Digene sets sights on $1 billion HPV testing market

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 28 - Digene Corp. is poised to be a major player in the $1 billion human papillomavirus (HPV) test market, according to remarks from company chief executive officer Evan Jones.

"Digene has the opportunity to build a significant diagnostic franchise," Jones said at the UBS Global Life Sciences Conference in New York.

The company currently has an 18% penetration rate with its product in the United States, up 50% from the prior-year's penetration rate.

Jones said there is a need for 40 to 50 million such tests in the United States alone, and 150 million worldwide.

"Digene is the only major player that has the global regulatory approvals and the market position in this exciting market," Jones noted in today's presentation.

The HPV test market will benefit from implementation of primary screening with funding on a national level, reimbursement decisions and clinical practice guidelines.

Just Thursday, Digene noted, California has become the fifth state to agree to cover HPV testing as part of cervical cancer screening.

Digene develops proprietary DNA and RNA testing systems in Gaithersburg, Md.

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