"As
a long-term innovator and leader in the hepatitis therapy area, Schering-Plough
is the ideal partner to help us introduce our rapid, point-of- care oral HCV test
to the U.S. physicians' office market once our product receives FDA approval,"
said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. "We
believe a rapid oral fluid HCV test has significant commercial and medical value
in that it will help identify more individuals who are infected, thus enabling
them to receive appropriate treatment. We look forward to a long and successful
collaboration with Schering-Plough on this important product," "Under
terms of the agreement, Schering-Plough will reimburse OraSure for a portion of
the costs incurred by OraSure to develop the rapid oral HCV test and also will
provide certain promotional support in the physicians' office market in the United
States. "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 United States. The tests
sold to US physicians' offices will be co-branded and will incorporate OraSure's
OraQuick trade name and Be In Charge, the name of Schering-Plough's free patient
support program that provides access to educational information about chronic
hepatitis C and its treatment. "The
agreement has an initial term of two years from the date that the test is first
sold commercially." | 
