Bergen, 13 March 2006: NorDiag ASA announced today the launch in Denmark of its DNA based test Genefec™, for detection of colorectal cancer.

Genefec™ is introduced in Denmark in collaboration with Capio Diagnostik a.s., the Danish subsidiary of NorDiag’s partner Capio Diagnostik AB (SSE:CAP). The product will be marketed by NorDiag’s Danish marketing partner Orion Diagnostica, which is a subsidiary of Finnish Orion (OMX:ORNAS/ORNBS). Information about Genefec™ is being mailed to about 4000 General Practitioners in Denmark.

The launch confirms NorDiag’s leading position in DNA based detection of colorectal cancer in the Scandinavian countries. Colorectal cancer is a common cancer form, and globally approximately one million people are diagnosed with the disease annually.

- We are very pleased that Capio has introduced Genefec™ in Denmark. This complements our launch in Sweden and we are proud to announce that we now have a reimbursed test in all the Scandinavian countries. The partnering model will be NorDiag’s preferred strategy for rapid market entry also into other European countries, says NorDiag’s CEO, Christian Horn.

NorDiag launched its 2nd generation Genefec™ in April 2005. In October 2005, the agreement with Capio was expanded to include also Sweden and Denmark, tripling the potential market to more than 200 000 tests annually. Genefec™ was introduced in the Stockholm region of Sweden in December 2005 and was reimbursed from January 2006.

NorDiag’s patented diagnostic test makes it possible to detect colorectal cancer at an early stage, through detection of Ki-ras and p53 genetic mutations which indicate that a tumour has started to develop. Early detection is considered crucial for patient survival rates and also lowers treatment costs dramatically. It should be noted that the Genefec™ test is not a replacement for colonoscopy, which is considered the gold standard, but an alternative to other non-invasive testing methods. A patient receiving a positive Genefec™ test will be sent for colonoscopy to locate the polyp or cancer as well a removing it.

The agreement between NorDiag and Capio states that the local Capio laboratories in Sweden and Denmark will receive the Genefec™ samples from the patients, register the samples and send these to NorDiag’s laboratory in Norway for analysis. Capio will be responsible for reporting the test results and assist clinicians with support information. According to the agreement Capio Diagnostics will pay NorDiag for each test analysed.

- Detection of colorectal cancer at an early stage has significant implications for the prognosis. Genefec™ has real potential to become an important tool together with colonoscopy in detecting and treating colorectal cancer and we are delighted to offer this diagnostic test to all our customers in Denmark; says Managing Director of Capio Diagnostik a.s., Yvonne Lech.

For more information, please contact:

Christian Horn, CEO, NorDiag ASA, phone: +47 90 16 31 53, e-mail: christian@nordiag.no

Yvonne Lech, Managing Director, Capio Diagnostik AS, phone: +45 33 74 30 91, e-mail: Yvonne.lech@capio.dk

About Capio
Capio is one of the leading participants in the European Healthcare Market, with subsidaries in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, France and Spain. Capio has an annual turn over of NOK 12 billion and has 14 000 employees.

About NorDiag ASA
NorDiag is a biotechnology Company whose mission is the early detection of cancer. Early detection is a key in both improving patient outcomes in the management of cancer and to the reduction of treatment costs. The company’s first product is Genefec™, a genetic test for early detection of colorectal cancer. NorDiag is listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange with ticker NORD.