Pilot study presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Swedish Society of Medicine

Pilot study presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Swedish Society of Medicine During the ongoing Annual General Meeting of the Swedish Society of Medicine, Artimplant presented for the first time results concerning a new method for treatment of anterior crutiate ligament (ACL) injuries in the knee. Stability tests showed that all 20 patients included in the pilot study had gained joint stability in the operated knee equalling that of the undamaged knee. Follow-up time amounted to a minimum of 12 months and the conclusion states that augmentation with Artimplant's implant has made early motion training, load and functional training possible after surgery with preserved stability. In the study, so called augmentation reconstruction technique has been used, which means that ligament tissue taken from the patient's patellar tendon has been augmented with Artimplant's biodegradable ACL implant and inserted in the knee. According to plan, future operation series will be performed using Artimplant's biodegradable implant only as a prosthesis, which eliminates the need for taking ligament tissue from the patient. - The unique property of this implant is that it is biodegradable, which enables the body's own cells to infiltrate the implant and replace it over time as it degrades. It retains enough strength over at least 12 months and has mechanical properties equal to that of a normal ACL, says Lars Peterson, head of Gothenburg Medical Center and responsible for the pilot study. A ruptured ACL in the knee is the most frequent severe ligament injury, often leading to lifelong detrimental effects for the injured and substantial costs to society. This new treatment method can lead to a readjustment to a normal active lifestyle for many patients. Approximately one million people in the western part of the world suffer from ACL injury each year. ACL injuries in Sweden account for 85 per cent of all disabling injuries in the knee in connection with the more popular team sports and skiing. Half of all ACL injuries undergo conservative treatment, in which attempts are made to compensate for lost joint stability with the aid of continuous physiotherapy. Long term results have often been disappointing since knee instability over time leads to abrasive damage to cartilage and other structures in the joint. A larger multicenter study with Artimplant's biodegradable ACL implant is currently ongoing at leading clinics in Sweden. The currently most frequently used surgical method has disadvantages such as patellar tendon (donor site) weakness and that the implanted tissue quickly can become too weak to sustain increasing load. With this follows substantial risk of joint instability and prolonged rehabilitation. Other synthetic ACL implants that are or have been on the market do not fulfil all requirements, in terms of biocompatibility, strength, elasticity, biodegradability etc, that have been placed on a functioning ACL implant. In contrast to Artimplant's material, none of these has initially been developed with the purpose of replacing injured ligaments in the human body. Previously used non-degradable ACL implants have been priced at SEK 6 000 - 18 000. Artimplant is a biomaterial company focused on unmet needs in the field of orthopedic surgery. Artimplant's business concept is to develop, manufacture and market biodegradable implants that provide the injured tissue with temporary relief and support the body's natural healing process. The Company's researchers, which represent a unique combination of interdisciplinary competence, have synthesized a vast number of biodegradable polymers, that can be tailored for use in a number of different medical-treatment areas. Artimplant has developed and patented a resorbable ligament implant that currently is undergoing clinical trial for treatment of injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A ruptured ACL in the knee is one of the most frequent ligament injuries and often leads to lifelong detrimental effects for the injured, and substantial costs to society. Artimplant's technology can be applied in numerous other areas, and the development activities have expanded to include more than a dozen projects. As part of Artimplant's market strategy Gothenburg Medical Center (GMC) was acquired with the purpose of establishing Swedish headquarters for Artimplant Academy - a forum for advanced clinical research, application and education within orthopedic surgery. Cartilage replacement - a new method for treatment of damaged cartilage - was developed by researchers employed or tied to Artimplant. The clinical documentation of the patients who have undergone cartilage replacement at GMC, has formed the basis for the US authorities' approval. Artimplant is listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Artimplant's interim reports and press releases can be retrieved from: www.Artimplant.se For further information, please contact: Anders Cedronius, CEO Artimplant tel: +46 (0)31 - 746 5600 Kari Odhnoff, Investor Relations Artimplant tel: +46 (0)708 - 639 341 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/12/01/19991201BIT00530/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/12/01/19991201BIT00530/bit0002.pdf