OSUR - Sector: Healthcare***Industry: Medical Equipment & Supplies

[REALDEALS21]

MIGHT POP ! WATCH IT !! SOME NEWS TODAY...........

Roche Diagnostics and OraSure Technologies Sign Letter of Intent to Develop Fully Automated Oral Fluid Drugs of Abuse Assays
Wednesday October 4, 2:30 pm ET
This partnership will enable laboratories to increase efficiencies while offering an improved level of service by providing quicker turnaround times

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche Diagnostics today signed a letter of intent to negotiate an agreement for the joint development and commercialization of homogeneous fully-automated oral fluid drugs of abuse assays that can run on random access chemistry analyzers with OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSUR - News). The oral fluid assays will be developed for use with OraSure's Intercept® oral specimen collection device and Roche's KIMS (kinetic interaction of microparticles in solution) technology. The oral fluid assays will be designed to run on various automated analyzers and to allow oral fluid samples to be processed with the same efficiency as current urine based tests. Among the key potential benefits to laboratories will be increased efficiencies and quicker turnaround times.

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"With automation of oral fluid testing becoming increasingly important, Roche is committed to providing best-in-class high throughput oral fluid solutions for our customers. We are very pleased to be collaborating with OraSure Technologies in the development of fully automated oral fluid drugs of abuse assays," said Joe Passarelli, Vice President of Research and Development at Roche Diagnostics. "This partnership would leverage the strengths of both companies including OraSure's market leading Intercept® Drug Test and Roche Diagnostics' fully automated ONLINE DAT® drug screening portfolio -- leading to an integrated product offering from a single source," he added.

"The development of automated assays for oral fluid drugs of abuse testing is technologically a very important step for OraSure and its laboratory customers," said Stephen R. Lee, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer, OraSure Technologies. "It will enable them to run these assays on the most advanced, flexible chemistry analyzers used in laboratories today, which should ultimately lead to higher volumes of oral fluid testing. We are extremely excited to be working with Roche on this project -- their industry-leading KIMS technology combined with their system reliability is ideally suited for this application," said Lee.

Developed and manufactured by OraSure Technologies, the Intercept® device is the only FDA-cleared invitro diagnostic laboratory-based oral fluid testing system used for detecting commonly abused drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates, PCP and amphetamines (including methamphetamine and ecstasy) and for detecting barbiturates, methadone and benzodiazepines. Intercept® testing is currently being used in workplace, drug treatment and criminal justice testing markets, as well as in public school systems.

With over twenty-five years of proven experience in the drugs of abuse market, Roche Diagnostics has established itself as a global leader. Roche offers a full portfolio of testing solutions including ONLINE DAT® drugs of abuse screening assays combined with system platforms that are tailored for various customer segment and volume requirements.

[tokyopua]

Monster volume today (scroll to the right if you cant see it on the chart below).

I am in tomorrow around the open and may add to my position if there is any pullback to the 50sma at 7.63, though I doubt that.  Looks like a cup is forming on the chart today and so a move above 10.16 should really move this stock, IMO.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=OSUR&t=1d

Chart looking bad, earnings out today after the bell, I sold for a loss at 7.53.

[setravis]

Press Release Source: OraSure Technologies, Inc.


OraSure Announces Third Quarter Financial Results
Wednesday November 1, 4:05 pm ET


BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSUR - News), a market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today announced revenues of $17.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, compared to $18.1 million in revenues recorded for the comparable period in 2005.


The Company's net income was $2.1 million, or $0.05 per share on a basic and fully-diluted basis, for the third quarter of 2006, which includes charges for stock option expense and a provision for income taxes, neither of which were included in the Company's 2005 results. Excluding these two charges, net income for the third quarter of 2006 would have been $4.3 million, or $0.09 per share on a fully-diluted basis. These results compare to net income of $3.8 million, or $0.08 per share on a basic and fully-diluted basis, during the third quarter of 2005.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company had revenues of $50.4 million compared to revenues of $51.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The Company recorded net income of $4.2 million, or $0.09 per share on a basic and fully-diluted basis, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, which includes charges for stock option expense and a provision for income taxes. Excluding these two charges, net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 would have been $10.0 million, or $0.21 per share on a fully-diluted basis. These results compare to net income of $6.8 million, or $0.15 per share on a basic and fully-diluted basis, during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, which excluded costs related to stock options and a provision for income taxes.

"We are pleased with the Company's financial performance for the third quarter," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "Our financial results exceeded our expectations and were driven primarily by continued strong performance of our infectious disease testing business along with the increased sales of our substance abuse testing and insurance risk assessment products. Offsetting these increases was a reduction in our cryosurgical systems sales."

Gross margin in both the third quarters of 2006 and 2005 was 64%.

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2006 increased to $8.8 million from $8.4 million in the comparable period in 2005. This increase was primarily attributable to stock option expense, increased research and development expenses and costs related to the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system, offset by lower legal and advertising costs. Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $27.3 million, compared to $25.2 million for the comparable period in 2005.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $89.5 million and working capital was $98.1 million at September 30, 2006, compared to $77.6 million and $90.7 million, respectively, at December 31, 2005.

Cash flow from operations was $5.9 million for the third quarter of 2006, up from the $3.6 million reported for the third quarter of 2005. Cash flow from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $14.1 million, compared to $8.5 million for the comparable period in 2005.

Due to the better than expected financial performance in the third quarter of 2006, the Company is raising its 2006 full year, fully-diluted earnings per share guidance to between $0.10 - $0.11 per share as a result of an additional expected $0.01 - $0.02 per share of earnings in the fourth quarter of 2006. The fourth quarter earnings projection is based on attainment of projected revenues of between $17.0 million and $17.5 million for the quarter, resulting in 2006 full-year projected revenues of between approximately $67.5 million and $68.0 million.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Net income - before charges and diluted earnings per share - before charges, each exclude the impact of stock option expensing and income tax provisions. These financial measures should not be considered an alternative to net income or diluted earnings per share, respectively, which are indicators of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. OraSure Technologies believes that net income - before charges and diluted earnings per share - before charges, although non-GAAP financial measures, are also useful and meaningful to investors because they provide investors with the Company's underlying earnings performance as another criterion in making their investment decisions. OraSure's management also uses these calculations in measuring certain corporate performance goals. Other companies may use different measures to present financial information.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast today to discuss the Company's third quarter 2006 financial results and to provide an update on major business objectives, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). On the call will be Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ronald H. Spair, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. The call will include remarks by management and a question and answer session.

In order to listen to the conference call, please either dial 888-742-2024 (Domestic) or 706-643-0033 (International), or go to OraSure Technologies' Web site, www.orasure.com, and click on the Investor Info link. A replay of the call will be archived on OraSure Technologies' web site shortly after the call has ended and will be available for seven days. A replay of the call can also be accessed until November 08, 2006, by dialing 800-642-1687 (Domestic) or 706-645-9291 (International) and entering the Conference ID #8995949.

About OraSure Technologies

OraSure Technologies develops, manufactures and markets oral fluid specimen collection devices and tests and other diagnostic products using its proprietary technologies, including immunoassays and other in vitro diagnostic tests and other medical devices. These products are sold in the United States and certain foreign countries to 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 visit www.orasure.com.

Important Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including with respect to revenues and earnings per share. Actual results could be significantly different. Factors that could affect results include the ability to market and sell products; changes in relationships 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 our products; impact of competitors, competing products and technology changes; ability to develop, commercialize and market new products; market acceptance of oral fluid testing or other new products or technology; changes in market acceptance based on product performance; 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; ability to obtain, and timing and cost of obtaining, necessary regulatory approval 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; volatility of our 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; loss or impairment of sources of capital; ability to meet financial covenants in agreements with financial institutions; ability to retain qualified personnel; exposure to product liability, patent infringement, 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 complete consolidation or restructuring activities; 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, 2005, 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, 610-882-1820
[email protected]
www.orasure.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: OraSure Technologies, Inc.

[la-onda]

please merge the OSUR threads 

OSUR update:
Schering-Plough and OraSure Technologies Sign Agreement for Development and Promotion of Rapid Point-of-Care Oral Hepatitis C Test
Thursday January 4, 8:00 am ET
- Test Will Utilize OraSure's OraQuick(R) Technology Platform -

KENILWORTH, N.J. & BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE:SGP - News) and OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR - News) today announced an agreement to collaborate on the development and promotion of a rapid oral test for the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) utilizing OraSure Technologies' OraQuick® technology platform.

   
The agreement brings together OraSure - the leader in oral fluid diagnostics and developer and manufacturer of the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rapid oral fluid HIV-1/2 Test, and Schering-Plough Corporation, a worldwide leader in the discovery and development of novel HCV therapies.

"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. 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," said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies.

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 U.S. physicians' offices will be co-branded and will incorporate OraSure's OraQuick® tradename and Be In Charge®, the name of Schering-Plough's free patient support program that provides access to in-depth, easy-to-understand 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.

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infection in America, affecting approximately four million people or about one in every 50 adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because the prevalence of HCV infection is threefold higher among persons now between the ages of 30 and 49, the number of deaths resulting from HCV-related liver disease could increase substantially during the next 10 to 20 years due to progression of liver disease as the infected population ages. Chronic hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. About half of all cases of primary liver cancer in the developed world are caused by hepatitis C, and hepatitis C related liver disease is now the leading cause for liver transplants. Most people who develop chronic hepatitis C infection are not aware that they have the disease.

[setravis]

"OSUR" Threads have been Merged.
Please use the search before starting new threads on a Stock Pick.
Chances are a thread already exist.
So why not post whatever you have to comment about on that pick to that thread.
"Simplicity" My fellow traders.                   
All history on a stock pick in 1 thread is awesome.                  
Just trying to get threads together,so we don't have a numerous amount floating around on the same stock.
Thank You....and good luck with all your trades....make some $$$          
   

[setravis]

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Jun 26, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (OSUR, Trade) and the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) announced today the launch of the third annual Mayors Campaign Against HIV(TM), a national campaign to encourage testing for HIV and promote the benefits of knowing one's HIV status. The Campaign is being sponsored by OraSure Technologies, the manufacturer of the OraQuick ADVANCE(R) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, in observance of National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) on Wednesday, June 27, 2007.

NAPWA and OraSure Technologies have collaborated with city public health departments and community-based organizations across the country to elicit mayoral support to urge HIV testing and prevention among their constituencies. To date, 33 Mayor's and/or Department of Health offices in major metropolitan cities nationwide have committed their participation and support including New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle, Newark, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Several Mayors have also committed to getting tested on June 27th while others are issuing proclamations or holding press conferences to encourage individuals to get screened for HIV.

As part of this campaign, OraSure Technologies will be joined by Frank Oldham, Jr., Executive Director of NAPWA, to preside over the NASDAQ Stock Market opening on National HIV Testing Day. This event will spotlight the importance of this annual observance, as well as the collective support of OraSure, various governmental agencies, the media and HIV/AIDS organizations to increase HIV testing and awareness nationwide.

Now in its 13th year, National HIV Testing Day is an annual event led by NAPWA to encourage the millions of Americans who are at-risk for HIV to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.1 million individuals in the United States are infected with the HIV virus, yet more than one-quarter do not know they have the disease.

"We are very pleased to be joining forces with NAPWA and the participating mayors again this year as we publicly unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS through our Mayors Campaign Against HIV(TM)," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "As the only FDA-approved rapid, oral fluid HIV test in the U.S., the OraQuick ADVANCE(R) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test will help to get more people tested and enable HIV-positive people to learn their status earlier so they can access care sooner. We are committed to working in partnership with national, state and local health agencies to make the OraQuick ADVANCE(R) test available to all who need it."

"Each year, National HIV Testing Day brings together thousands of local health departments, community organizations and HIV/AIDS advocacy groups nationwide to encourage early diagnosis and routine testing for HIV/AIDS, and the Mayors Campaign Against HIV(TM) helps to further support this mission," said Frank Oldham, Jr., NAPWA's executive director. "Education remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS. By working in partnership with OraSure and mayors around the country, we hope to educate thousands nationwide on the need for HIV testing and prevention. We are thankful for the dedication and support of both OraSure and each mayoral office participating in the campaign."

In appreciation of the mayors' involvement in the Campaign, NAPWA and OraSure Technologies will donate more than 20,000 OraQuick ADVANCE(R) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Tests to city health departments and community-based organizations throughout the country. OraQuick ADVANCE(R) is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments Act of 1988) waived rapid point-of-care test that can detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 20 minutes, using oral fluid, finger-stick or venipuncture whole blood or plasma specimens.

About the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US)

The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US) is the oldest national AIDS organization in the United States and the oldest national network of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Founded in 1983, NAPWA is a non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV and AIDS in order to end the pandemic and the human suffering it causes. NAPWA has several initiatives designed to promote access to and the utilization of HIV prevention and treatment and reduce stigma towards HIV-positive people. Nearly one million Americans are living with HIV and more than 40 million people around the world are infected. We will be here until there is a cure. More information on NAPWA and national HIV Testing Day can be found at http://www.napwa.org.

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.

OraSure Technologies is the leading supplier of oral-fluid collection devices and assays to the life insurance industry and public health markets for the detection of HIV. In addition, the Company supplies oral-fluid testing solutions for drugs of abuse testing. For more information on the Company, please go to http://www.orasure.com.

SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.


OraSure Technologies, Inc. 
Media: 
Zer0 to 5ive 
Erika Freed, 212-699-3696 
[email protected] 
or 
National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA): 
Takirra Winfield, 240-247-1025 
[email protected] 

Copyright Business Wire 2007 ********************************************************************** As of Friday, 06-22-2007 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend? Alert, an automated pattern recognition system, indicated a DOWNTREND on 12-16-2005 for OSUR @ $8.74. For more information on SmarTrend, contact your market data provider or go to www.mysmartrend.com SmarTrend is a registered trademark of Comtex News Network, Inc. Copyright ? 2004-2007 Comtex News Network, Inc. All rights reserved.

[la-onda]

BO ALERT!!

OraSure Technologies "buy," target price raised - update

Monday, July 09, 2007 3:25:09 PM ET
Lazard Capital Markets

NEW YORK, July 9 (newratings.com) - Analyst Jeffrey Frelick of Lazard Capital maintains his "buy" rating on OraSure Technologies Inc (OSUR.NAS), while raising his estimates for the company. The target price has been raised from $12 to $15.

In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that CDC has recently announced a funding of $35 million for the expansion of the HIV testing and the prevention programmes. The analyst says that there is a high possibility of OraSure Technologies winning 50% of the new CDC funding, thereby, resulting in incremental revenues of $17.5 million. The EPS estimates for FY07 and FY08 have been raised from $0.05 to $0.07 and from $0.11 to $0.16, respectively.