Zila To Launch ViziLite Plus In The United Kingdom
Zila, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZILA) announced that it plans to launch its proprietary oral cancer screening product, ViziLite® Plus with TBlue™, in the United Kingdom at the British Dental Conference & Exhibition, the British Dental Association's annual conference, on May 1, 2008 in Manchester, England.
"The launch of ViziLite Plus in the United Kingdom represents a significant opportunity for the company and is part of our ongoing strategy to penetrate major international markets," said Frank J. Bellizzi, DMD, president of Zila Pharmaceuticals. "ViziLite Plus brings a much needed oral cancer screening product to patients in the U.K. We expect to begin distributing ViziLite Plus in several other European countries by the end of 2008, and we are exploring market opportunities in India, where oral cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in men."
"ViziLite Plus helps dentists and hygienists identify and evaluate abnormalities in the mouth that could potentially harbor pathologic changes," said Dr. Mark Bride D.D.S., Zila's vice president, Medical Affairs. "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 who are at high risk for oral cancer, be screened at least once a year. ViziLite Plus is a proven technology used by thousands of dental offices across the United States and should prove to be a valuable aid to practitioners in the United Kingdom and throughout the European Union."
ViziLite Plus sales in the U.K. and Europe are expected to contribute to revenues beginning in the second half of calendar 2008. The population of the U.K. and the European Union exceed 60 million and 490 million, respectively.
About ViziLite Plus
ViziLite Plus is an oral screening technology that utilizes a chemiluminescent light source (ViziLite) and a patented pharmaceutical-grade vital tissue dye (TBlue). Zila began marketing the product through its direct sales force in the U.S. in February 2007 and in Canada in November 2007.
About Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is among the most deadly cancer types, largely because approximately two-thirds of all oral cancers are detected at advanced stages. Treatment for advanced cases often results in disfigurement and a significant decline in quality of life. When oral cancer is detected in its earliest stage the 5-year survival rate is 81%. When detected late stage the 5-year survival rate plummets to 26%.
Risk factors
- age - all adult
- gender - more men than women develop oral cancer
- smoking - particularly if combined with heavy alcohol consumption
- tobacco or using snuff
- heavy alcohol consumption - particularly if combined with smoking
- excessive sun exposure to the lips
A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that exposure to the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus number 16 (HPV16), causes oropharyngeal cancer (a type of oral cancer), and may help explain the increasing incidence of the disease in younger people.
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. ViziLite® Plus, 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 Rota-dent(R) Professional Powered Brush, the Pro-Select(R) Platinum 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 for its fiscal year ended July 31, 2007.
For more information about the company and its products, please visit http://www.zila.com.
"The launch of ViziLite Plus in the United Kingdom represents a significant opportunity for the company and is part of our ongoing strategy to penetrate major international markets," said Frank J. Bellizzi, DMD, president of Zila Pharmaceuticals. "ViziLite Plus brings a much needed oral cancer screening product to patients in the U.K. We expect to begin distributing ViziLite Plus in several other European countries by the end of 2008, and we are exploring market opportunities in India, where oral cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in men."
"ViziLite Plus helps dentists and hygienists identify and evaluate abnormalities in the mouth that could potentially harbor pathologic changes," said Dr. Mark Bride D.D.S., Zila's vice president, Medical Affairs. "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 who are at high risk for oral cancer, be screened at least once a year. ViziLite Plus is a proven technology used by thousands of dental offices across the United States and should prove to be a valuable aid to practitioners in the United Kingdom and throughout the European Union."
ViziLite Plus sales in the U.K. and Europe are expected to contribute to revenues beginning in the second half of calendar 2008. The population of the U.K. and the European Union exceed 60 million and 490 million, respectively.
About ViziLite Plus
ViziLite Plus is an oral screening technology that utilizes a chemiluminescent light source (ViziLite) and a patented pharmaceutical-grade vital tissue dye (TBlue). Zila began marketing the product through its direct sales force in the U.S. in February 2007 and in Canada in November 2007.
About Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is among the most deadly cancer types, largely because approximately two-thirds of all oral cancers are detected at advanced stages. Treatment for advanced cases often results in disfigurement and a significant decline in quality of life. When oral cancer is detected in its earliest stage the 5-year survival rate is 81%. When detected late stage the 5-year survival rate plummets to 26%.
Risk factors
- age - all adult
- gender - more men than women develop oral cancer
- smoking - particularly if combined with heavy alcohol consumption
- tobacco or using snuff
- heavy alcohol consumption - particularly if combined with smoking
- excessive sun exposure to the lips
A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that exposure to the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus number 16 (HPV16), causes oropharyngeal cancer (a type of oral cancer), and may help explain the increasing incidence of the disease in younger people.
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. ViziLite® Plus, 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 Rota-dent(R) Professional Powered Brush, the Pro-Select(R) Platinum 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 for its fiscal year ended July 31, 2007.
For more information about the company and its products, please visit http://www.zila.com.
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