CryoLife, Inc.'s SynerGraft Heart Valve Technology Presented at International Heart Valve Symposium

ATLANTA, June 15 /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 grafts, and surgical adhesives, presented a comprehensive review of its patented SynerGraft(R) technology in the development of a series of heart valve replacement devices. The SynerGraft technology centers around the removal of antigens from human and animal tissue leaving a collagen matrix that has the potential to be repopulated with the recipient's own cells. The technology has been utilized to create new tissue-engineered allograft and porcine heart valve replacement devices.

A paper reviewing development of the new heart valve replacement devices was presented by Kirby S. Black, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research & Development, CryoLife, Inc., at the Second International Symposium, Tissue Engineering for Heart Valve Substitutes in London, England, June 15, 2001.

CryoLife scientists, utilizing the disciplines of cell biology, biochemistry and protein chemistry, have fostered the development of a tissue- engineering process that allows for the transpecies transplant of tissues without the use of immuno-suppression treatment. The process depopulates or decelluarizes the animal or human tissues using an antigen reduction technology that provides for an implantable, sterile, mechanically stable matrix capable of being repopulated with the recipient's own cells.

The SynerGraft technology has been successfully used in the development of aortic (Model 500) and pulmonary (Model 700) porcine heart valves that were awarded CE (product certification) Marks. Both SynerGraft Tissue Engineered Heart Valves are currently commercially available within the European community.

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.

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 SynerGraft-treated tissues will not have the expected long-term functionality, repopulate with human recipient cells, reduce immune response, or remain infection free, that future clinical SynerGraft test results will prove less encouraging than current results, that SynerGraft regulatory submissions will not be ready when planned or that anticipated regulatory approvals will not be obtained on a timely basis, if at all, 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, 2000.

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

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SOURCE CryoLife, Inc.

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