Aortech International PLC
28 August 2001
AORTECH INTERNATIONAL PLC
New Melbourne Research Laboratory
AorTech International plc, the Scottish-based manufacturer of cardio-vascular
devices, announces that it today opened a new research laboratory in
Melbourne, Australia. The facility will support the commercialisation of its
novel biomaterials, Elast-EONTM, which is used in synthetic heart valves,
pacemakers and other medical devices.
The global market for these medical devices is forecast to grow from US$10
billion in 1999 to nearly US$15 billion by 2005. The current global market
for heart valves alone is estimated at US$800 million.
AorTech Biomaterials Pty Ltd, (formally known as Elastomedic P/L), which is
based in Melbourne and Sydney has developed a special formulation based on its
revolutionary Elast-EonTM polymeric product on which the next generation of
heart valves will be constructed.
The Company's breakthrough in the polymer involves a unique blend of silicone
with polyurtherane that ensures a more durable, tear resistant and highly
flexible material that allows the development of smaller and more effective
implantable devices. The revolutionary range of biomaterials was developed by
a team of researchers at CSIRO's Molecular Science laboratory in Melbourne as
part of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cardiac Technology. The
organisation's enabling technologies have taken more than 10 years to develop
fully.
Dr Mike Skalsky, Managing Director of AorTech Biomaterials commented:
'The AorTech heart valve is in the final stage of development and will shortly
be entering the regulatory testing stage prior to clinical trials in patients
in the latter half of 2002. This new polymer synthesis laboratory will
greatly enhance the progress of this and other company projects.'
For further details go to AorTech Biomaterials its website at:
www.aortechbio.com
28th August 2001
ENQUIRIES:
Aortech International plc Tel: 01698 746 699
Eddie McDaid, Chief Executive
College Hill Tel: 020 7457 2020
Michael Padley
Nicholas Nelson
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