Clinical Results of Synergraft Technology Presented at 36th Annual Meeting of Thoracic Surgeons.

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ATLANTA--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 1, 2000

Clinical Results Of Tissue-Engineered SynerGraft(R)

Replacement Heart Valves In Animals Confirms Repopulation Benefits

CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE:CRY), the leader in the development and commercialization of living human tissue implantable devices and a manufacturer and distributor of stentless heart valves and surgical adhesives, today announced that the clinical results from the implantation of CryoLife's tissue-engineered SynerGraft(R) porcine replacement heart valve in animals (sheep) confirm that the valves mimic the recipient's own valve in function and, more importantly, that the valve is repopulated with sheep cells specific to that area of the valve. The research results of the implementation of CryoLife's SynerGraft replacement heart valve in sheep were reported at the 36th annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, held on January 31 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, by David R. Clarke, MD, a consultant to CryoLife.

Also at the presentation, Dr. Clarke reported that two Australian patients, who received SynerGraft heart valve replacements six months earlier, were doing well and exhibited normal functionality of the implanted SynerGraft porcine heart valves. The results from research in animals suggests that CryoLife's SynerGraft process, which is based on the use of a depopulated porcine heart valve, will repopulate with the recipient's own cells.

Dr. David Clarke, Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery for Denver, Colorado-based Children's Hospital, said, &uot;The research in implanting CryoLife's SynerGraft heart valves in sheep demonstrates significant benefits, including the recellularization with cells that apparently are capable of remodeling the implant. As a result, this valve design provides the greatest opportunity to clinically demonstrate extended durability and potential growth, two characteristics long sought after in replacement heart valves.&uot;

Steven G. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of CryoLife, said, &uot;We are very excited about the encouraging results from these animal studies of our SynerGraft replacement heart valves. We have made significant strides related to our SynerGraft technology, including our recently announced CryoValve-SG, which applies this technology to the processing of human heart valves.&uot;

Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. is the leader in the development and commercialization of implantable living human tissues for use in cardiovascular, vascular, and orthopaedic surgeries throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's BioGlue(R) surgical adhesive is approved as an adjunct for acute thoracic aortic dissections under HDE regulations in the United States and is CE marked in the European Union for use in vascular and pulmonary repair. The Company also manufactures CryoLife-O'Brien(R) and CryoLife-Ross(R) Stentless porcine heart valves which are distributed only within the European Community.

Statements made in this press release which look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such risks and uncertainties include the possibility that future clinical results will prove less encouraging, the technology will not be widely accepted by surgeons, changes in economic cycles, competition from other companies, changes in laws and governmental regulations applicable to the Company and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company's Prospectus dated March 30, 1998, contained in its Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-46545).

For additional information about the Company,

visit CryoLife's web site: http://www.cryolife.com