Diabetic Foot Ulcers Unlikely to Heal with Standard Care Are Predictable Early in Treatment; Expanded Data Presented from Apligraf Diabetic Ulcer Pivotal Trial.

CANTON, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--June 22, 1999--

Organogenesis Inc. (AMEX:ORG) today announced that data presented at a symposium held in conjunction with the American Diabetes Association meeting showed that diabetic foot ulcers unlikely to heal with standard care can be predicted within weeks of initiating treatment. Ability to promptly identify ulcers responding inadequately to standard care and consider therns to submit a PMA supplement by the first quarving standard care in the Apligraf diabetic ulcer pivotal trial. The analysis showed that those diabetic ulcers that remained unhealed after twelve weeks of treatment weruggesting this predictive methodology may be apin Foot Center) and a principal investigator in h 91.0 days for patients receiving standard caresponding diabetic foot ulcers and consideration of other therapeutic options is important because of the higst one diabetic foot ulcer in their lives and 50,000-60,000 amputations are performed on diabetics in the U.S. each year, primarily as a result of these ulcers.

"Early recognition of non-healing wounds and consideration of therapeutic alternatives may benefit the patient by promoting faster healing, thereby reducing the cost of care and improving patient quality of life," said Michael L. Sabolinski,ral and bi-layered, with both an upper epidermal and a lower dermal layer. It contains living human skin cells - epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. The keratinocytes are differentiated to form the strata of the human epidermis, including the outer stratum corneum. Unlike human skin, Apligraf does not contain structures such as blood vessels, hair follicles and sweat glands.

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. Lead product Apligraf is marketed in the US and Canada; Novartis Pharma AG has global Apligraf marketing rights. The Company's research pipeline includes VITRIX(TM) living soft tissue replacement, a bioartificiConference on Diabetic Foot Wound Care, as presd-looking statements within the meaning of the Piabetic ulcer pivotal trial, that an Apligraf Pred trademark of Novartis.