CryoLife's BioGlue Surgical Adhesive Featured At European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery.

ATLANTA--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 8, 1999--

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 a presentation was given on September 8th to the 13th annual European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery (EACTS) in Glasgow, Scotland, highlighting an animal study funded by CryoLife and using CryoLife's BioGlue(R) surgical adhesive. The study, conducted by Professor Joachim Hasse, M.D., the Chairman of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany, evaluated CryoLife's BioGlue surgical adhesive as a sealant in pulmonary and bronchial procedures.

The study involved 24 sheep, which were divided into a control group and an experimental group. The control group had a bronchial attachment done in the conventional manner, with sutures only. The experimental group of sheep included a bronchial attachment with just two or three approximating sutures and a lung defect repair using BioGlue surgical adhesive as a sealant. After the surgical procedures, the sheep were studied at two-, four- and twelve-week intervals. Histologically, there were no signs of mucosal damage in any group.

Dr. Hasse stated, "Until recently, tissue adhesives available in Europe had been unsatisfactory for use in pulmonary applications and had adverse side effects. However, our animal studies with CryoLife's BioGlue revealed that the use of BioGlue in sheep allowed a tight air seal with less potential damage to the underlying tissue at the repair sites. The results of this study lead me to believe that BioGlue can effectively treat many of the problems we experience in the estimated 250,000 pulmonary surgical procedures done annually in Europe."

Steven G. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of CryoLife, said, "We are very pleased with the results of this study by Dr. Hasse. CryoLife received "CE" (product certification) mark approval for the distribution in the European Union of its BioGlue surgical adhesive for pulmonary applications in March of this year, and we believe these animal studies validate our confidence in BioGlue."

Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. is the leader in the development and commercialization of living human tissue implantable devices for use in cardiovascular, vascular and orthopaedic surgeries throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's BioGlue surgical adhesive, CE marked in the European Union for use in vascular and pulmonary sealing and repair, is distributed throughout Europe. The Company also manufactures CryoLife-O'Brien(R) and CryoLife-Ross(TM) stentless porcine heart valves which are distributed 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 BioGlue will not perform as expected in pulmonary and bronchial surgical procedures performed on humans, physicians will not find BioGlue to be acceptable for use in pulmonary applications, or even if they do, that they will not increase their usage of BioGlue, 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.)

The Company web site is: http://www.cryolife.com