About Us | Press Releases | 2004 | April 5

JOHN HOLADAY AND CHARLES FLEISHMAN WILL DISCUSS "CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN LAUNCHING DISRUPTIVE LIFE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES" AT BIO IT COALITION LUNCHEON

Serial entrepreneur, Dr. John Holaday and Digene Director Charles Fleishman will discuss the unique challenges they face as life science entrepreneurs who set out to displace established therapeutics.

The panel will share insights into their past successes and the future. Each has raised private capital, and launched an IPO. Each has embraced the use of cutting-edge information technology. Following the discussion, they will take questions from the audience, both live and online. The event will be available on demand for viewing afterwards.

This lunchtime discussion will take place on May 27th at 11:30a.m. in the US Chamber of Commerce building and be hosted by the US India Business Council. The event will be web-cast by George Mason University, beginning at noon, offering a live, interactive question and answer session for audiences either across town or across the country. The event will also be available on demand for viewing afterwards.

John Holaday, Ph.D. is the founder of EntreMed, Inc., where he also served as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board. He co-founded Medecis Pharmaceutical Corporation, where he served as the Senior Vice President for Research and Development and member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Holaday also founded MaxCyte, Inc., where he served as Chairman. He also held board positions at CytImmune Sciences and LabBook. He was elected as the Chairman of the Maryland Biosciences Alliance in 2000.

Charles M. Fleischman is President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of Digene, has been with Digene since 1990. He is also the Managing Partner of Armonk Partners, the founding shareholder in Digene. Before joining Digene, Mr. Fleischman was Associate Director in the Investment Banking Group of Furman Selz, a New York based investment banking group focused on emerging growth health care mergers, financing and operations. Prior thereto, Mr. Fleischman was a founder and Managing Director of Intercapital Brokers, Ltd. in London, England. Mr. Fleischman currently serves on the Board of Directors of AdvaMed, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, the trade association representing over 1,000 medical device and diagnostic companies; in this capacity he is Treasurer of the Association, a member of the Executive Committee of the Board, and Chairman of AdvaMed's Small Company Counsel. Mr. Fleischman received an A.B. in History from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

About Digene Corporation (Nasdaq: DIGE), based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary DNA and RNA testing systems for the screening, monitoring and diagnosis of human diseases. Digene's primary focus is in women's cancers and infectious diseases where the Company's lead product is the only FDA approved test for human papillomavirus, or HPV, which studies show is the cause of greater than 99% of cervical cancer cases. The Digene hc2 HR HPV DNA Test is approved in the U.S. for use in conjunction with the Pap test as a primary screen for cervical cancer and its precursors in women age 30 and older and as a follow-up to an abnormal Pap test result. The Company's product portfolio also includes DNA tests for the detection of other sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, and tests for blood viruses. http://www.digene.com.

About the BIO IT Coalition - The BIO IT Coalition is a non-profit membership organization created to promote the development of bioinformatics as an integral discipline for the advancement of the biotechnology industry. The Coalition sponsors educational programs, networking, professional development and partnership opportunities. Local members of the Coalition include George Mason University, Arlington County Office of Economic Development, IMC, Inc., Kenyon & Kenyon, Pepper Hamilton LLP, and University of Maryland University College (UMUC).

About George Mason University Masters in Bioscience - The Bioscience Management Program was developed by the School of Management in response to industry demand. It is educating managers of organizations that conduct research and develop products and services in the basic sciences, especially those focused on the biological and medical sciences. The program is intended for bioscience project managers, research managers, chief scientists and executives with product research and development responsibilities in the pharmaceutical, bioformatics, genomics, biomedical and biotechnology industries.

About the US-India Business Council - The U.S.-India Business Council is the premier policy-development organization promoting American economic interests in India. Formed in 1975 at the request of the Indian and United States governments, USIBC strengthens Indo-U.S. economic relations on trade and investment issues. Our primary mission is to foster a bilateral dialogue between key business and government decision makers, thus encouraging progressive economic policies in both India and the United States.

For more information about the Coalition or the event, call 202-220-1402 or visit www.bioitcoalition.org.