ZILA Zila (MM)

Zila, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZILA) today announced that UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits (UHSB) began extending coverage for ViziLite� Plus with TBlue�, Zila�s innovative screening device for the early detection of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer. "With UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits making oral cancer screening with ViziLite Plus a benefit, more than 21 million lives are now covered," said David Bethune, chairman and chief executive officer of Zila. "UHSB is joining a growing list of premier national insurance plans that provide coverage for ViziLite Plus, including Cigna, Humana, Guardian and Safeguard, as well as a number of regional plans and self-insured employers. Over time, this new coverage will encourage more screening for oral cancer, and, in turn, enhance ViziLite Plus sales. We believe insurance providers are extending coverage of ViziLite Plus because early cancer detection leads to improved health outcomes for patients and lower overall medical costs.� �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 be screened at least once a year," said Mark Bride D.D.S., vice president, Medical Affairs at Zila. "ViziLite Plus is a proven technology used by thousands of dental offices across the United States.� About Oral Cancer and ViziLite Plus One American dies every hour of oral cancer. According to American Cancer Society data, nearly as many women will be diagnosed with oral cancer as with cervical cancer this year. The key to reducing the impact of this disease is early detection. ViziLite Plus is an oral screening technology that utilizes a chemiluminescent light source (ViziLite) and a patented pharmaceutical-grade vital tissue dye (TBlue). The ViziLite Plus exam takes only minutes and is totally painless and non-invasive. Zila began marketing the product through its direct sales force in the U.S. in February 2007, in Canada in November 2007, and launched ViziLite Plus in Europe in May 2008. About UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits offers a broad array of specialty benefits, including vision, dental, group and voluntary insurance, worksite individual insurance and non-insurance programs. UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits is a business unit of OptumHealth, the health and wellness unit of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE:UNH). More information about OptumHealth can be found at www.optumhealth.com/. 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� Professional Powered Brush, the Pro-Select� 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 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2008. For more information about the company and its products, visit www.zila.com.