% of the people in the Western and Eastern EU-member countries; Zila previously announced that it had selected distributors for the product in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece and Cyprus. "The marketing of ViziLite Plus in Spain, France, Germany, and Portugal provides a solid core of countries in Europe with an important new oral cancer screening tool," said David Bethune, chairman and chief executive officer of Zila. "We believe Dentaid's direct selling Direct selling is the marketing of products or services to consumers through sales tactics including presentations, demonstrations, and phone calls. It is sometimes also considered to be a sale that does not utilize a "middle man" such as a retail outlets, distributors or brokers. force will communicate the unique attributes of ViziLite Plus to the dental healthcare community and build it into a leading brand in these markets." ViziLite([R]) Plus with TBlue[TM], Zila's flagship product for the early detection of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer, is the first and only adjunctive medical device cleared by the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. for use in a population at increased risk for oral cancer. "ViziLite Plus is a much needed oral cancer screening product for the practitioners that we call on," said Enric Masdevall, president and chief executive officer of Dentaid Europe. "Given that 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and have no other behavioral risk factors, it is imperative that every adult, particularly those at high risk for oral cancer, be screened at least once a year. ViziLite Plus is a proven technology and will be a valuable aid in screening for precancerous precancerous /pre·can·cer·ous/ (-kan´ser-us) pertaining to a pathologic process that tends to become malignant. pre·can·cer·ous adj. lesions and early stage cancers before they reach more severe stages." The combined population of Spain, France, Germany and Portugal exceeds 195 million. About Oral Cancer and ViziLite Plus Oral cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer worldwide, and in the U.S., one person dies every hour from the disease. According to American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, data, nearly as many women will be diagnosed with oral cancer as with cervical cancer Cervical Cancer Definition Cervical cancer is a disease in which the cells of the cervix become abnormal and start to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. this year. The key to reducing the impact of this disease is early detection, yet prior to the introduction of ViziLite Plus the only screening tools available were the manual and visual exam, which helps explain why the mortality and morbidity associated with oral cancer have not markedly improved in the past 40 years. Worldwide clinical trials have demonstrated that the conventional visual/tactile examination may fail to identify up to 40% of cancers and precancers. In other studies the addition of ViziLite Plus to conventional examination has been shown in the literature to result in identification of 100% of pathological lesions. ViziLite Plus, an oral screening technology that utilizes a chemiluminescent chem·i·lu·mi·nes·cence n. Emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction at environmental temperatures. chem light source (ViziLite) and a patented vital tissue dye (TBlue), helps dentists and dental technicians identify and evaluate abnormalities in the mouth that could potentially harbor pathologic changes. The ViziLite Plus exam takes only minutes and is totally painless and non-invasive. Oral Cancer Risk factors: * age - all adults * tobacco use - particularly if combined with heavy alcohol consumption * heavy alcohol consumption * excessive sun exposure to the lips * sexually transmitted virus exposure (HPV HPV human papillomavirus. HPV abbr. human papilloma virus Human papilloma virus (HPV) ) A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine The New England Journal of Medicine (New Engl J Med or NEJM) is an English-language peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It is one of the most popular and widely-read peer-reviewed general medical journals in the world. suggests that exposure to the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus human papillomavirus (HPV), any of a family of more than 60 viruses that cause various growths, including plantar warts and genital warts, a sexually transmitted disease. Detectable warts can be or removed, usually by chemicals, freezing, or laser, but often recur. number 16 (HPV16), causes oropharyngeal cancer oropharyngeal cancer ENT A malignancy of the lips, tongue, floor of mouth, salivary glands, buccal mucosa, gingiva, palate, and throat; most are SCCs linked to tobacco use and/or smoking, and tend to spread rapidly High risk factors Alcohol abuse, poor dental and (a type of oral cancer), and may help explain the increasing incidence of the disease in younger people. About Dentaid Dentaid is a recognized leader with international prestige in the field of oral hygiene Oral Hygiene Definition Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean and healthy by brushing and flossing to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. . Dentaid was created in 1980 with a clear mission to investigate, develop and commercialize products aimed at preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases produced by dental bacterial plaque bacterial plaque n. See dental plaque. , by either physical, chemical or biological means. The aim of Dentaid is to improve the oral health of the general population by creating products that not only offer the best solutions, but that are backed scientifically by dental professionals. About Zila, Inc. Zila, Inc., is a fully integrated oral diagnostic company dedicated to the prevention, detection and treatment of oral cancer and periodontal disease Periodontal Disease Definition Periodontal diseases are a group of diseases that affect the tissues that support and anchor the teeth. Left untreated, periodontal disease results in the destruction of the gums, alveolar bone (the part of the jaws where . ViziLite([R]) Plus with TBlue[TM], the company's flagship product for the early detection of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer, is the first and only adjunctive medical device cleared by the FDA for use in a population at increased risk for oral cancer. In addition, Zila designs, manufactures and markets a suite of proprietary products sold exclusively and directly to dental professionals for periodontal disease, including the Rotadent([R]) Professional Powered Brush, the Pro-Select Platinum([R]) ultrasonic scaler and a portfolio of oral pharmaceutical products for both in-office and home-care use. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based largely on Zila's expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the Company's control. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. A wide variety of factors could cause or contribute to such differences and could adversely affect revenue, profitability, cash flows and capital needs. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will, in fact, transpire or prove to be accurate. For a more detailed description of these and other cautionary factors that may affect Zila's future results, please refer to Zila's Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for its fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 and Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for the quarter ended April 30, 2008. For more information about the company and its products, please visit www.zila.com. |
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