Zila's OraTest(R) Product Approved for Sale in Bahrain; Marketi
Zila's OraTest(R) Product Approved for Sale in Bahrain; Marketing to Begin in
Gulf States
LONDON, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Zila Europe, a division of Zila, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ZILA), international provider of healthcare products for
dental/medical professionals and consumers, announced that the Company's
OraTest(R) oral cancer diagnostic product has been approved for sale in
Bahrain by that country's drug regulatory agency. Marketing will be launched
in April at The Conference of the Bahrain Dental Society.
Zila's Middle East distributor, Al Hamer Trading Est., will move quickly
to obtain marketing approval in the remaining Gulf Collaborative Council (GCC)
nations -- Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Al
Hamer represents many leading international pharmaceutical, medical and
healthcare products companies in Bahrain and other GCC nations. Regional
sales inquiries should be directed to Al Hamer at 0973 213332.
Adrian Webber, General Manager of Zila Europe, said, "With high rates of
smoking and betel quid chewing in the Gulf region, we believe there is a
critical need for the OraTest product. We look forward to making a strong
positive impact on the region's oral health."
The OraTest product is now available or approved in 15 countries;
additional regulatory approvals and distribution agreements are being pursued
worldwide. According to medical literature, when oral cancer is detected at
advanced stage, 5-year survival rates are as low as 18 percent. But with
early detection, survival rates exceed 80 percent. Worldwide, nearly
900,000 new cases of oral cancer occurred in 1996; incidence and mortality
rates are rising.
Zila, Inc., has three operating groups. The Pharmaceuticals Group
includes: Zila Pharmaceuticals, marketer of prescription and non-prescription
oral healthcare products; Zila Biomedical, developer of OraTest(R) oral cancer
detection products; and Zila BioTech, producer of the only
pharmaceutical-grade toluidine blue -- Zila(R) Tolonium Chloride. The
Professional Products Group includes Zila Dental Supply, a national dental
supplies distributor. The Nutraceuticals Group includes Oxycal Laboratories
and its Inter-Cal subsidiary, manufacturer and supplier of value-added
ingredients, including patented Ester-C(R) branded products and botanicals
such as Palmettx(TM) saw palmetto extract, for the global nutritional
industry. Information is available at www.zila.com.
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the U.S. 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 impact revenues,
profitability, cash flows and capital needs. There can be no assurance that
the forward-looking statements contained in this document 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 annual report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
July 31, 1999, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Zila Europe
-0- 03/17/2000
/CONTACT: Adrian Webber of Zila Europe, 1722 412312/
/Web site: zila.com
(ZILA) |
