CryoLife-O'Brien Stentless Porcine Heart Valve Approved for Distribution in Canada

July 12, 2000 at 8:18 AM EDT

ATLANTA, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), a diversified biological implantable device company, announced today that its CryoLife- O'Brien(R) stentless aortic heart valve has been approved by the Canadian Government's Therapeutic Products Programme (TPP) for general distribution in the Canadian tissue heart valve replacement market. The TPP is similar to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

The CryoLife-O'Brien porcine valve, with its unique and innovative design, is used for aortic valve replacement in adult patients. It was designed by the noted Australian cardiovascular surgeon, Mark F. O'Brien, F.R.A.C.S., F.R.C.S. Dr. O'Brien is Senior Cardiac Surgeon, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, and is a member of the CryoLife International Cardiovascular Medical Advisory Board. The CryoLife-O'Brien valve has been commercially available in Europe since 1996, following its regulatory approval under a CE (product certification) mark in the European Union. To date, over 2,500 CryoLife-O'Brien valves have been implanted in patients throughout the European Union.

Steven G. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, of CryoLife, Inc. said, "The approval of the CryoLife-O'Brien valve in Canada expands CryoLife's heart valve replacement marketing opportunities. Canadian revenues year-to-date are 61 percent over 1999 revenues for the same period."

Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. is the leader in the development and commercialization of implantable living human tissues for use in cardiovascular, vascular, and orthopaedic surgeries throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's BioGlue(R) surgical adhesive, CE marked in the European Union for use in vascular and pulmonary sealing and repair, is distributed throughout Europe. The Company also manufactures CryoLife- O'Brien(R) and CryoLife-Ross(R) stentless porcine heart valves, which are distributed within the European Community.

Statements made in this press release that look forward in time or that express management's beliefs, expectations or hopes regarding future occurrences are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These future events may not occur when expected, if at all, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include the possibility that Canadian surgeons will not utilize the CryoLife-O'Brien porcine valve to the extent expected, the possibility of rapid technological change, competition from other companies, changes in Canadian laws and governmental regulations applicable to the Company and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.

Stentless Heart Valve ... Heart valve that does not contain a sewing ring to support the valve opening.

For additional information about the company, visit CryoLife's web site: http://www.cryolife.com .

SOURCE CryoLife, Inc.

CONTACT: Roy Vogeltanz, Vice President of Corporate Communications for CryoLife, Inc., 800-438-8285/