OraSure Technologies Announces Settlement of Patent Infringement Lawsuit With Inverness and Church & Dwight

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Nov. 19, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR) today announced the settlement of the patent infringement lawsuit filed against OraSure by Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (NYSE:IMA), Inverness Medical Switzerland GmbH and Church & Dwight, Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD).

Under the settlement, OraSure has agreed to pay Inverness a sum of $3,000,000 in cash and Inverness has agreed to grant OraSure certain licenses to its lateral flow patents. In addition, each party has received distribution rights to certain products supplied by the other party. Terms of the settlement include the following:

• The grant to OraSure of a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty- bearing, lateral flow patent license (subject to a royalty-free period) for the OraQuick(R) HIV-1/2 test and other visually- read HIV lateral flow products in the professional market;
• The grant to OraSure of a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty- bearing, lateral flow patent license (subject to a royalty- free period) for the OraQuick(R) HCV test and other visually read HCV lateral flow products in the professional market;
• The grant to OraSure of a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty- bearing, license to Inverness lateral flow patents for visually-read products for the detection of certain infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, cancer and autoimmune disorders;
• The grant to OraSure of non-exclusive rights to distribute in the United States as private label products certain rapid, point-of-care, flu, strep, drugs of abuse and pregnancy tests manufactured by Inverness;
• A right of first negotiation during the 120-day period following the settlement effective date for OraSure to negotiate the terms for the marketing and distribution of the OraQuick(R) HIV-1/2 test on an exclusive basis in the over-the- counter markets worldwide with the consumer diagnostics joint venture between Proctor & Gamble (NYSE:PG) and Inverness; and
• The grant to Inverness of exclusive distribution rights to the OraQuick(R) HCV test in the employee health services and home healthcare markets and in acute care clinics located in pharmacies and other mass retail outlets in the United States.

Updated Financial Guidance

As a result of the litigation settlement, the Company now expects its net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 to be $0.10 to $0.11 per share.

About OraSure Technologies

OraSure Technologies develops, manufactures and markets oral fluid specimen collection devices using proprietary oral fluid technologies, diagnostic products including immunoassays and other in vitro diagnostic tests, and other medical devices. These products are sold in the United States as well as internationally to various clinical laboratories, hospitals, clinics, community-based organizations and other public health organizations, distributors, government agencies, physicians' offices, and commercial and industrial entities. For more information on the Company, please go to www.orasure.com.

The OraSure Technologies, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6440

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A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including with respect to royalties, expenses, net loss per share and products. Actual results could be significantly different. Factors that could affect results include the ability to market and sell products, whether through an internal, direct sales force or third parties; ability to manufacture products in accordance with applicable specifications, performance standards and quality requirements; changes in relationships, including disputes or disagreements, with strategic partners and reliance on strategic partners for the performance of critical activities under collaborative arrangements; failure of distributors or other customers to meet purchase forecasts or minimum purchase requirements for the Company's products; impact of replacing distributors and success of direct sales efforts; inventory levels at distributors and other customers; impact of competitors, competing products and technology changes; impact of the economic downturn, high unemployment and credit crisis; ability to develop, commercialize and market new products; market acceptance of oral fluid testing or other products; changes in market acceptance of products based on product performance and extended shelf life; continued bulk purchases by customers, including governmental agencies, and the ability to fully deploy those purchases in a timely manner; ability to fund research and development and other products and operations; ability to obtain and maintain new or existing product distribution channels; reliance on sole supply sources for critical product components; availability of related products produced by third parties or products required for use of our products; ability to obtain, and timing and cost of obtaining, necessary regulatory approvals for new products or new indications or applications for existing products; ability to comply with applicable regulatory requirements; history of losses and ability to achieve sustained profitability and ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards or other deferred tax assets; volatility of the Company's stock price; uncertainty relating to patent protection and potential patent infringement claims; uncertainty and costs of litigation relating to patents and other intellectual property; availability of licenses to patents or other technology; ability to enter into international manufacturing agreements; obstacles to international marketing and manufacturing of products; ability to sell products internationally, including changes in international funding sources; loss or impairment of sources of capital; ability to meet financial covenants in agreements with financial institutions; ability to retain qualified personnel; exposure to patent infringement, product liability, and other types of litigation; changes in international, federal or state laws and regulations; customer consolidations and inventory practices; equipment failures and ability to obtain needed raw materials and components; the impact of terrorist attacks and civil unrest; ability to identify, complete and realize the full benefits of potential acquisitions; and general political, business and economic conditions. These and other factors are discussed more fully in the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings of OraSure Technologies, including its registration statements, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and its other filings with the SEC. Although forward-looking statements help to provide complete information about future prospects, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements may not be reliable. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and OraSure Technologies undertakes no duty to update these statements.

CONTACT: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
Ronald H. Spair, Chief Financial Officer
610-882-1820
Investorinfo@orasure.com
www.orasure.com