Becton Dickinson Acquires New Advanced Protection Technology; Company Signs Licensing Agreement with Med-Design for Retractable Needle Technology.

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 14, 1998--Becton Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX) announced today a license agreement with The Med-Design Corporation (NASDAQ:MEDC) that gives BD exclusive rights to retractable needle technology designed to protect health care workers against accidental needlestick injuries. BD will also take an equity position in the company.

"This agreement supports our long-standing commitment to protect health care workers from injury and infection and to help them deliver the highest-quality patient care," said Gary Cohen, Executive Vice President, Becton Dickinson. "Med-Design's versatile, cost-effective design solutions are applicable to a broad range of products. This is the kind of design flexibility that we look for when we consider how to best meet the needs of doctors, nurses, hospitals and other health care facilities."

Cohen emphasized that the Med-Design partnership is well aligned with the goals of BD Advanced Protection Technologies (BDAPT), the unit that coordinates the development, production and marketing of the Company's extensive line of advanced protection products and services.

James M. Donegan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Med-Design Corporation, said: "Becton Dickinson is exactly the kind of partner a company like ours looks for, because it understands the value of our designs and is committed to putting them in the hands of doctors and nurses. We've worked hard to make the best retractable needle technology available, and BD -- with over ten years of dedication to advanced protection products -- is the ideal partner to develop and bring our designs to market."

Becton Dickinson pioneered the development of advanced protection "sharps" devices designed to protect health care workers against accidental sharps injuries, introducing its first advanced protection product in 1989. In the past five years the Company has invested over $100 million in advanced protection products and services, including extensive clinical training and education programs. The company holds 75 patents in this area and today sells over 200 advanced protection products for injection, blood collection, infusion therapy, surgery, and disposal.

The Med-Design Corporation holds various U.S. and international patents on medical devices with advanced protection features that are designed to reduce the incidence of accidental sharps injuries. The company's products incorporate a proprietary retraction technology developed at its Ventura, California headquarters, R&D and pilot-manufacturing facility.

Becton Dickinson and Company manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, and diagnostic systems for use by health care professionals, medical research institutions, and the general public.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined under Federal securities laws) regarding the company's performance, including future revenues, products and income, which are based upon current expectations of the company and involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results described in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, competitive factors, changes in regional, national or foreign economic conditions, changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates, delays in product introductions, year 2000 issues, and changes in health care or other governmental regulation, as well as other factors discussed herein and in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.