Meridian Names Medical Advisory Board for Innovative PRIME ECG Technology.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 14, 2000

Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:MTEC) announced today that it has appointed a medical advisory board of distinguished authorities in cardiology and emergency medicine for its innovative PRIME ECG(TM) electrocardiac mapping system.

The advanced technology has been found in European studies to detect heart attacks earlier and more effectively than traditional ECG systems, as well as to provide accurate and non-invasive assessment of potentially life-saving reperfusion therapy.

"This is exciting new technology because it allows us to see heart attacks that are virtually invisible on conventional 12-lead ECGs," said Dr. Joseph P. Ornato, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, who will serve on the new advisory board. "This should not only result in earlier treatment, when it is most beneficial, but also allow us to monitor the progress of therapy as well as reduce the need for costly hospital admissions for rule-out testing."

In addition to Dr. Ornato, the medical advisory board includes Dr. W. Brian Gibler, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati; Dr. Larry Green, medical advisor, Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, University of Utah; Dr. Raymond Bahr, president of the Society of Chest Pain Centers and Providers, chief of cardiology, St. Agnes Medical Center, Baltimore, and instructor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Dr. Jennifer Adgey, professor and chair of the Department of Cardiology, Queens University and The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast; and Dr. John Anderson, professor and head of the Departments of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ulster and head of the Northern Ireland Bioengineering Center.

"As clinical studies continue to demonstrate advantages of the PRIME ECG system that can both save lives and reduce health care costs, we believe it offers the potential to become the standard ECG system of the future," said James H. Miller, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Meridian. "We are pleased that it has now attracted leaders in both emergency medicine and cardiology to serve on a medical advisory board that will help guide the development of its full potential in clinical practice."

As the first major advance in non-invasive ECG in nearly 60 years, the PRIME ECG system uses 80 leads and proprietary computer technology to create three-dimensional, full-color, diagnostic images developed to be more revealing and more easily interpreted than a standard 12-lead ECG pattern.

The PRIME ECG system has been studied in more than 4,000 patients in Europe, where it has received CE Mark approval, and is now being introduced in Europe and Australia. A multi-center clinical study for the PRIME ECG system is now under way in the United States, and results are expected to be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration early next year for marketing approval in this country.

It is estimated that more than 20 million patients with ischemic-like chest pain are diagnosed in hospitals worldwide each year, and current standard ECG technology allows early diagnosis for fewer than half of these patients.

According to studies recently cited in the New England Journal of Medicine, acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina is confirmed in only about one-third of chest-pain patients admitted for observation, delaying treatment or resulting in unnecessary hospital stays at an annual cost of $5 billion.

Based on these studies, it is also estimated that missed diagnoses of heart attacks result in the release of up to 160,000 Americans each year without needed treatment, many of whom will subsequently die.

The worldwide market for ECG diagnostic products is estimated to be approximately $6 billion in annual sales.

Meridian has strong core technologies in non-invasive cardiopulmonary diagnostics, and is a world leader in the development and sales of auto-injector drug delivery systems. The company develops and produces healthcare products designed to save lives, reduce healthcare costs and improve the quality of patients' lives.

Additional company information is available on the World Wide Web at www.meridianmeds.com and www.primeecg.com.

This press release and other written and oral statements made by the company may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act with respect to financial performance and other financial and business matters. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by future or conditional verbs or similar expressions regarding events that have yet to occur. These forward-looking statements are based on the company's current expectations and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements: economic and competitive conditions; capital availability or costs; fluctuations in demand for the company's products; government procurement timing and policies; technological challenges associated with the development and manufacture of the Company's products; commercial acceptance of the Company's products; delays, costs and uncertainties associated with clinical testing and government approvals required to market new drugs and medical devices; availability and quality of raw materials; success and timing of cost reduction and quality enhancement programs; regulatory and contract compliance; relationships with significant customers; adequacy of product liability insurance; ability to obtain, timing and success of marketing representatives and strategic alliances; and adequacy of intellectual property protection. Meridian assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements.