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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2

ZILA, INC.                                                                 NEWS
                  5227 N. 7th Street - Phoenix, Arizona 85014 -
               (602) 266-6700 - Fax (602) 234-2264 - www.zila.com

Immediate Release: 12/5/01               Contact: Joseph Hines  (602) 266-6700

                  ZILA COMPLETES SALE OF DENTAL SUPPLY DIVISION

Phoenix, Arizona - Zila, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZILA) announced completion of the sale of
its Zila Dental Supply division, with the closing of the sale of the division's
mail-order operations to PracticeWares, Inc., of Sacramento, California. Zila
previously announced the sale of the division's full-service dental distribution
operations to Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC). Total gross proceeds from the
two separate sales of the division's assets are approximately $13.8 million. The
gross proceeds are subject to certain post-closing adjustments.

Zila President Joseph Hines reiterated that the divestiture "represents a major
refocusing of Zila's strategic direction, allowing the Company to concentrate on
the development and marketing of its proprietary pharmaceutical, biotechnology
and nutraceutical products."

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Zila has five divisions: Zila Consumer
Pharmaceuticals, marketer of Zilactin(R) oral healthcare products; Zila
Professional Pharmaceuticals, marketer of Peridex(R) prescription mouthrinse,
OraTest(R) oral cancer detection products, the Pro-Ties(TM) bundling system
for instrument sterilization, and antiseptic Pro-Wash(TM) and Pro-Scrub(TM)
products; Inter-Cal Nutraceuticals, manufacturer of patented Ester-C(R) branded
products and Palmettx(TM) saw palmetto extract -- value-added ingredients for
the global nutrition industry; Zila Europe, marketer of OraTest(R) products
in the EU; and Zila Technical Operations, manufacturer of pharmaceutical-grade
Zila(R) Tolonium Chloride, and dry-handled pre-moistened swab products at its
Innovative Swab Technologies unit. For more information, visit www.zila.com;
register at "Investor Relations/Email Alert" for e-mail notification of Company
news.

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based largely on Zila's
expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate
assumptions and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown
uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the Company's control. Therefore,
actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements
contained herein. A wide variety of factors could cause or contribute to such
differences and could adversely impact revenues, profitability, cash flows and
capital needs. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements
contained in this document will, in fact, transpire or prove to be accurate. For
a more detailed description of these and other cautionary factors that may
affect Zila's future results, please refer to Zila's annual report on Form 10-K
for its fiscal year ended July 31, 2001, filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.

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