Milestone Payment

Aortech International PLC 18 March 2008 18 March 2008 AorTech International plc ('AorTech' or the 'Company') Milestone payment AorTech International plc (AIM: AOR), the biomaterials and medical device development company, announces that it has received a material milestone payment from St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ). This payment relates to the licensing and supply agreement announced on 20 July 2006. The milestone payment extends the exclusive use of Elast-Eon 2 in the field of cardiac pacing, ICD (implantable cardiac defibrillator) and cardiac monitoring leads into perpetuity. One further optional milestone payment, contingent on the issue of new AorTech polymer intellectual property, would occur sometime in Q4 2009. Frank Maguire, AorTech CEO said, 'The partnership with St. Jude Medical has been a productive one and we look to the growth of this relationship in the future. This payment forms part of management expectations for revenue in the current year.' -Ends- For further information please contact: AorTech International plc Frank Maguire, Chief Executive Tel: + 1 801 201 4336 Evolution Securities Bobbie Hilliam Tel: +44 20 7071 4300 Chris Clarke Hogarth Partnership Limited Tel: +44 20 7357 9477 Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Sarah Richardson Notes to editors: About AorTech International plc Listed on AIM in London, AorTech International plc wholly owns AorTech Biomaterials based in Melbourne, Australia. AorTech Biomaterials was formed in July 1997 to commercialise a range of medical grade polyurethanes for medical implants developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). AorTech's Elast-EonTM technology is the product of a decade of fundamental research into biologically stable materials. Elast-EonTM materials are patented, high silicone content, polyurethane copolymers which exhibit unparalleled biological and mechanical performance. AorTech is firmly focused on the development and refinement of this material for the medical community, with the aim of providing a wide range of high performance Elast-EonTM materials in a variety of application specific formulations and densities, for use in medical devices. Visit AorTech's website at: www.aortech.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange