ORTHOVITA GETS NANO-PARTICLE STRUCTURED TECHNOLOGY PATENT.

Orthovita, Inc. (NASDAQ-NM/NASDAQ-Europe: VITA), Malvern, Pa., a leading developer of orthopaedic biomaterials, has been granted a U.S. patent for its fine particle synthesis or nano-structured technology.

Fine particles or nanomaterials are infinitely tiny - approximately one billion particles would fit on the head of a pin.

The patent covers 12 new claims for the production and use of the unique minerals and biomaterials and adds additional patent protection to the core solution-based chemistry technology utilized in the development of VITOSS(TM), Orthovita's synthetic cancellous bone void filler.

"This patent further protects our efficient technique for producing homogeneous ceramics," said Erik Erbe, Ph.D., vice president, research and development of Orthovita. "Techniques described in the patent enable us to have excellent control over product structure, purity, and yield. These attributes are incorporated in our VITOSS Synthetic Cancellous Bone Void Filler and allow cells and signaling molecules, such as growth factors, to absorb our material so that the body can effectively remodel it into natural bone over time."

About the Company

Orthovita is a biomaterials company with proprietary technologies applied to the development of biostructures, synthetic biologically active tissue engineering products for restoration of the human skeleton. Our focus is on developing novel products for use in spine surgery and in the repair of osteoporotic fractures. We are also addressing a broad range of clinical needs in the trauma market.

We have applied our technologies to the development of three products, VITOSS(TM) Synthetic Cancellous Bone Void Filler, CORTOSS(TM) Synthetic Cortical Bone Void Filler and RHAKOSS(TM) Synthetic Bone Spinal Implant, that we believe offer a wide range of clinical applications at various anatomical sites.

VITOSS is a resorbable calcium phosphate scaffold that is highly porous and composed of extremely fine calcium phosphate mineral that allows for resorption, cell seeding and ingrowth of host bone. VITOSS was cleared for sale in the U.S. and Australia, and approved for sale under a CE Mark in Europe.

CORTOSS is a high-strength, bone-bonding, self-setting composite engineered specifically to mimic the strength characteristics of human cortical bone. In the U.S. we are pursuing clinical studies for multiple indications of CORTOSS, including the augmentation of screws and vertebral fractures. CORTOSS is cleared for sale in Australia and is approved for sale under a CE Mark in Europe.

RHAKOSS is under development as a preformed, injection-molded composite that mimics the natural dual cortical-cancellous composition of human bone, providing high-strength while also allowing for the ingrowth of host bone to address the vertebral interbody fusion and spinal reconstruction market.

For more information, call 610/640-1775 or 800-676-8482.