CryoLife's Pharmaceutical Subsidiary to Present Progress Report on Development of Cancer Treatment Drug Delivery System at International Conference

ATLANTA, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), a life-science company involved in the development and commercialization of cryopreserved and tissue-engineered implantable heart valves, vascular and orthopaedic reconstruction grafts, and surgical adhesives, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, AuraZyme(TM) Pharmaceuticals, Inc., presented results of animal studies on its A-Z-CINN(TM) Linker for targeted delivery of anti-cancer chemotherapy drugs. The presentation was made at the First International Congress on Monoclonal Antibodies held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, August 30-September 2, 2001 at The Banff Springs Hotel.

The multidiscipline Congress was organized to provide scientists or researchers from leading biotechnology companies and university laboratories with a forum on new developments using monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of both solid tumors and hematological malignances.

Kirby S. Black, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Research and Development, CryoLife, Inc., and head of AuraZyme's Scientific Advisory Board, presented the results of the company's initial study on mice in treating primary and metastatic cancers. These data demonstrate a significant reduction in tumor mass with a single treatment using an A-Z-CINN immunoconjugate of commercially available cancer drugs. Groups receiving A-Z-CINN targeted therapy showed rapid tumor reduction within 7 days of treatment and as much 60% shrinkage by the end of the study (28 days). Groups receiving systemic therapy of unlinked chemo drugs had limited tumor response rates.

AuraZyme technology, A-Z-CINN Linker, represents an opportunity to create a revolutionary drug delivery system that, if successful, can alter significantly the course of anti-cancer chemotherapy treatments. A-Z-CINN is an energy reversible linker that binds a targeting agent, such as a monoclonal antibody, with a therapeutic, such as a chemotherapy drug to create A-Z-CINN Targeted Therapy. The anticipated benefit of this technology is its potential ability to deliver and release a targeted payload of chemotherapy drug at a level 100 times higher than a normal systemic dose to achieve localized and immediate destruction of tumor cells.

AuraZyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently announced that successful results of animal studies have interested researchers at the Jonsson Comprehensive Care Center, University of California at Los Angeles, in initiating a pre-clinical efficacy study that will begin in the Fall, 2001.

Gerald B. Seery, President and CEO of AuraZyme, noted, "These animal studies demonstrated that A-Z-CINN targeted therapy killed tumors more rapidly and more successfully when compared to the current standard of care. We are encouraged by these results and believe that AuraZyme's drug delivery system will have potential broad applications in treating both primary and metastatic tumors."

According to industry estimates, the annual anti-cancer therapeutic market in the U.S. is $6.0 billion and $12.0 billion worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1.3 million individuals will be diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and approximately 550,000 will die from cancer this year.

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 is approved as an adjunct for acute thoracic aortic dissections under HDE regulations in the United States and is CE marked in the European Community and approved in Canada and Australia for use in vascular and pulmonary sealing and repair. The Company also manufactures the SynerGraft(R) heart valve, the world's first tissue-engineered heart valve replacement and the CryoLife-O'Brien(R) and CryoLife-Ross(R) stentless porcine heart valves, which are CE marked for distribution within the European Community. The human heart valves and vascular grafts processed by CryoLife using the SynerGraft technology are distributed in the U.S. under the trade names of CryoValve(R)SG and CryoVein(R)SG, respectively.

This press release includes statements that look forward in time or that express management's beliefs, expectations or hopes regarding future occurrences. Such statements 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 the Company will be unable to fund the development of its proprietary light-activated drug delivery systems, that such systems will prove ineffective in oncology or other applications, that A-Z CINN TARPS will not be able to deliver greater concentrations of chemotherapy drugs to tumor sites without causing significant harm to the patient, that physicians or patients will not accept and utilize A-Z CINN TARPS in cancer or other treatments, that pre-clinical studies will not begin or be completed when expected, or that the anti-cancer therapeutic market will not be as significant as anticipated.

SOURCE CryoLife, Inc.

CONTACT: Gerald B. Seery, President and CEO of AuraZyme Pharmaceuticals, +1-770-955-0771/