Digene/Cytyc to commence joint marketing of Hybrid Capture HPV test, ThinPrep Pap test in 1997.

DIAGENE/CYTYC JOINT MARKETING OF HYBRID CAPTURE HPV, THINPREP PAP TESTS will begin in early 1997 under an Oct. 8 strategic alliance between the two firms. Speaking at a same day session of the UBS Securities Life Sciences Conference in New York City, Evan Jones, Digene president and CEO, said joint marketing of Digene's Hybrid Capture human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA test and Cytyc's ThinPrep 2000 automated cervical sample preparation system is anticipated to commence "in the first quarter of 1997."