UHC retires negative coverage policy effective April 1, 2012

Aerocrine AB (OMX Nordic Exchange: AERO) announces that United Healthcare has retired its negative coverage policy effective April 1, 2012.

Aerocrine received notification late afternoon on Friday, March 9, 2012 of UHC's decision to retire their negative coverage policy regarding Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO). UHC provides insurance coverage for approximately 15% of all privately insured lives in the United States or approximately 26 million lives. UHC subsidiaries include Oxford Health, PacifiCare, MAMSI, Sierra Life and Golden Rule Insurance companies. UHC operates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They also administer benefits coverage for several million public insurer lives which includes portions of Medicare and Medicaid.

With this and other recent coverage changes, the number of insured lives that are eligible for reimbursement for Aerocrine's test continues to increase. Based on positive coverage decisions as well as negative policies being retired, Aerocrine estimates that this represents over 35% of privately insured lives thereby increasing from about 15% at the end of 2011.1

"The momentum for change in coverage policies since the publication of the ATS Guideline on FeNO last September continues to grow as several major insurance companies have undertaken a review of their FeNO coverage policy", said Scott Myers, CEO, Aerocrine. "We believe the positive change at UHC will improve clinical practice and health economic outcomes for asthma management."

Asthma is one of this world's most common and costly diseases, affecting 8-10% of the population and costing over $50B annually in the US alone. The disease has no cure and proper diagnosis and management of the disease are key to physicians effectively treating patients. Aeorcrine's NIOX MINO monitor and tests are sold to physicians to help them diagnose airway inflammation, the underlying cause of the majority of asthmatic conditions. FeNO testing can also help physicians identify patients who will be responsive to treatment with anti-inflammatory medications such as inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and alert them to patients who are not adhering to their treatments.

"This test allows the presence of steroid responsive airway inflammation to be identified and also to help ensure that the correct types of medication are given to the patient at the appropriate time - this is truly personalized medicine. By gaining improved reimbursement, this will create the paradigm shift in improving diagnosis and treatment of asthma", said Dr. Neal Jain, MD, FAAAAI, FAAP.

"When we received word from UHC of this positive change, we were very happy for our physicians and patients that were awaiting improved reimbursement. We have also been informed that UHC has notified many doctors directly by email of the policy change so this information is getting out. Our field force will be out discussing this positive change starting today." said Kathy Hodgdon, US Director of Sales and Marketing, Aerocrine.