Apligraf Usage Sets New Records in March; Unit Sales Jump from 810 to 960.

Business/Health and Medical Writers

CANTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2000

Organogenesis Inc. (AMEX:ORG) today announced that Apligraf(R) US commercial sales reached 960 units in March, an increase of 150 units over the previous month and a new record for the product. This was the largest monthly increase in sales to date. The growth in the number of sites using Apligraf for the first time also set a new record in March. By month's end, 1450 medical centers across the US had ordered Apligraf at least once and 842 had re-ordered the product at least once. Apligraf is marketed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

                    # US Sites Ordering

                          # Sites        # Sites
     Time Period         Ordering      Re-Ordering
                         Apligraf(a)     Apligraf(b)
         3Q98               135            56
         4Q98               316            170
         1Q99               523            280
         2Q99               757            427
         3Q99               959            551
         4Q99              1195            687
     January 2000          1271            735
    February 2000          1355            791
      March 2000           1450            842


(a)   Have ordered Apligraf at least once since launch
(b) Have re-ordered Apligraf at least once since launch


                   US Commercial Unit Sales

                          Apligraf
    Time Period          Commercial        Units
                            Month         Quarter
        3Q98                                548
        4Q98                                1070
        1Q99                                1585
        2Q99                                1755
        3Q99                                1817
        4Q99                                2192
    January 2000             785
   February 2000             810
     March 2000              960            2555

"In February, Apligraf unit sales surpassed the 800 level for the first time and in March, the volume increased to 960 units for the month," said Alan W. Tuck, Organogenesis' Chief Strategic Officer. "Novartis' new marketing initiatives are having an impact. Novartis and Organogenesis are also continuing our activities towards gaining standardized reimbursement for Apligraf."

Like human skin, Apligraf is made of skin cells and structural protein. The lower dermal layer combines collagen and human fibroblasts (dermal cells), which produce additional matrix proteins. The upper epidermal layer is formed by prompting human keratinocytes (epidermal cells) first to multiply and then to differentiate to replicate the architecture of the human epidermis. Unlike human skin, Apligraf does not contain structures such as blood vessels, hair follicles or sweat glands or other cell types such as Langerhans' cells, melanocytes, macrophages or lymphocytes. Novartis Pharma AG has global Apligraf marketing rights.

Organogenesis Inc. designs, develops and manufactures medical products containing living cells and/or natural connective tissue. The Company's product development focus includes living tissue replacements, cell-based organ assist devices and other tissue-engineered products. The Organogenesis research pipeline includes the VITRIX(TM) living soft tissue replacement product, an off-the-shelf vascular graft and a liver assist device.

Statements in the press release which are not historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance as to the rate of development of Apligraf sales or that standardized reimbursement of Apligraf will be gained in a timely manner, if at all. Apligraf(R) is a registered trademark of Novartis.