Opening of Technology Centre

Aortech International PLC 20 September 2000 AORTECH INTERNATIONAL plc Official Opening of AorTech Technology Centre by Dr. John Reid, Secretary of State for Scotland AorTech International plc, the Scottish-based manufacturer of cardiovascular devices, announces the opening of its new facility, the AorTech Technology Centre, which is adjacent to its existing premises at the Strathclyde, Business Park, Bellshill. The new facility will focus on the development of innovative products and will initially house TruCCOMS, the Continuous Cardiac Output Monitoring System, and the new tri-leaflet heart valve, which utilises Elast-Eon, the new bio-stable material. The facility has allowed AorTech to bring together the various aspects of the heart valve research, by Glasgow, Leeds and Liverpool Universities, under one roof together with AorTech's newly expanded development team. Eddie McDaid, Managing Director commented: 'The opening of this Technology Centre represents another milestone in the continued growth and development of AorTech with the focus of the Group's growth based on its exciting innovative products. The first of these products, the Continuous Cardiac Output Monitoring System (TruCCOMS) represents a major improvement in the monitoring of patients' cardiac output both in operating rooms and in intensive care. 'The other major innovative product which is in its final stages of development and testing represents the World's first synthetic tri- leaflet heart valve, made from the new bio-stable Elast-Eon materials. This heart valve will revolutionise the replacement of heart valves throughout the world by introducing a heart valve which is intended to be as long lasting as mechanical heart valves but with the added advantage of reduction or elimination of the need for daily anti-coagulant requirements for patients. 'By securing ownership and rights to these technologies over the last two years the AorTech group has a strong foundation upon which to continue to build. We are proud to be at the forefront of medical technology introducing innovative products which will not only have a major impact in the global medical device market but will also enhance and improve people's lives. These new innovative products will, I am confident, enable AorTech to become a major global medical device company in the future'. Enquiries: 20 September 2000 AorTech International plc 01698 746699 Eddie McDaid, Managing Director College Hill 020 7457 2020 Michael Padley / Nicholas Nelson Copies of this statement will be available for a period of 14 days form the Company's registered office: Phoenix Crescent, Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill, Scotland ML4 3NU