Berlin Heart INCOR Implanted Blood Pump with Carmeda Coating Receives CE Mark.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2003

Berlin Heart AG's new INCOR rotary implanted blood pump with the Carmeda(R) BioActive Surface (CBAS(R)) recently received CE Mark for treatment of serious left ventricular failure.

Berlin Heart's EXCOR pulsatile ventricular assist device (VAD), which is sold in Europe, has utilized CBAS for several years.

Krister Ljungqvist, Managing Director of Carmeda, states "Berlin Heart has been a Carmeda partner for many years. They pioneered use of CBAS on VAD's, having published significant data on the long-term efficacy of CBAS on their EXCOR VAD. Carmeda is pleased to have a role in the progress of their new INCOR rotary blood pump."

The Carmeda surface is a proprietary heparin coating which retains thromboresistant properties for periods lasting several months. This long-term bioactivity, coupled with the fact that the stable heparin coating does not leave the device surface, differentiates the Carmeda surface from other coatings designed to improve the hemocompatibility of blood-contacting devices. The Carmeda surface is the most prevalent and clinically proven thromboresistant coating applied to critical medical devices by U.S. and European device manufacturers. Since 1985 Carmeda has commercialized the "end-point attachment" of immobilized heparin molecules to medical device surfaces. CBAS is utilized on Propaten(R) vascular grafts (W.L. Gore and Associates; not available in US), stents with Hepacoat(R) (Cordis), blood oxygenators (Medtronic), and other critical devices.

Carmeda AB (Upplands Vasby, Sweden) is majority owned by Norsk Hydro ASA (ADR: NYSE:HYDRO). For additional information please visit www.carmeda.com.