FREMONT, Calif., March 12 Vermillion, Inc. (Pink Sheets: VRML) today announced that Medicare will cover OVA1(TM), a test to help assess the likelihood that an ovarian mass is benign or malignant. Highmark Medicare Services is the CMS contractor that will process Medicare claims for OVA1. Yesterday Highmark announced its decision to cover this new service.
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"We are pleased with this favorable decision, which will help provide access to this important test to the many women with ovarian masses. This decision by Highmark Medicare Services reaffirms our belief that OVA1 can provide meaningful clinical information to assist physicians in identifying women with a high likelihood of having malignancy prior to planned surgery," said Gail S. Page, CEO of Vermillion.
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About OVA1
OVA1 is the first protein-based in vitro diagnostic multi-variate index assays (IVDMIA), a new class of state of the art software-based diagnostics, cleared by the FDA. The test utilizes five well-established biomarkers -- Transthyretin (TT or prealbumin), Apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1), Beta2-Microglobulin (Beta2M), Transferrin (Tfr) and Cancer Antigen 125 (CA 125 II) -- and proprietary software to determine the likelihood of malignancy in women with ovarian mass for whom surgery is planned.
OVA1 is indicated for women who meet the following criteria: over age 18, ovarian adnexal mass present for which surgery is planned, and not yet referred to an oncologist. It is an aid to further assess the likelihood that malignancy is present when the physician's independent clinical and radiological evaluation does not indicate malignancy. The test should not be used without an independent clinical/radiological evaluation and is not intended to be a screening test or to determine whether a patient should proceed to surgery. Incorrect use of the OVA1 Test carries the risk of unnecessary testing, surgery, and/or delayed diagnosis.
About Vermillion
Vermillion, Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel high-value diagnostic tests that help physicians diagnose, treat and improve outcomes for patients. Vermillion, along with its prestigious scientific collaborators, has diagnostic programs in oncology, hematology, cardiology and women's health. Vermillion is based in Fremont, California. Additional information about Vermillion can be found on the Web at http://www.vermillion.com/.
Forward Looking Statement:
Certain matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding Vermillion's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on Vermillion's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Vermillion notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. There are no guarantees that Vermillion will succeed in its efforts to commercialize ovarian cancer or OVA1(TM) diagnostics products in 2010 or during any other period of time. Factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include but are not limited to: (1) uncertainty in obtaining intellectual property protection for inventions made by Vermillion; (2) unproven ability of Vermillion to develop, and commercialize diagnostic products based on findings from its disease association studies; (3) uncertainty as to whether Vermillion will be able to obtain any required regulatory approval of its future diagnostic products; (4) uncertainty of market acceptance of its OVA1(TM) diagnostic test or future diagnostic products, including the risk that its products will not be competitive with products offered by other companies, or that users will not be entitled to receive adequate reimbursement for its products from third party payers such as private insurance companies; (5) uncertainty that Vermillion will successfully license or otherwise successfully partner with third parties to commercialize its products; (6) uncertainty whether the trading in Vermillion's stock will become significantly less liquid or Vermillion's ability to relist its shares on the NASDAQ Global Market or on other national securities exchange; and (7) other factors that might be described from time to time in Vermillion's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of this report, and Vermillion expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in Vermillion's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law.
OVA1(TM) is a trademark of Vermillion Inc.
SOURCE Vermillion, Inc.
