U.S. Patent Office Issues Vermillion Patent for Biomarkers Detecting Ovarian Cancer

U.S. Patent Office Issues Vermillion Patent for Biomarkers Detecting Ovarian
Cancer

FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vermillion, Inc. (OTC:
VRMLQ.PK), a molecular diagnostics company, today announced that the U.S.
Patent Office (USPTO) has issued patent number 7,605,003 titled "Use of
biomarkers for detecting ovarian cancer" to the Company for the discovery of
biomarkers for ovarian cancer. The patent covers biomarker combinations for
both the diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer and covers measurement of
the markers by a variety of methods, including mass spectrometry and
immunoassay approaches.

"Vermillion has been creating a comprehensive patent portfolio to protect our
ovarian cancer testing franchise. The issuance of this patent supports our
overall intellectual property strategy and we continue to pursue additional
patent applications in support of our diagnostic programs," said Gail S. Page,
Vermillion Executive Chairperson.

About Vermillion
Vermillion, Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development and
commercialization of novel high-value diagnostic tests that help physicians
diagnose, treat and improve outcomes for patients. Vermillion, along with its
prestigious scientific collaborators, has diagnostic programs in oncology,
hematology, cardiology and women's health. Vermillion is based in Fremont,
California. Additional information about Vermillion can be found on the Web at
www.vermillion.com.

About the OVA1 Test
The OVA1 Test is a qualitative serum test that combines the results of five
immunoassays into a single numerical score. It is indicated for women who meet
the following criteria: over age 18, ovarian adnexal mass present for which
surgery is planned, and not yet referred to an oncologist. The test utilizes
five well-established biomarkers --- Transthyretin (TT or prealbumin),
Apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1), Beta2-Microglobulin (Beta2M), Transferrin (Tfr)
and Cancer Antigen 125 (CA 125 II) --- and a proprietary algorithm to
determine the likelihood of malignancy in women with pelvic mass for whom
surgery is planned.

OVA1(TM) Test is a trademark of Vermillion Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant
risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding Vermillion's plans,
objectives, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are
based on Vermillion's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking
statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Vermillion
notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to
differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed
in such forward-looking statements. There are no guarantees that Vermillion
will succeed in its efforts to commercialize ovarian cancer or OVA1
diagnostics products in 2009 or during any other period of time. Factors that
could cause actual results to materially differ include but are not limited
to: (1) uncertainty in obtaining intellectual property protection for
inventions made by Vermillion; (2) unproven ability of Vermillion to discover,
develop, and commercialize ovarian cancer diagnostic products based on
findings from its disease association studies; (3) unproven ability of
Vermillion to discover or identify new protein biomarkers and use such
information to develop ovarian cancer diagnostic products; (4) uncertainty as
to whether Vermillion will be able to obtain any required regulatory approval
of its future ovarian cancer diagnostic products; (5) uncertainty of market
acceptance of its OVA1 diagnostic test or future diagnostic products,
including the risk that its products will not be competitive with products
offered by other companies, or that users will not be entitled to receive
adequate reimbursement for its products from third party payors such as
private insurance companies and government insurance plans; (6) uncertainty
that Vermillion will successfully license or otherwise successfully partner
its products; (7) uncertainty that Vermillion will have the resources to
successfully complete its bankruptcy reorganization; (8) uncertainty as to
whether operating under Chapter 11 may harm our business; (9) uncertainty
regarding whether we will be able to obtain confirmation of a Chapter 11 plan
of reorganization; (10) uncertainty as to whether we will be able to emerge
from bankruptcy without being liquidated or obtain the necessarily funding to
continue as a going concern; (11) uncertainty whether a plan of reorganization
may result in holders of our common stock receiving no or limited
distributions on account of their interests and cancellation of their common
stock; (12) uncertainty whether operating under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code may
restrict our ability to pursue our business strategies and identify and
develop additional diagnostic products; (13) uncertainty whether the trading
in our stock will become significantly less liquid or our ability to relist on
shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or other national securities
exchange; and (14) other factors that might be described from time to time in
Vermillion's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All
information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and
Vermillion expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release
publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change
in Vermillion's expectations or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law.

SOURCE Vermillion, Inc.

Jill Totenberg, The Totenberg Group, +1-212-994-7363, or +1-917-697-6900,
jt@totenberggroup.com, for Vermillion