DIGE Digene Corp (MM)

Focus to Include Education on Both HPV Testing and Vaccination GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Summit of Women concluded its 13th annual meeting in Berlin by announcing the launch of an international "consortium to end cervical cancer." In her announcement, the summit's president said the consortium "aims to educate women about cervical cancer prevention, including testing and vaccination, and encourage governments to provide easy access to the latest screening and vaccine technologies," including HPV testing. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of cervical cancer, and Digene Corp. (NASDAQ:DIGE) markets the only FDA- approved and CE-marked test for high-risk types of the virus. "For the first time in our history, the Global Summit of Women is going to undertake an effort to eradicate a cancer," Irene Navtividad, summit president, told the 1,000-plus attendees representing 95 countries. "You may be asking why it's important for a conference about the economic issues facing women to focus on cervical cancer. But common sense tells us that when the health of women is imperiled, we cannot run corporations or own small businesses. . .Cervical cancer is special in two key ways: First, it only affects women. Second, and more importantly, we now have the tools to eradicate it. Together, working with women worldwide, we are going to do everything in our power to educate and inform women and girls about how to get the appropriate testing and vaccination to end cervical cancer." The Global Summit of Women brings together senior-level women in business, government and advocacy, and is often called "Davos for Women." It celebrates women's leadership by bringing together business and governmental professionals to work together to improve the economic power and well-being of females throughout the world. Joining Ms. Navtividad in announcing the creation of the global consortium to end cervical cancer were the International Federation of Business and Professional Women; the European Women's Management Development network; and the International Association for Human Values, a consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The consortium was announced on a day that began with a panel on best practices in corporate social responsibility, for which Digene President and CEO Daryl Faulkner was a featured speaker. He talked both about the company's general mission to eradicate cervical cancer and its specific program to develop a customized version of its HPV test for the developing world, called FastHPV (fast affordable screening test). "Imagine being able to eradicate a cancer - particularly the type of cancer that is responsible for killing more women than almost any other malignancy. This vision is within reach today, if we combine screening to identify women at risk of developing disease -- using screening and vaccination - so that treatment can be initiated early and cervical cancer prevented," Mr. Faulkner told the packed ballroom. "Our goal at Digene is to make HPV testing accessible to every woman, not just those who are lucky enough to live in resource-rich nations and communities. And we can do it, with your help." About Digene A leader in molecular diagnostics, Digene develops, manufactures and markets proprietary DNA and RNA tests, with a focus on women's health. The company's flagship product, the Digene(R) HPV Test, is the only FDA-approved and CE-marked test for the human papillomavirus, the cause of essentially all cervical cancers. Digene's product portfolio also includes tests for the detection of other sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhea. Digene tests are marketed in more than 40 countries worldwide. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Digene is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol DIGE. For more information, visit http://www.digene.com/ and http://www.thehpvtest.com/. DATASOURCE: Digene CONTACT: Albert Fleury, Investor Relations of Digene Corporation, +1-301-944-7000, or Media, Pam Rasmussen, Digene, +1-301-944-7196 Web site: http://www.digene.com/ http://www.thehpvtest.com/

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