BELTSVILLE, Md., April 27, 1999 (PRIMEZONE) -- Digene Corporation (Nasdaq: DIGE)announced today that Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield of New York is now providing coverage for Digene's Hybrid Capture(r) II HPV Test, a DNA-based technology to detect the human papillomavirus (HPV). Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, headquartered in New York, NY, is one of the nation's largest managed care organizations with in excess of 4.1 million members. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield's enrollment consists of approximately 3,025,000 indemnity participants, 250,000 HMO members and 825,000 PPO members. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield coordinates health care through provider organizations, point-of-service plans, and administrative services to employer groups, government sponsored plans and individuals.
Evan Jones, Digene's President and CEO stated, "Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield is the first major reimbursement group to announce adoption of Digene's HPV Test since our recent FDA approval. We are excited to provide this important new technology to the women covered by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our test is specifically designed to improve medical outcomes and reduce costs to the health care system. This fits precisely with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield's medical reimbursement processes. We look forward to additional adoption within the U.S. health care system as we launch our latest product."
Digene Corporation develops, manufactures and markets DNA and RNA tests for the detection, screening and monitoring of human diseases. Digene's products are designed to help improve clinical outcomes and reduce the overall cost of disease management. Digene's lead product, the Hybrid Capture II HPV Test, aids physicians in identifying women who are most at risk of having or developing cervical disease and cervical cancer. The Digene HPV Test is used in the U.S. as an adjunct to the Pap smear for cervical cancer screening and is being marketed in selected countries as a primary cervical cancer screen either in conjunction with or separate from the Pap smear.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the future as there are a number of meaningful factors that could cause the Company's actual results to vary materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the failure to attain reimbursement for Digene's Hybrid Capture II HPV test and lack of significant acceptance by the medical community. For other factors, reference is made to the discussion in the Company's annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. -0-