Schering-Plough and OraSure Sign International Collaboration for Point-of-Care Oral Hepatitis C Test

Schering- Plough Corporation and OraSure Technologies, Inc. has announced an agreement to collaborate on the development and promotion of a rapid oral hepatitis C virus (HCV) test utilizing OraSure Technologies' OraQuick® technology platform on a worldwide basis outside the United States.

This new agreement expands the existing collaboration announced in January 2007 when the parties signed an agreement to develop and promote a rapid oral HCV test in the U.S. physicians' office markets.

OraSure is a developer and manufacturer of the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rapid oral fluid HIV-1/2 Test.

"We are very pleased to announce the expansion of our collaboration with Schering-Plough internationally," said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies.

"Schering-Plough is a recognized leader in HCV therapy and has the capability to promote our rapid HCV test throughout the world. We believe the global market opportunity for a rapid HCV test is significant and this expansion of our collaboration with Schering-Plough should help drive the adoption of this important product around the world, Michels added.

Under terms of the agreement, Schering-Plough will reimburse OraSure for certain development costs and will provide payments to OraSure based on the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones in international markets. Schering-Plough will also provide promotional support for the product in international markets.

All sales of the HCV test will be made by OraSure, and OraSure will retain the rights to market and sell the test in all markets throughout the world. During the collaboration period, the test may, at Schering-Plough's option, be labeled and promoted under both Schering-Plough and OraSure trademarks.