Devices Orthopaedic

 News Release - February 6, 2008

Tornier and Bioset Enter Synthetic Growth Factor Pact

Firms to Collaborate on Products for Orthopedic Soft Tissue Repair

EDINA, MINNESOTA, February 6, 2008--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Tornier, Inc., a global leader in extremities orthopedics, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive world-wide technology collaboration in the field of orthopedic soft tissue repair with BioSurface Engineering Technologies, Inc. ("BioSET") to develop, commercialize, and distribute products that will incorporate BioSET’s synthetic growth factor technology. The collaboration will focus initially on ligament and tendon repair products that will feature coatings based on BioSET’s proprietary F2A synthetic growth factor technology (“F2A”).

Doug Kohrs, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tornier commented “Effective orthopedic soft tissue repair remains an unsolved problem, especially in rotator cuff and other ligament and tendon injuries. Our collaboration with BioSET evidences Tornier’s long term commitment to innovative biologic and synthetic materials to improve clinical outcomes for both hard tissue and soft tissue orthopedic repair procedures.”

The BioSET F2A peptide is a synthetic mimetic of the natural human FGF-2 growth factor. FGF-2 and other naturally occurring growth factors are known to play key roles in the body’s healing and repair processes. Synthetic growth factor mimetics may address many of the manufacturing, handling, and shelf life challenges that have limited the clinical role of natural growth factors. One of a family of BioSET developed and patented synthetic growth factor mimetics, F2A has been the subject of several published animal studies that have evidenced the peptide’s FGF-2 mimetic activity. About Tornier

Tornier develops and markets orthopedic medical devices designed to restore function and return patients to an active and healthy lifestyle. The company's innovative extremity products include the Aequalis® line of shoulder arthroplasty prostheses, the Salto™ and Salto TAlaris™ total ankle prosthesis, and a broad portfolio of foot and hand products resulting from its acquisitions of Nexa Orthopedics and DVO Extremity Solutions. In addition to its acquisitions, Tornier has established collaborations with companies such as Bioretec and Tepha Medical in order to access innovative non-metal technologies that may better address unmet soft and hard tissue repair needs of orthopedic surgeons and their patients.

For more information regarding Tornier, visit www.tornier-us.com.

Contact:
Kirsten Harrison,
Tornier, Edina, MN,
+1-952-426-7600

Source: Tornier

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