AOR.L Regulatory News (AOR)

6 Dec 2006 07:03

Aortech International PLC06 December 2006 6 December 2006 AorTech International plc AorTech International plc announces exclusive material supply agreement with Harland Medical Systems, LLC London, UK - AorTech International plc (AIM: AOR), the medical devicedevelopment and biomaterials intellectual property and licensing company, todayannounces the signing of an exclusive material licensing and supply agreementwith Harland Medical Systems, LLC of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Harland Medical Systems is a leading supplier of coating technology and servicesfor the medical device industry. The license agreement is exclusive in the fieldof short-term guide wire and catheter coating applications and containsprovisions for an up-front payment, material supply and royalties. The licensealso permits Harland the use of the Elast-EonTM trademark. Terms of the agreement were not released. Frank Maguire, AorTech CEO said, "The relationship with Harland Medical Systemsbegan as an offshoot to coating work they were providing for existing AorTechcustomers. During the course of the past year, we have been impressed with theircapabilities and the relationships they have within the medical device industry.This license for short term applications permits AorTech to exploit a range ofopportunities with a capable partner that we would otherwise find difficult toaccess. Jon Anderson, Harland Medical Systems CEO said, "We look forward to building onour relationship with AorTech as we put their advanced biomaterials to work in avariety of exciting new medical device applications. We have been veryencouraged with the technology and quality of the AorTech materials along withthe skill of AorTech's management and technical team." -Ends-Enquiries: AorTech International plc Tel: + 1 801 581 0854Frank Maguire, Chief Executive OfficerHogarth Partnership Ltd Tel: + 44 (0)20 7357 9477Andrew Jaques/Sarah RichardsonHarland Medical Systems, LLC Tel: + 1 952 941 0475Jon Anderson, Chief Executive Officer About AorTech International plc Listed on AIM in London, AorTech International plc wholly owns AorTechBiomaterials Pty Ltd based in Melbourne, Australia. AorTech Biomaterials wasformed in July 1997 to commercialise a range of medical grade polyurethanes formedical implants developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and IndustrialResearch Organisation (CSIRO). AorTech's Elast-EonTM technology is the product of a decade of fundamentalresearch into biologically stable materials. Elast-EonTM materials are patented,high silicone content, polyurethane copolymers which exhibit unparalleledbiological and mechanical performance. AorTech is firmly focused on the development and refinement of this material forthe medical community, with the aim of providing a wide range of highperformance Elast-EonTM materials in a variety of application specificformulations and densities, for use in medical devices. About Harland Medical Systems Harland Medical Systems, LLC based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota is committed toenabling the wide scale adoption of advanced biomaterials and surfacemodification chemistries and processes within the medical device community. Harland Medical Systems works with medical device manufacturers from earlyproduct development through volume production to ensure that all of the coatingrelated aspects of their medical device program are successfully implemented,including materials and chemistry selection, feasibility and bridge coating,coating automation and test systems, assistance with quality and regulatoryissues, and implementation of long term manufacturing plans. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange