OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today announced its support of more than 150 global and domestic rapid HIV testing initiatives in recognition of World AIDS Day, commemorated annually on December 1st. OraSure’s support of these initiatives, taking place in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, includes donations totaling more than 15,000 OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody tests.
Additionally, OraSure will participate in the NASDAQ Market Open Ceremony and a special NASDAQ-sponsored industry panel discussion both taking place tomorrow, November 30th.
“This year’s World AIDS Day is especially exciting for OraSure, as we’ve made significant strides in extending our global reach in the fight against HIV, by supporting the fight against HIV through the donation of OraQuick ADVANCE® rapid HIV tests across the globe to support initiatives in Africa, a continent devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and in such countries as Indonesia, Singapore and Brazil,” said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. “Furthermore, OraSure is truly honored to take part in the NASDAQ Stock Market open and panel discussion happening tomorrow in recognition of World AIDS Day.”
Committed to working in partnership with local, national and international agencies to fight against HIV/AIDS, OraSure is actively supporting testing and education campaigns both domestically and abroad that urge people to learn their HIV status. Key highlights include:
Kenya, Africa
OraSure has donated 8,000 OraQuick ADVANCE® test kits to the Republic of Kenya in support of their National HIV Testing Week. The tests will be used to help support a pilot program in that country utilizing oral fluid and rapid HIV testing.
Brazil
OraSure will participate in a World AIDS Day event co-sponsored by the US Embassy in Brazil.
Chicago, IL
OraSure will provide sponsorship support for the Chicago Public Health Department’s World AIDS Day “Gospel Shout-out” event that will feature U.S. Congressmen Danny Davis (D-Illinois) and other key Chicago-area public figures leading by example and publicly taking an OraQuick ADVANCE® HIV test. Additionally, HIV testing with OraQuick ADVANCE® will be available at eight Walgreens locations throughout the City of Chicago. Testing is free to the public and will be administered by local community-based organizations through the use of mobile testing units.
Indianapolis, IN
OraSure has donated a total of 500 OraQuick ADVANCE® test kits to the Indiana Department of Health in support of its HIV/AIDS campaign, “Tackle Your Fears, Get Tested for HIV.” The campaign will be implemented in collaboration with the National Football League team, the Indianapolis Colts.
New York, NY
Immediately following the NASDAQ Stock Market open ceremony, Mr. Michels will participate in the 3rd Annual NASDAQ-sponsored World AIDS Day industry panel discussion. The panel is titled “AIDS Today, Delivering on the Promise: Examining the progress and commitment to AIDS.”
Mr. Michels will be joined by John Tedstrom, the Executive Director of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria who will address the topic from his unique perspective as the leader of the world’s premier international organization dedicated to combating the AIDS epidemic through the business sector’s unique skills and expertise.
"Making more people aware of their HIV status through expanded testing is a vital component of the effort to scale up the global response to HIV/AIDS," said John Tedstrom, Executive Director of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. "It is also the critical first step in the process of providing people with appropriate treatment, counseling and long-term care. GBC applauds the leadership of OraSure Technologies and NASDAQ for their efforts to highlight the continued importance of responding to this challenge of historic proportion.”
A live webcast of the NASDAQ Opening Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_about.stm
The forum panel discussion will be webcast live on NASDAQ.com beginning at 9:45 a.m. at: http://investor.shareholder.com/media/index.cfm?c=NDAQE&e=1&mediakey= F3F044BEC8EE8CB3E46690AD0E61059F (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
Now in its 20th year, World AIDS Day is an international day of observance to honor those who have died from AIDS, as well as increase awareness of the disease in hopes of fighting the spread of HIV.
The OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, manufactured and sold by OraSure Technologies, is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approved and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments Act of 1988) waived rapid point-of-care test that can detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 20 minutes, using oral fluid, finger-stick or venipuncture whole blood and plasma specimens.
About OraSure Technologies
OraSure Technologies develops, manufactures and markets oral fluid specimen collection devices using proprietary oral fluid technologies, diagnostic products including immunoassays and other in vitro diagnostic tests, and other medical devices. These products are sold in the United States as well as internationally to various clinical laboratories, hospitals, clinics, community-based organizations and other public health organizations, distributors, government agencies, physicians' offices, and commercial and industrial entities.
OraSure Technologies is the leading supplier of oral-fluid collection devices and assays to the life insurance industry and public health markets for the detection of HIV. In addition, the Company supplies oral-fluid testing solutions for drugs of abuse testing. For more information on the Company, please go to http://www.orasure.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including with respect to product donation, testing initiatives and markets. Actual results could be significantly different. Factors that could affect results include the ability to market and sell products; changes in relationships, including disputes or disagreements, with strategic partners and reliance on strategic partners for the performance of critical activities under collaborative arrangements; failure of distributors or other customers to meet purchase forecasts or minimum purchase requirements for the Company’s products; impact of competitors, competing products and technology changes; ability to develop, commercialize and market new products; market acceptance of oral fluid testing or other products; changes in market acceptance of products based on product performance; continued bulk purchases by customers, including governmental agencies, and the ability to fully deploy those purchases in a timely manner; ability to fund research and development and other products and operations; ability to obtain and maintain new or existing product distribution channels; reliance on sole supply sources for critical product components; availability of related products produced by third parties or products required for use of our products; ability to obtain, and timing and cost of obtaining, necessary regulatory approvals for new products or new indications or applications for existing products; ability to comply with applicable regulatory requirements; history of losses and ability to achieve sustained profitability; volatility of our stock price; uncertainty relating to patent protection; uncertainty and costs of litigation relating to patents and other intellectual property; availability of licenses to patents or other technology; ability to enter into international manufacturing agreements; obstacles to international marketing and manufacturing of products; ability to sell products internationally; loss or impairment of sources of capital; ability to meet financial covenants in agreements with financial institutions; ability to retain qualified personnel; exposure to patent infringement, product liability and other types of litigation; changes in international, federal or state laws and regulations; customer consolidations and inventory practices; equipment failures and ability to obtain needed raw materials and components; the impact of terrorist attacks and civil unrest; ability to complete consolidation or restructuring activities; ability to identify, complete and realize the full benefits of potential acquisitions; and general political, business and economic conditions. These and other factors are discussed more fully in the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings of OraSure Technologies, including its registration statements, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and its other filings with the SEC. Although forward-looking statements help to provide complete information about future prospects, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements may not be reliable. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and OraSure Technologies undertakes no duty to update these statements.
Contacts:
Investor Contact:
Ronald
H. Spair
Chief Financial Officer
610-882-1820
Investorinfo@orasure.com
www.orasure.com
or
Media
Contact:
Jennifer Moritz
917-748-4006
jmoritz@0to5.com
