ZILA Zila (MM)

Zila, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZILA) today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to market its oral cancer screening product, ViziLite� Plus with TBlue630�, to 58 Veterans Administration dental clinics and 154 Department of Defense dental clinics. �ViziLite Plus is the leading adjunctive oral cancer screening technology enabling dentists and hygienists to identify oral abnormalities that can lead to oral cancer,� said Frank J. Bellizzi, DMD, president of Zila Pharmaceuticals. �This contract award will allow us to make our potentially life-saving product available to the 7.9 million veterans enrolled in the VA Health Care System and more than 1.3 million men and women in active military service - a population that is frequently at increased risk for oral cancer.� ViziLite Plus utilizes a chemiluminescent light source (ViziLite) and a patented pharmaceutical-grade vital tissue dye (TBlue630) to enhance the identification of oral abnormalities that can lead to cancer. A ViziLite Plus exam is entirely pain-free, takes only minutes, and should be a key part of every adult�s annual dental check-up. More information about ViziLite Plus and oral cancer is available at www.ViziLite.com. 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%. The American Cancer Society estimates about 34,360 new cases (24,180 in men and 10,180 in women) of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2007. An estimated 7,550 people (5,180 men and 2,370 women) will die of oral cancer in 2007. The American Cancer Society lists the following risk factors: age � all adult gender � more men than women develop oral cancer smoking � particularly if combined with heavy alcohol consumption chewing tobacco or using snuff � teens are also susceptible 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 papilloma virus number 16 (HPV16), causes oropharyngeal cancer (a type of oral cancer), and may help explain the increasing incidence of the disease in younger people. According to the American Dental Association, more than 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and have no other behavioral risk factors. 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 www.zila.com.