Zila to Launch ViziLite Plus in the United Kingdom
March 04 2008 - 3:05AM
Business Wire
Zila, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZILA) today 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 chewing 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 www.zila.com.
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